Operational Alpha: How to Build a High-Performance Real Estate Firm - Sarah Schwarzschild - COO @ Mavik

In this episode of The Distribution, host Brandon Sedloff speaks with Sarah Schwarzschild, COO of Mavik Capital, to explore what operational alpha looks like inside a high-performing real estate investment firm. With experience spanning investment banking, secondaries, and platform leadership, Sarah brings a unique lens to how strategy, culture, and execution intersect in private markets. They dive into how Mavik has structured itself for speed, collaboration, and long-term performance—from flat organizational design to real-time data feedback loops. Sarah shares her approach to building systems that reduce friction, unlock better decision-making, and ensure every team member—from assistants to senior investors—has direct alignment through carried interest. They also discuss: - How Mavik balances flexibility with discipline in its investment process - The firm’s unique capital strategy, including accordion-style fund sizing - Why Sarah believes in weekly feedback, habit tracking, and prioritization as leadership tools - Building an internal culture of experimentation, iteration, and psychological safety - Why operational excellence is a source of alpha, not just back-office hygiene - How technology, automation, and data scraping will define the next generation of investment managers This episode is a masterclass in applying startup principles inside a real estate investment platform—ideal for any leader thinking about how to build with intention. Links: Mavik Capital - https://www.mavikcapital.com/ Sarah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-schwarzschild-5426483/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/ Book recommendations: The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie - https://a.co/d/2eD81SB Atomic Habits by James Clear - https://a.co/d/9eU79Op The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler - https://a.co/d/iglqwPt Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:01) - Sarah’s background and career (00:08:44) - What are you focused on from an investment perspective? (00:10:51) - What is your span of control as COO? (00:15:59) - How do you compare and contrast operationally Mavik vs. the industry standard? (00:18:46) - Flexibility within a large organization (00:20:35) - How do you effectively drive change? (00:22:21) - Leadership philosophies (00:29:52) - Achieving long-term outperformance (00:35:18) - What are your priorities today? (00:41:29) - What is the role of an operational leader in an investment committee? (00:44:18) - Opportunities in the market (00:47:02) - Sarah’s Jordan 1 shoe (00:48:36) - Book suggestions