There’s no surer way to get something done than telling Patricia Phillips that she can’t do it. As a trailblazer in business, Patricia has an impressive resumé: she was the founder and CEO of three successful oil and gas companies, served as an economist on trade policy development for the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and was one of the few female financial analysts on Wall Street before taking on the CEO role at PBA Group after her father Joe Phillips’ passing in 2003. Since then, she has built on the foundation established by her father but has done it in a style all her own.
“Commercial real estate has traditionally been male-dominated, so breaking into established networks, gaining equal access to capital and being taken seriously in high-stakes negotiations can require extra resilience, strategy and credibility-building,” says Patricia Phillips. “These challenges also shape one of our biggest strengths: adaptability and the opportunity to achieve when most people say, ‘this is not possible.’”
She relishes the challenge of conquering the impossible, and the result of this mindset can be found in PBA’s long-standing partnerships with the city’s developers, institutions, family enterprises, communities, investors and tenants. It all started when Joe Phillips, an oilman looking to diversify his investments away from depleting assets like energy, established a healthy inventory of land and started developing a few assets. Over the decades, the entrepreneur led by example, earning trust and respect by always taking the needs of the community into account during every project. And today, PBA continues to operate on the notion that by addressing the concerns and needs of the various stakeholders, businesses can make vital, sustainable and valuable long-term contributions to society.
“My late father always believed that success isn’t just about what you build for yourself. It’s about what you build for others,” she says. “That guiding principle continues to shape how I lead today at PBA.”
Patricia had the opportunity to put that principle into practice as she, fresh off her MBA, cut her teeth developing Strathcona Square Shopping Centre in the early 1990s. After extensive research and consultation with the community to determine what they did and did not want and to listen to all concerns so she could mitigate them, she executed the plan to perfection. Not only did the development bring new retailers and vibrancy to the area, but it also won the International Council of Shopping Centres award for the innovative design and construction of the complex.
From there, Patricia has steadily grown the scope of the company and has taken a different approach to leadership than her father before her. She balances the entrepreneurial spirit and family enterprise aspects of her father with her own strong governance and institutional sophistication to bring the best of worlds together. Since becoming CEO, she and her talented team have expanded the company’s operations to include a full complement of services spanning land development, investments, property developments, hospitality and management, and she has sextupled growth resulting in PBA closing over $2 billion in transactions.
Patricia achieved this with a collaborative, inclusive approach that encourages all partners to dream together and then make that dream a reality. She leads with radical empathy and respect, allowing her to connect more deeply with partners to forge stronger relationships.
“Empathy, inclusion and innovation are a part of our core values, and these values are instrumental in how we lead the business, navigate through challenges and economic uncertainty, form and sustain relationships and foster a strong internal culture,” Patricia says. “At PBA, we firmly believe that our differences and what makes one another unique is what drives our success, and that our diversity needs to be celebrated. As a result, I’ve made it a priority as a leader for PBA’s team to represent diverse viewpoints, life stages and backgrounds.”
That diversity extends into the market as well, and PBA has grown to include land development and management, vertical and mixed-use development and in-house leasing and property management expertise. In 2022, the company made its first foray into hospitality development with The Dorian Hotel, a 27-storey luxury hotel inspired by Oscar Wilde but experienced through a Calgary lens. From the local soaps and linens to specially distilled spirits from Eau Claire Distillery, The Dorian has a distinct personality that melds Alberta roots with a touch of Britain. This iconic downtown destination is dual-branded as a luxury-end Autograph Collection and the more hard-branded Courtyard by Marriott, and among its awards and accolades is the prestigious One Michelin Key, making it one of only four hotels bestowed with the honour in the province and the only hotel located in an Alberta urban centre.
Patricia recognizes the importance of a strong urban centre and sees the downtown core as the heart and soul of the city. She is proud to be part of revitalizing Calgary’s core with PBA’s most recent development, the Element Hotel by Westin. This conversion project is turning 170,000 square feet of vacant downtown office space into 225 fully furnished extended-stay units that incorporate high standards of sustainability. PBA is implementing energy-efficient solutions in the suites and reusing and recycling as much material as possible from the office to divert 572,000 kilograms of waste from the landfill. The goal is not only to attract visitors to the area but also to reflect the spirit of the city and deliver a renewed sense of community in Calgary’s west end.
That sense of community is key, and the PBA team is proud to be part of making the Calgary community stronger. The company proudly supports Big Brothers Big Sisters Alberta through ongoing donations, and is also a dedicated partner of Kids Cancer Care. Last year, their annual funding helped bring a new archery range to life at their camp, contributing an additional $30,000 to make it happen. Patricia is also active on a number of boards and in organizations, investing time and resources to important initiatives. She is not only the Chair of Headversity, a mental health training program that fosters workplace mental wellbeing, safety and operational excellence, but PBA is also a client to ensure theirs is a psychologically safe work environment where people feel valued, respected and empowered. Patricia is also co-chair of the Board of Governors for the Glenbow Museum, raising funds and awareness of what the museum has to offer to help enhance its legacy as a community landmark in Calgary. She mentors many young professionals as well, but after building a career in male-dominated industries, Patricia is committed to mentoring future female leaders to ensure they are supported and confident enough to challenge the status quo.
“I’m not afraid to be a contrarian. You can’t be afraid to be different, and that’s why I tell the women I mentor that you need to be brave. You need to do your homework, but you need to take risks or you’re never going to move forward,” she says.
The milestone anniversary of PBA is a great time to look back, but Patricia Phillips is all about moving and looking forward. With the family business’ next generation in the wings, the company is committed to playing a continued role in Calgary’s revitalization and is offering innovative solutions to diversify the portfolio as it pursues new opportunities.
“A 60-year legacy is a testament to meaningful local engagement, supporting Calgary’s growth, community development and contributing to the city’s evolving skyline,” Patricia says. “It reflects PBA’s long-standing commitment to being more than a developer but a true partner in the city’s economic and social fabric.”
Joe Phillips Building
101- 6th Street SW Suite 220
Calgary, Alberta T2P 5K7
Email: info@pbaland.com
Phone: 403.777.2722
Tenant Services: 403.777.2729
