About Estate Agency Leaders Podcast with Ian Preston
Estate Agency Leaders is the definitive real estate podcast for UK property professionals. Hosted by Ian Preston, this leadership podcast delivers honest conversations with forward-thinking agency owners and innovators.
While other real estate agent podcasts focus on basic sales, we explore how elite leaders build culture, drive performance, and embrace CRM technology to stay ahead. From independent branches to national networks, get practical insights from those shaping the future of property. Join us and take your seat at the table with the people moving the industry forward.
From start up to market leader: Karl Judd on culture, scalability, and the future of agency
This episode features an in-depth conversation with Karl Judd, CEO and founder of Ashtons, exploring how a people-first culture and a measured leadership approach built the top-performing estate agency in Hertfordshire.
Judd discusses his transition to CEO, sharing how strategic delegation and embedding clear company values allow the team to drive a ambitious 50% revenue growth target over the next five years.
The discussion dives into the evolving role of technology and automation in real estate, detailing how eliminating repetitive, low-value tasks, such as saving 45,000 manual viewing feedback calls, enables negotiators to increase fee generation by up to 60%.
Additionally, Judd shares his vision for the future of the high street, moving toward centralised operations while providing clients with round-the-clock transparency through digital tools.
10 Sept 2026
The reality of growth: Verona Frankish on leadership, psychology, and the path to profit
This episode features an in-depth conversation with Verona Frankish, CEO of Yopa, exploring her journey from growing up as the eldest of eight children in Northern Ireland to leading a major proptech brand. Frankish shares her leadership philosophy, emphasising the fundamental importance of building trust, creating psychological safety, and fostering a culture of healthy, open debate within senior teams.
The discussion covers her strategic growth plans to evolve Yopa's trajectory through to 2030, alongside the practical deployment of AI and automated solutions to streamline repetitive processes.Additionally, Frankish reflects on her work with Women in Estate Agency (WiEA), detailing new hub initiatives aimed at empowering the next generation of property leaders and challenging the industry's historical lack of diversity.
25 Aug 2026
Kevin Shaw: Culture, scale, and the local touch inside the growth of Leaders Romans Group
This episode features an in-depth conversation with Kevin Shaw, Group Managing Director at Leaders Romans Group, exploring his 40-year career in property and the mechanics behind scaling a 300 branch estate agency network.
Shaw shares his leadership philosophy, emphasising why "the price of independence is performance," the power of a values-led meritocracy, and how to maintain a local entrepreneurial spirit within a large corporate structure.
The discussion covers the strategic evolution of the industry, including LRG’s pragmatic approach to AI, navigating multi-brand competition, and their new initiative to drastically speed up transaction times and reduce fall-through rates.
Additionally, Shaw reflects on the vital role of a recurring lettings portfolio in building long-term business resilience and offers practical advice for small agency owners navigating today’s volatile property market.
Contact Estate Agency Leaders Podcast with Ian Preston
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
