Ever felt like you’re building an empire on an island, carrying the entire mental load of your business while wondering why there isn’t a roadmap for women like you? Scaling to the top of this industry requires more than just strategy; it requires the grit to go first and the heart to bring others with you.

In this episode, I’m joined by the legendary Lisa Roads, a trailblazer who grew a UK property portfolio into a powerhouse managing over 175 luxury villas in Cyprus, all while pioneering a movement for women in hospitality.

We talk about:

1. How Lisa spotted a gap in the Cyprus market and scaled to 175+ luxury units before the industry had a manual.
2. The raw reality of the loneliness and lack of support that often comes with rapid growth.
3. Why Lisa is dedicated to solving the representation crisis and lifting the "unique burdens" women face in property management.
4. The essential boundaries you must set to ensure your business doesn’t consume your life.

But this isn't just about property counts or profit margins. It’s about reclaiming the narrative of the female entrepreneur. You’ll hear why true success isn’t just about the daring leaps you take for yourself, but about the space you carve out for others to be heard, supported, and celebrated.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of being the "only one" in the room or are ready to scale a business that aligns with your deepest values, this conversation is your blueprint. Get ready to move beyond the grind and start leading with legacy.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:01] A short introduction about our guests Lisa Roads, and shares her journey from long-term investor to industry leader while explaining her mission to elevate and support women in the short-term rental space

[05:31] Lisa Rhodes and I reflect on the power of women-centered communities to build confidence, visibility, and leadership in short-term rental businesses

[11:38] Lisa shares the realities of scaling a property management business to 175 high-performing properties by prioritizing alignment, systems, and long-term profitability

[14:22] Lisa emphasizes the importance of intentional, systems-driven growth over chasing door count and scaling chaos in large property management portfolios

[16:29] How intentionally defining the ideal guest, designing for that audience, and building strategic partnerships allowed Lisa to create demand in an undeveloped short-term rental market

[18:11] Lisa on creating high-trust travel agent partnerships and the operational systems that made them scalable

[20:51] Lisa explains how she built custom systems to manage bookings, property operations, and service delivery in a market without established short-term rental technology

[22:31] How building a support network was essential to managing the invisible mental load of running a business and caring for family

[25:50] Lisa emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, protecting mental and physical health, and intentionally scheduling downtime to prevent burnout as an entrepreneur

[29:19] Lisa reflects on growing up in an entrepreneurial, nomadic family, and emphasizes the importance of self-belief and having a solid business plan when facing naysayers

[33:28] Lisa reflects on starting over in short-term rentals, emphasizing foundational strategy, guest experience, and building a direct booking brand

[35:57] The lightning round

Golden Nuggets:

1. "It's incredibly powerful to have a community around you where you can hack into that knowledge.”
2. “It's better to have 175 really good properties and really good aligned relationship landlords than to have 220 just not doing very well.”
3. “To try and scale on something that's not solid is going to be painful. You're just going to have big holes.”
4. “Without a support network, it can be virtually impossible to pull through certain situations.”
5. “Don't let those naysayers derail you from something you're incredibly passionate and committed to doing.”
6. “When you focus on the right things, the money will follow.”
7. “Keep on top of your finances. Know your numbers, don't operate a business and be naive about your numbers.”

Let’s Connect:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaroads/

Website: https://theholidaypropertycoach.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082839816462

Enjoyed the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!