Shannon Quilty Pivots

Not all pivots are made to accommodate difficult circumstances. Some are undertaken when an unexpected opportunity comes along - when the stars align and you find yourself looking at a life changing opportunity that seems to have come out of the blue. That is what happened to me just before the end of 2022 when I was offered the opportunity to reposition a shopping center in Sulaymaniyah - the second largest city in Iraqi Kurdistan.

I have been fortunate enough to work, live and visit some amazing places but even for me, the notion of living and working in Iraq gave me pause. I was aware of the region from my time working with JLL in Istanbul. JLL advised on the development, leasing and subsequent management of Family Mall in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan. These were the golden days in the region, after the fall of Saddam. Investment and development were at a high point and optimism was abundant. I’d always wanted to make the trip but never had the chance.

Then, of course, came the scourge of ISIS in Iraq and though they never made it further than Kirkuk, about 50 miles from Erbil, they came close enough to bring development to a halt. As the region was healing from that madness, along came COVID 19, the impact of which was felt just as widely and deeply as you would expect in a developing economy.

Though I was enjoying my work with Linda Johansen-James and International Retail Group (and will continue to act as Editor of IRG Magazine), I have a soft spot for emerging markets making the opportunity far too enticing to reject out of hand. After having done my research on the city of Sulaymaniyah, the current state of affairs in Iraq, and consulting with family, friends and business associates, I made the leap.

I’m learning so much about the country, the culture and enjoying every minute - even the difficult ones. The people are exceedingly kind and welcoming. I feel exceptionally fortunate to have this opportunity to make a difference in this beautiful country.

Family Mall Sulaymaniyah is one of the most beautiful malls I’ve seen. It was clearly a labor of love for the developers - a gift to the city. There are many challenges but even more opportunities. Lucky enough to have owners that care and a property team eager to learn, I am excited for what we can do together.