A Conversation With Jeremy Sharpe, President, Sharpe Development Group
Jeremy Sharpe grew up riding around the desert with his dad, thinking he was on grand childhood adventures while secretly getting groomed as a real estate developer. Now president of Sharpe Development Group and managing partner of Rancho Sahuarita, he carries forward a multigenerational commitment to “creating a better life for people” through the built environment. His path was not linear, with early dreams of being a vet and launching his own company before returning to the family business in Tucson, stepping fully into leadership after his father’s illness and passing. That experience, and the vulnerability it required, continues to shape how he leads his team, his partners, and his community.
Episode Takeaways
Episode Takeaways
- Values before vision: People may disagree with a decision, yet still trust it if they believe in the leader’s values and integrity. That trust becomes the real foundation of long-term alignment.
- Alignment includes time, not just ideas: Large-scale communities play out over decades, not quarters, so Jeremy works to get partners, employees, and residents aligned to both the vision and the timeline.
- Know when to walk away: Deals and hires can drift from alignment over time. Letting go, even late in the process, can be an act of integrity rather than failure.
- Leaders are humans, not certainty machines: Jeremy normalizes imposter syndrome, makes hard calls through a values lens, and is willing to say “I got that wrong,” whether with executives or six-year-olds who are very committed to their own positions.
- Translate the speedboat and the wake: His development team moves fast on vision and innovation while community management and utilities keep life calm and reliable for residents, with key leaders playing translator between urgency and stability.
Jeremy leaves us with a clear challenge: look within, reflect honestly on how you are really showing up, and align your daily decisions with your why. Agreement sounds nice in the meeting, but alignment is what shows up in the neighborhood, on the balance sheet, and around your own kitchen table. Connect with him on LinkedIn here.
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Is misalignment holding your organization back?
Aligned teams deliver better results more consistently, and they have deeper connections to each other and their organizations.
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Is misalignment holding your organization back?
Aligned teams deliver better results more consistently, and they have deeper connections to each other and their organizations.
Download our free Leadership Alignment Evaluation Tool and take the first step toward transforming how your team works together.
Learn more about Julie and Karrikins Group:
Learn more about Julie and Karrikins Group:
Creators and Guests
Host
Julie Williamson, PhD
Julie Williamson, PhD is the CEO and a Managing Partner at Karrikins Group, a Denver-based, global-serving business consultancy. Author, Keynote Speaker, and Host of The Failure Gap Podcast, Julie is a leading voice in how alignment can transform leaders and organizations.
Guest
Jeremy Sharpe
Tucson native Jeremy Sharpe is the President of Sharpe Development Group, a multigenerational real estate organization dedicated to creating a better life through the built environment. In his role, Jeremy leads the continued evolution of his family’s five-decade legacy, overseeing a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial development, construction, and utility operations. Jeremy also serves as Managing Partner of Rancho Sahuarita, Southern Arizona’s premier master-planned community spanning more than 3,000 acres and recognized nationally for its innovative lifestyle programming and family-focused design. With a commitment to long-term sustainability and meaningful placemaking, he guides teams and projects that prioritize connection, thoughtful amenities, and the overall well-being of the people who live and work in the communities they create. Rooted deeply in Southern Arizona and driven by a forward-thinking approach to community building, Jeremy is helping shape the region’s next chapter, creating places that inspire, endure, and thrive for generations. About Sharpe Development Group Sharpe Development Group is a family-founded, values-driven real estate organization focused on shaping places that strengthen community life. Rooted in Southern Arizona, the company brings together decades of experience with a modern, people-centered approach to planning and development. Across its work, ranging from neighborhood design to commercial environments, Sharpe Development Group emphasizes long-term stewardship, thoughtful land use, and creating meaningful connections between people and the places they call home. Guided by a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and authentic regional character, the company continues to build environments that support both everyday living and the future of the communities it serves.
