Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa October/ November 2019 | Page 11

DANIEL RYAN
Investment and humanitarian
lessons from Daniel Ryan
Helping you reach the American dream
BY NICHOLA LOOCK
I
n the middle of the sweltering Cape Town heat and dis-
tant chanting of protestors, Daniel Ryan could not be fur-
ther from his origins in Florida, USA. But after living and
working in Malawi for over ten years, he acts as the perfect
bridge for Africans wanting to immigrate to the US. But
Ryan’s motivations for acting as watchdog for immigration
schemes is the interesting part of his story.
Ryan’s interest and understanding of the property industry
started at a young age. He was raised by a small-time property
developer in the US, which helped him to navigate some of
the realities of an ever-changing market.
“My father was a small-time home builder/property
developer in USA, and growing up, I experienced the ups and
downs of real estate investment and development. During up
markets, when homes were selling and my father was doing
well, we were eating steak a few times a week as a treat. When
the market was down, and my father was not doing well, we ate
meatloaf or macaroni & cheese every day for weeks at a time. I
understand the risks and rewards of real estate investment.”
This close connection to the property industry is what
propelled Ryan to study a Bachelor Degree in Business
Administrative-Finance and a Master’s Degree Organisational
Development/Corporate Education. Ryan believes in the value
of education within the real estate investment and is currently
working on his PhD in Business Administration - Strategic
Management. “Understanding financial risk and reward as
well as strategic planning and management is paramount in
international real estate investment and development.”
Ryan started his career in commercial banking, first
completing the management training programme at Bank of
America. He then worked as the real estate lending officer for
the multinational investment bank and thereafter, he changed
his focus to larger commercial real estate construction when he
joined the Sun Trust Bank. Ryan also worked as Vice President
of Real Estate Development for Green Street Development in
Orlando, Florida.
In 2006 Ryan left the US to work in Lilongwe, Malawi, for a
World Bank consultancy, initially on a three months contract.
The three month contract turned into a 12 year journey,
which Ryan describes as his most significant professional
achievement. He started a Management Consulting and
Organisational Development Company with his wife, who is
a chartered accountant.
“We were well respected and worked with highly
regarded clients including The Reserve Bank of Malawi,
The World Bank, The EU, USAID, amongst others; and was
profitable and sustainable for over 10 years competing with
large international organisational development, real estate
investment and management consulting firms.”
Ryan used the lessons he learnt from starting his own
business to address issues within the Malawian real estate
sector. “I built my first real estate investment property from
available cash flow and no bank construction loan. It taught
me patience, perseverance, and in becoming a watchdog
over every dollar/rand/kwacha spent throughout the entire
construction process. The residential rental property took
three years to build with no debt and we received significant
positive monthly cash flow from investment that has created
opportunity for my wife and I to build other development
projects in Malawi, for affordable rental housing, which in turn
helps the community.”
“What motivates me is working hard
for a cause, task, or project that will
make the world a better place and
help improve lives. “
Moreover, Ryan has worked extensively within the property
sector across the world and his humanitarian work is his first
passion. He spent three years as an active Board of Trustee
Director for Partners in Hope, HIV-AIDS Medical Hospital in
Lilongwe, Malawi, which is recognised as one of the premiere
“free” HIV/AIDS full-scale hospitals through-out Sub-Saharan
Africa. He has also been involved in humanitarian-related
economic development and educational empowerment
activities in other international countries including Indonesia,
Taiwan, and Mexico, as well as lower socio-economic areas of
the United States.
His vast experience within his field and entrepreneurial skills
combined with his goodwill is what drives this humanitarian.
“What motivates me is working hard for a cause, task, or project
that will make the world a better place and help improve lives.
Having positive social and economic benefit to communities
and people who live in those communities, while making a
reasonable income.”
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
9