Founder’s Story: She Hit the Ceiling—So She Built Her Own Empire Episode 207 | Release Date: April 24, 2025

Hosted by IBH Media, "Founder’s Story" delves deep into the journeys of visionary entrepreneurs around the globe. In Episode 207, we meet Sheelam Chadha, the dynamic founder of Dry Capital, who shares her bold strategies to navigate and reshape Europe’s challenging real estate market.

1. Introduction to Sheelam Chadha

The episode features Sheelam Chadha, affectionately referred to as Sheila, the founder of Dry Capital. With over two decades of experience in commercial real estate and institutional transactions in Europe, Sheila brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to the real estate investment landscape.

2. Sheila’s Journey to Founding Dry Capital

Sheila launched Dry Capital on International Women's Day 2025, marking a significant milestone that underscores her commitment to empowering women in the business sphere.

“I decided to go through with it and just start my own thing because I believe in recapitalization into commercial real estate.”
—Sheila [03:07]

Sheila’s extensive background includes leadership roles in listed companies based in Brussels, interacting with a myriad of international investors. Frustrated by the limitations and the "glass ceiling" she encountered, Sheila chose entrepreneurship over seeking new employment, aiming to align her experience with her vision.

3. Navigating the Volatile European Real Estate Market

The European real estate market has faced significant turbulence in recent years, influenced by factors such as quantitative easing, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rapidly rising interest rates.

“There was cheap debt for almost a bulk of 10 years, and everybody was buying real estate. It offered interesting returns compared to other asset classes.”
—Sheila [05:35]

Sheila explains how the post-2015 environment of inexpensive borrowing led to a surge in real estate investments. However, the onset of COVID-19 temporarily stalled the market, only for it to heat up again before interest rates surged from approximately 1% to 5% within two years. This spike rendered traditional financing more restrictive, creating significant challenges for investors and developers alike.

4. Dry Capital’s Strategic Response

In response to these market dynamics, Dry Capital positions itself as a vital solution provider by injecting private capital into companies seeking alternative financing avenues. Traditional bank financing has become less accessible, and Sheila predicts that normal M&A activity may not resume until around 2030.

“What Dry Capital is doing is we're placing private capital into companies that are looking for alternative ways to finance because the traditional bank financing is no longer... a lot more limited.”
—Sheila [05:35]

Dry Capital aims to offer breathing space for property owners and investors to navigate this prolonged period of uncertainty, facilitating the continuation and completion of real estate projects despite the financial headwinds.

5. Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

Sheila emphasizes the additional layers of challenge faced by women in male-dominated industries, including increased criticism and the constant need to prove oneself. Her advice centers on self-belief, taking risks, and building a strong support network.

“You need to go for it and take the risk and fight for what you believe in and have the courage.”
—Sheila [09:27]

Sheila encourages women to overcome fear and skepticism, advocating for courage and conviction as essential traits for entrepreneurial success.

6. The Crucial Role of Networking

Networking emerges as a cornerstone of Sheila’s success. Drawing from her early days, Sheila credits numerous industry events and personal connections with major investors for building the robust network that Dry Capital leverages today.

“Your personal network and the trust that people have in you is the most important, valuable tool you can have.”
—Sheila [13:04]

She advises young professionals to actively engage in networking opportunities, attend conferences, and cultivate meaningful relationships to foster trust and mutual support within their industries.

7. Leveraging Corporate Experience for Entrepreneurial Success

Sheila reflects on her corporate tenure, highlighting how navigating financial downturns and company restructurings equipped her with the resilience and strategic insight necessary for leading Dry Capital.

“The complicated situations that I've been in were the ones I learned the most.”
—Sheila [20:03]

Her experience in managing corporate crises has been instrumental in shaping Dry Capital’s approach to tackling market volatility and providing strategic financial solutions to clients.

8. Vision for Dry Capital’s Future

Looking ahead, Sheila envisions Dry Capital expanding into a prominent Pan-European player by 2030. She plans to establish strategic partnerships across major European cities, targeting projects that promise attractive medium-term returns of three to five years.

“I have plans to grow the company with strategic partnerships in some of the main cities in Europe.”
—Sheila [11:37]

This expansion strategy underscores Dry Capital’s commitment to being a key operational platform in the European commercial real estate investment sector.

9. Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Sheila concludes by reiterating the importance of integrity and trust in business. She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to stay true to their values and build strong, supportive networks.

“We're all a little bit of values. And so, yeah, no, I think the work through periods and the companies I worked with in the past were the...”
—Sheila [20:03]

For those interested in learning more or connecting with Sheila, she invites listeners to visit her website or connect via LinkedIn.

Connect with Sheelam Chadha:

• Website: Dry Capital
• LinkedIn: Sheelam Chadha

Thank you for tuning into "Founder’s Story." Stay inspired and keep building your empire.