Shahar Kahlon

What recent key move did you lead?
Winning the tender for building 303 new apartments in Dimona. Half of these apartments are intended for Mehir LaMishtaken (government price-capped) eligibles, and half for the free market. Our construction momentum in Dimona coincides with our goal to develop Israel's periphery and invest in it. This is where we see the future.

What are the company’s strongest attributes?
The company applies green building principles – for examples, we environmentally-friendly and energy-saving LED lighting in our buildings. In light of the new legislation that requires green building – we have a significant advantage, as this was our guideline for the construction aesthetics from the beginning.
The extensive and diverse experience of the company's owners. From the yielding properties that we own up to the founders' backgrounds, which include for example field experience in the redevelopment of lots. We come from within, from initiating real estate construction. We have comprehensive familiarity with every stage of planning and execution and this also what we base are growth plans on. We're not watching from above and guessing. We learned the field through the soles of our feet.

Which of the company’s recent key moves will lead to it becoming stronger over the next few years?
Our major footprint in the Mehir LaMishtakn program is a significant breakthrough which results we would continue and see for years to come, regardless of the program's future. This is a move that coincides with the company's values of developing the periphery.
In addition, in Dimona we carry out community outreach activities – whether if through events and meetings that we initiate or involving the residents in our operations. We see the involvement of the surroundings and the residents in the development of their neighborhood as something of utmost importance. This is also part of modern thinking – the environmental planning takes into account the community life, the healthy environment and the residents'' wishes in general.

What are the main challenges facing the company in the next few years?
Our challenges can be defined as "first-world problems". We are currently in a momentum of growth with an expanded execution arm and plans to enter deeper into the urban renewal segment. The coming years would be challenging in the sense of deciding on new growth and expansion directions, identifying trends for selecting development locations and of course cooperating with lawmakers during the planning stages for additional large-scale projects.

What would you recommend an up-and-coming executive?
Don't be afraid of fear. Being responsible for the first time for other people lives, for how they make a living, and making busines decisions that effect far beyond than "just yourself" – can be stressful. But panicking is the worst thing that you can do. Don't doubt yourselves and dare to also take risks, particularly in cases of market saturation, where sticking to the well-known and familiar that everyone else does won’t provide you with a relative advantage or prominence.

What should one remember during hardships?
All of the mental "assets" they possess: The creativity, our ability to plan forward and solve problems and the simple truth that we are not alone in this. A team always has the ability to overcome: to share, to consult and receive assistance.