As the Director of Corporate Marketing & Communications for Grosvenor Americas, Patti Glass plays a key role helping to build Grosvenor’s brand as an active and enduring real estate investor across the US and Canada.

Patti’s aim is to encourage dialogue with narratives that pique stakeholder interest and communicate the value of thoughtful development.  To this end, Patti created Grosvenor’s Speaker Series to discuss the critical issues and policy concerning land use and to help move the agenda on urban topics. The series evolved into an external thought-leadership series, connecting planners, industry colleagues and others, with events held in Vancouver, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Beyond her role with Grosvenor, Patti makes significant contributions in volunteering, fundraising, and mentorship. A long-term participating member in multiple organizations, Patti has tirelessly given back to our industry. She is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Urban Development Institute (UDI), and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). She has guest lectured at UBC’s MBA – Real Estate program and in Urban Land Economics and Applied Planning classes at Langara College. Whenever possible, she will mentor those who are curious about a career in real estate or marketing.

Patti also applies her work ethic, generous spirit and creative energy beyond the real estate industry and has made great contributions as a volunteer in our community: she helped establish The Robert Glass Legacy Fund in support of the Stroke Program at Vancouver General Hospital, where she currently sits on the Brain Cabinet Committee; she served on RVYC’s  Executive Committee for the 6 Meter World Championship and on the Daffodil Ball Committee, raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society, and more.

We had the pleasure of getting to know Patti and her thoughts on leadership and life:

How do you manage to stay so engaged with the community? “I view giving back as an outlet, and it energizes me. I also like to look beyond my job for inspiration and meaning. Equal access to art is one such example; being on the Board of the Smith Foundation, I help fundraise with the goal of making art programming available to young people who may not otherwise have that exposure, a dream I share with my dear friend, the late, great, Gordon Smith.”

What’s your definition of success: “I used to think of it as a very individual endeavour, but now I realize that success is really when everyone has benefited – that there was a greater good created.”

Is there someone that you look up to: “My dad, Bob Glass. Years ago, he took me on a journey to understand what it means to live one’s word and to be in integrity with yourself and those around you. He is forever my guiding light.”

Was there a defining moment in your career that changed your approach to things, professionally or personally: “The 2008 Financial Crisis. I lost my job and it felt like switching canoes in the middle of a lake. It spurred humility and compelled me to evaluate my path. Along the way I did an MBA, which unlocked a world of possibility.”

Do you have a favourite project you have worked on to date: “Overseeing a partnership that helped bring the World Rugby Sevens Series to Vancouver. Having our city on the global circuit the past four years has added vibrancy and economic benefit to Vancouver and invaluable brand exposure for Grosvenor and for our Canada Men’s and Women’s teams. We pushed Grosvenor’s brand to new places. On top of that I worked with a fantastic team and together we created an element of giving-back by raising funds to benefit the insurmountable Ronald Mcdonald House.”

What are you most looking forward to, in your career or in the industry: “ I imagine that if the accelerated societal change brought on by Covid lasts, if policies are in place that people prefer, and if purpose-driven workplaces are set up for new ways of working that also include better representation, collaboration and even productivity – then this is an opportunity to emerge better than before! .”

By Jacqueline Garvin & Melanie Wilson
WLI BC Committee Members