The bigger the dragon, the more epic the story
Dean Venske, Inospace's COO, shares lessons from a year of change: building strong systems, scaling for growth, empowering people, and balancing speed with sustainability.


The property sector is often seen as traditional, slow, and resistant to change. But at Inospace, speed has always been at the core of who we are. Our ability to move quickly, pivot, and adapt is not optional. It is non-negotiable. It is what has allowed us to operate against the grain of a conventional market and carve out a new way of doing things in multi-tenant industrial and logistics spaces.
But here is the catch: speed on its own is not enough if you want to go the distance. A speed boat with a weak engine will only get so far. That is why the past year has been about strengthening our base by building systems, processes, and teams robust enough to ensure that we can keep operating at full throttle, even as we scale.
In other words, we have not slowed down. We have upgraded the engine.
And here is the deeper truth: we do not pursue excellence to avoid challenges; we pursue it to chase the biggest dragon. The pursuit of something exceptional, significant, and transformative is what drives us at Inospace.
The bigger the dragon, the more epic the story.
Lessons from scaling operations
Stepping into the COO position has been an exhilarating yet demanding experience. The primary goal is to streamline operations for greater efficiency and effectiveness, and over the past year, several vital principles have emerged.
1. Excellence is the enabler of speed
Strong foundations in compliance, systems, and processes do not slow you down; they allow you to accelerate without breaking apart. It may feel counterintuitive in a world where “move fast” is the mantra, but in operations, excellence is not about red tape; it is about building an engine that can run at full throttle without failing. Taking shortcuts might save time in the immediate term, but they often create massive delays later. A weak contract, a neglected compliance step, or a poorly designed process has a way of showing up at the worst possible moment. Each of these shortcuts becomes a drag on speed, costing not only time but also credibility. At Inospace, we focus on creating a standard of excellence which, at its core, means getting it right the first time and on time. This discipline does not slow us down. On the contrary, it creates the confidence and capacity to move faster, knowing that our foundations will hold as we scale. Excellence is the invisible multiplier of speed.
2. Build engines for scale
Every improvement must answer the question: can this hold when we are double our size? If not, it needs to be rebuilt now, before growth exposes the cracks. In operations, scale is not something you suddenly switch on; it is something you design for long before you need it. That means future-proofing every system, process, and relationship so that they do not simply survive growth but enable it. Our models at Inospace are often unique, yet we build them with elements that can be replicated and standardised. This allows us to retain agility while creating consistency across multiple sites. Where functions are not core to our business, we outsource them to trusted partners. The key is not just outsourcing but it is investing in robust, long-term relationships with suppliers who grow with us and understand our standards. At the heart of every decision is one guiding principle: build today for the volume of tomorrow. By creating structures capable of handling significantly more than our current load, we ensure that when growth comes, as it always does, we are not scrambling to catch up but already equipped to deliver at scale.
3. People as power
Great systems without great people stall quickly. The right team multiplies speed and creates capacity for the next wave of growth. At Inospace, it has become abundantly clear that our real differentiator is not just our product or model, it is our people. We are growing a young, dynamic team who make decisions with the mindset of entrepreneurs. They do not wait for permission; they take ownership. They do not just execute tasks; they think like business owners, weighing impact, risk, and opportunity in every decision. “Complete ownership” is a mantra I personally live by, and it has become embedded in our culture. When people feel empowered to act with that level of accountability, they stop being employees and start being multipliers. One strong system plus one committed team member does not equal two; it equals ten.
4. Profitability with agility
Fast growth is only sustainable when paired with discipline on margins. The role of operations is to protect both. Speed without profitability is like a fast car running out of fuel; you might win the short race, but you will not finish the journey. That is why discipline around contracts, costs, and decision-making sits at the core of operational leadership. At Inospace, we began by asking the tough questions: Why are we spending on this? Does it really add value? Is this aligned with market reality? In the first months of review, we uncovered multiple contracts that were outdated, overpriced, or simply unnecessary. By addressing them quickly, whether by renegotiating terms, shifting to more competitive suppliers, or eliminating waste, we were able to unlock immediate savings and create long-term value. Managing supplier relationships is not about squeezing cost at all costs, it is about building partnerships that deliver real value and remain market related. At the same time, operational leadership demands the courage to make quick, decisive calls when factors affecting rates or earnings are at stake. The ability to back those decisions, even when uncomfortable, adds immense value to both margins and momentum. Profitability and agility are not opposing forces. When balanced correctly, they reinforce each other, allowing the business to grow quickly, but with the confidence that every step forward is sustainable.
Writing the next chapter
We are entering a new phase at Inospace. Our growth is accelerating, and our base is stronger than ever. Speed remains our DNA, but now with even more engine capacity to chase what lies ahead.
The bigger the dragon, the more epic the story. You have seen nothing yet, what’s coming next from this team will rewrite the playbook!