#004 Samuel Lawson Johnston: £280M Across 14 UK Buildings: Inside the Rise of Kinrise

In this episode, Samuel Lawson Johnston breaks down how he went from working in commercial real estate to co-founding Kinrise and deploying £280M into historic buildings across the UK.We explore the philosophy behind building places with purpose, the role faith plays in his decision making and how he balances running an investment agency with his creative ventures, including co-founding the eyewear brand Finlay & co.Sam opens up about the lessons that shaped him, the frameworks he uses to operate at a high level and what he has learned from regenerating 14 historic buildings while leading a values driven organisation.If you are an entrepreneur, someone in property or anyone interested in building with intention, this conversation will give you depth, perspective and a blueprint to think bigger.Want to get started in Property?Download our FREE Quick Start Guide to Rent to Rent: https://learn.propertyfounder.co/guide-page🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with property founders and entrepreneurs.Timestamps:00:58 – Sam’s Introduction02:31 – Early Aspirations and First Interests06:51 – How Sam’s Upbringing Shaped His Career15:24 – The Moment Sam Became an Entrepreneur20:15 – Building an Investment Agency28:43 – The Birth and Vision of Kinrise43:51 – How Sam’s Projects First Came About45:38 – Life and Community in Hackney49:55 – How Sam’s Faith Shapes His Work and Kinrise55:05 – Sam’s Business Partner and Their Dynamic01:00:39 – Knowing Your Strengths in a Partnership01:03:28 – Founding Finlay London01:07:33 – Running Multiple Businesses Without Burning Out01:09:30 – Advice Sam Would Give His Younger Self01:12:03 – Sam’s Thoughts on the Planning Process01:15:00 – The Future of Kinrise01:17:43 – Is Sam Going Into Residential?01:18:45 – Existing Buildings vs New Builds01:23:11 – Sam’s Favourite Building