Beyond the Resume Podcast with Sydne Garchik (Raising the bar on Resident Impact)

👀 YouTube: https://youtu.be/PkVVUsrA_Rs • 👂 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/35ZJGLTIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Lisa Flicker and Chris Papa sit down with Sydne Garchik, Founder and President of MRK Partners, for an honest, fast-paced, and often hilarious conversation about building a national affordable housing company while raising a family and disrupting industry norms.Sydne shares how she transitioned from her first job as an admin at Standard Communities to launching MRK Partners with a preservation-first strategy, a belief in people, and a commitment to financing the complex deals no one else wants to touch. From partnering with faith-based groups to launching a nonprofit with her husband, Sydne shows how MRK is not only building quality housing — but building community, connection, and measurable outcomes that matter.Chapters(01:38) – Launching MRK: Why Culture Comes FirstSydne explains why being a mom and a woman shaped her approach to founding a mission-driven firm.(04:30) – Admin to Entrepreneur: A Nonlinear LeapThe early days of her career, her time with Standard, and the leap into starting something bold.(07:47) – Why She Prioritizes Impact Over ProfitSydne talks about the role of empathy, her instincts, and the deep-rooted desire to help others.(10:05) – How Her First Deal Started with FamilyThe creative and personal story behind her very first affordable housing project.(12:34) – Doing Hard Things: Conversions, Construction & ComplexityOffice-to-housing conversions, faith-based land deals, and the joy of solving messy problems.(14:16) – What Policy Could Actually Make a DifferenceSydne’s take on tax exemptions, bond reform, and where housing policy really needs to go.(16:27) – Hiring with Heart, Leading with MissionWhy MRK only hires people aligned with its vision — and what she looks for in every interview.(19:27) – Resident Services, Real ResultsHow MRK and its nonprofit Bloom support financial literacy, connection, and holistic wellness.(25:52) – Scholarships, Support, and Sydne’s Favorite Calls to MakeFrom seniors to students, Sydne shares what it’s like to call residents and say, “You got it.”Top 5 Quotes from the Episode:“I don’t wake up thinking about profitability — I wake up thinking about impact.”– Sydne Garchik“We just push forward. Because getting to the result is more important than being right.”“We’re really good at complicated financing — that’s what sets us apart.”“If you’re not aligned with our mission, you shouldn’t be at MRK.”“Affordable housing is for nurses, teachers, baristas. It’s for everyone in your community.”---LinksYouTube: https://youtu.be/PkVVUsrA_RsSpotify: https://spoti.fi/35ZJGLTApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9Web: https://www.jacksonlucas.com/podcast/sydne-garchik