Tom Haughton, Winnipeg Executive, Speaks to Cultivating Teamwork and Continually Learning

Whether you work in real estate, finance or retail,there are a few common denominators for success. Winnipeg’s Tom Haughton, whose career has crossed several avenues, shares the overarching principles he has followed in his 20-year professional life. As vice-president of My Place Realty (MPR) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Haughton works to provide quality, multi-family homes that people are proud to call home. Before he began leading MPR, Haughton served as the CEO of Global Drug Supply, a mid sized international business corporation based in Barbados.

Q: Tell us about your professional journey and your niche area of expertise.

Tom Haughton: I have always been interested in real estate from an early age. With my Dad being in the Air Force, we moved homes every four years. It was always exciting looking for the perfect home in the perfect location. Of course, swimming in the hotel pool was a major highlight.

In college, I earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba,concentrating on human resources and marketing. Since then, I have spent 20years training and developing teams to run various departments within retail and wholesale operations.

At My Place Realty, I work hand-in-hand with my senior management team to oversee everything from construction management to finance to property management.

Q: What skill is central in all the positions you have held?

Tom Haughton: I would say learning. It never stops—it should be a lifelong pursuit. I am always looking for new ways to enhance my skills and abilities. I have done so through coaching sessions, self-development seminars and more. Thanks to these training opportunities I have been able to build upon my capabilities and talents.

I also believe open communication with my team and business relationships is critical for success. Listening actively is one of the most important components of open communication.

Q: How do you think a leader can be most effective?

Tom Haughton: Be visionary. Vision is in some ways a metaphysical word, but in business leadership, it has a practical application. Whether you have employees or you work out of your home, you are a leader. By knowing what motivates you and through clearly identifying your purpose, you set the tone and atmosphere for your business.

This is a problem for entrepreneurs in the start-up phase, because they are required to wear so many hats. It is easy to get lost in the minutiae. But ultimately, you must shake off the actions that don’t fulfill your purpose, so that you can hone in on what does.

Q: How important is it to cultivate teamwork?

Tom Haughton: From my experience, creating a team of members who truly recognize the strengths of each other and work together to achieve our common goals is imperative to success in any business undertaking, regardless of the industry or market.

At My Place Realty, we work hard to create a cohesive team that not only works well with each other but believes in our central mission statement: matching quality multi-family homes with our tenants.

Q: What do you most enjoy about your role?

Tom Haughton: Investing in people. The companies I have run over the past 20 years have always been leading employers offering job stability and careers to our team members. We have always focused on our social responsibility and giving back to many amazing charities.  I enjoy giving back to help improve the lives of others.

I also enjoy challenging my senior management team and myself to get out of our comfort zone, brainstorming, doing research online and trying to be forward thinking.

Q: What are some final words of wisdom for young entrepreneurs?

Tom Haughton: Build strong business and social networks to share creative ideas and valuable resources,and to find the mutual support you’ll need. Networking is fun and can be beneficial to your career. Also, to be successful, you need to take risks and trust in yourself. Finally, take time in life to travel, expand your horizons and make time to rejuvenate yourself. Without health and happiness, wealth is worthless.