Staff Spotlight: Natalie Good

This is the first in a series highlighting the team members at Terra and the experiences and perspectives they bring to our work. 

In this Staff Spotlight, we’re introducing Natalie Good, Office Manager at Terra, whose background in culture, operations, and people shapes the day-to-day experience of our team.  

Background and Path 

Natalie’s career spans industries and continents. She started in hospitality, moved into dentistry in the UK, and later worked as a flight attendant with Emirates, where she travelled the world and worked with new teams on every flight. “You’re working with a completely new group of people every time, often from many different nationalities,” she shared. “That really shaped how I think about culture and belonging.” 

After moving to Canada, Natalie worked in an accounting firm and eventually returned to school, completing an Associate of Environmental Studies. Through her studies, she learned about the geography and history of Canada, and developed a deeper understanding of housing affordability, mental health, and broader social issues in BC. “I started to learn more about the society I was living in and wanted to work somewhere I could contribute to those challenges.” 

Although she hadn’t considered a career in real estate, discovering Terra introduced Natalie to social purpose real estate. “What initially drew me in was the mission, what Terra does, its history, and how it works with communities.” She pointed in particular to Terra’s approach to partnerships with Indigenous communities and its role in supporting capacity building. While she doesn’t work on the technical development side, Natalie saw an opportunity to contribute by supporting the team delivering that work.  

Role at Terra 

Today, Natalie’s role sits within operations, with a focus on employee experience and the day-to-day functioning of the organization. “There’s no typical day,” she said. “My role is about making sure people feel welcome, supported, and have what they need – both practically and in terms of psychological safety.” Her work spans onboarding, office operations, and supporting the team day to day, while also asking questions about how the organization can continue to grow and improve, including a focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. 

A key focus over the past year has been leading Terra’s transition to a new office space. “It was about more than just moving offices. It was an opportunity to create a space that supports the culture we’re building.” That included gathering input from the team on how they work best – from desk setups to lighting preferences, and creating spaces for both focused work and connection. “We wanted people to feel like it’s their space, that they had a say in it.” The result is an environment designed to better support how the team works day to day. 

Natalie has also co-led Terra’s work toward Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. In February, the organization submitted for audit as a PAIR Committed business. She is part of a working group that makes recommendations to leadership and works alongside external consultants on this journey. 

Collaboration is another consistent theme in Natalie’s experience. She noted that this mindset is shared across the organization, with team members regularly stepping in to support one another. “You’ll hear people say, ‘How can we support you?’ That’s just how people show up here.” While Terra is not a nonprofit, Natalie observed that it attracts people who want to work in the nonprofit  sector. “There’s a strong focus on the people we’re building for and getting the best outcomes for our clients.”  

That focus continues to shape both Natalie’s role and how the team works together.