The real estate world is constantly evolving, within a rapidly changing environment now facing the health crisis of the novel coronavirus. What are the impacts of this crisis on the needs of senior executives in the construction and real estate Thierry de La Rocque , consultant at the headhunting firm Vauban Executive Search , a partner of the special issue provides some answers .

  • Can you remind us of Vauban executive search's philosophy regarding the recruitment of senior executives in the construction and real estate sector?
  • Our goal is twofold: to find women and men capable of transforming the world around them and to bring a vision that allows us to adapt to increasingly complex challenges.
  • What are these challenges?
  • The aim is to meet the needs of residents whose traditional real estate patterns have just been disrupted, probably for a long time; the needs of companies that are questioning the use of headquarters, offices, and work organization; and finally, the needs of communities whose urban planning, environmental, and social diversity challenges are becoming increasingly important.
  • Why did you want to be partners in the special issue "The Hundred Who Make the City"?
  • This philosophy we uphold aligns with that of your magazine. And, like you, we are committed to a cross-functional approach that doesn't focus on a single profession but considers all the stakeholders who shape the city. Vauban Executive Search possesses this broad perspective, enabling it to work with property companies, end-users, investors, all types of developers, and the consultants and project managers who support them.
  • What are the impacts of the health crisis we are experiencing on recruitment and the profiles sought?
  • The wait-and-see attitude and inaction born of uncertainty are not in the DNA of the key players shaping the city of tomorrow. Real estate, by definition, operates on a long-term basis, and if nothing happens today, there will be no tomorrow. Facing this situation can only be done as a team, with leaders possessing the essential leadership to mobilize concerned men and women, the agility to adapt to uncertainties, and, of course, a strong sense of selflessness. We cannot and do not know how to do it alone. It's like weathering a storm at sea when you're sailing with a crew, and that's precisely what the companies that call on us need to navigate these uncertain times, regain room to maneuver, and refocus on their core purpose. This requires a clear and shared vision that will give meaning to individual missions without stifling initiatives and autonomy, to allow these companies, which are themselves mostly agile, to continue to carry out complex projects that transform the city, often with limited resources.

Because we share this passion and enthusiasm, we are able to convince the best candidates, to ensure that they are likely to embrace this vision, that they will be able to bring to the company tomorrow the qualities that the crisis makes essential, of agility and resilience which must be sustained over the long term.

Beyond our very good knowledge of the real estate industry in the broadest sense, our fine understanding of the needs and culture of the company, the strength of our network or our ability to assess the potential of candidates, this approach constitutes the added value of headhunters at Vauban Executive Search.

  • Does this crisis also affect the aspirations of potential candidates?
  • The companies that use our services have high expectations. But the reverse is also true. Potential candidates are more attentive to current events. The crisis can indeed impact a company's development. Beyond pure recruitment, we are also here to help companies and managers gain perspective on the situation.

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Urban Features No. 114/115, October/November 2020 Download