In this episode of Scaling Up, Not Giving Up, Richard Lee sits down with John Makarewicz — an entrepreneur who scaled Mark Spain Real Estate to over 650 people and led it through a nine-figure private equity exit.
Now the Managing Partner at Ferris Capital Partners, John has raised over $40M in his first year, focused on acquiring and transforming multifamily properties. But this conversation isn’t just about deals — it’s about people, process, and building companies that last.
Together, Richard and John dive into:
How John scaled a brokerage by rethinking the traditional real estate model
The hiring system that helped him build high-performance, high-culture teams
Why servant leadership beats ego — especially in high-growth environments
How curiosity, empathy, and adaptability fuel long-term success
What it means to lead through uncertainty (and why there’s never a “perfect time”)
Whether you’re growing a team, raising capital, or navigating chaos — this episode is packed with practical wisdom, real stories, and frameworks you can use right now.
📌 Links & Resources:
Learn more about John’s work: https://www.fulloutinvesting.com
Connect with John on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-makarewicz-23589a37
Richard’s Substack, articles & podcast hub: https://richard-lee.co.uk
Listen on your preferred platform: https://pod.link/1804985577
