FOUNDER

Matthew, the founder of Shift Living, has skillfully combined financial discipline with creativity to build a diverse and distinctive real estate portfolio across New York, Panama, and Costa Rica. Since establishing Blesso Properties (BP) in 1998, Matthew has developed it into Shift Esperanza’s leading development partner, with a strong commitment to social and environmental impact alongside robust investment returns. His deep intellectual curiosity and inventive nature allow BP to uncover unique opportunities that competitors often overlook.

With a focus on community, art, design, and environmental stewardship, Matthew has fostered long-term relationships and a reputation for success. His vision for Shift Living stems from his belief in the profound benefits of community living, which he sees as a remedy to the isolation often experienced in modern lifestyles.

DIRECTOR OF DESIGN & INNOVATION

Ginger, as the Director of Design and Innovation at Shift, leverages her knowledge in design, art, and interiors, gained from studies at New York's Pratt Institute, Parsons School of Design, and the Art Students League. She is the creative force behind Shift's projects, expertly overseeing interior design, art curation, and furniture design. Collaborating with architects and artists, she ensures each project not only aligns with Shift’s vision for sustainability and beauty but also enhances the functionality and livability of spaces.

Currently, Ginger is exploring Bio-Design, incorporating living organisms and biological processes to create sustainable and innovative materials, furthering her commitment to environmental stewardship.

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Stephane, as the Director of Business Development at Shift Esperanza, brings extensive experience from founding Minerva Data and SODASH, where he led software innovation and regional expansion. His background as Deputy General Manager for LATAM & Spain at The Sandpit enhanced his expertise in launching technologies across diverse markets. Passionate about entrepreneurship, he actively contributes to community development projects that align with Shift Esperanza's sustainability goals.

Stephane's interests in climbing, surfing, and music demonstrate his dynamic approach to both personal and professional challenges, making him a valuable leader in driving business growth and operational excellence.

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Beth is a Chartered Marketer and self-made entrepreneur from the UK who was successfully running her own online marketing agency when she took on Shift as a client.

After a short while, Beth started to form an emotional attachment to the brand, recognizing its potential. In the end, Shift’s mission to create a positive social and environmental impact resonated with her on such a deep level that it motivated her to give up her agency and take on a full-time role as Shift’s Head of Marketing.

Beth has since helped to build the marketing and wider team and never ceases to push the boundaries and exceed expectations with her original ideas, creative solutions, and forward-thinking strategies.

LEAD COMMUNITY BUILDER

Sarah grew up in Toronto and began learning about real estate from a young age, assisting her dad in managing multifamily properties.

By the age of 16, she had taken over his real estate portfolio and expanded her knowledge to include other investing strategies, such as private lending and syndications.

At 24, she entered the real estate sales arena, winning the top agent under 30 award for three consecutive years and selling $55 million worth of real estate. Amidst the COVID pandemic, she made the decision to leave Canada, and after living in three different countries, Sarah and her husband decided to settle in Costa Rica with their two children.

DIRECTOR OF CULTURE & COMMUNITY

Driven by a deep passion for nurturing authentic connections, promoting well-being, and cultivating personal growth, Hannah moved to Nosara’s vibrant community from Toronto after reaching burnout on her previous career path.

Having built and managed four popular restaurants and bars in Toronto’s downtown entertainment district, Hannah shifted gears to pursue a career in holistic wellness and intuitive mentorship. Hannah supports clients on their journey of self-discovery and encourages the process of uncovering their unique gifts and forming an unbreakable bond with their intuition to lead a more confident and fulfilling life.

Valuing authenticity and creativity and ensuring that every day incorporates a sense of play, Hannah brings her warm energy to the Shift team and community to develop a strong community culture, strengthen bonds, and celebrate a spirit of collaboration.

MARKETING & OPERATIONS MANAGER

Stephanie is from Melbourne, Australia and has a combined Marketing, Events and Entrepreneurship background that spans over 15 years in companies across the globe including Australia, Germany, USA, Chile and now Costa Rica. She also has experience in Retail, Hospitality, Tourism, and E-commerce industries to name a few. She is bi-lingual and has worked in Latin America for the past 6 years. Her decision to join Shift was driven by a genuine passion for the mission to create a successful model for socially and environmentally responsible developments.

She has a great passion for sustainability, and is so excited to be part of a project that is pushing the boundaries on innovative sustainability. In her free time you can find her with her husband and son hanging at the beach, having a sunset deep conversation with her gals, or creating her sustainable clothing brand Sjane.

CREATIVE CONTENT MANAGER

Wylie Bee, originally from San Diego, California, is an accomplished Illustrator and surfer. Holding a BFA in Illustration from California State University Long Beach, and six years of experience in shaping brand identities and spearheading social media campaigns, Wylie has honed her expertise in graphic design and brand communication. At Shift Esperanza, she excels in weaving the organization's values into its visual identity, creating narratives that resonate deeply with its audience.

Beyond her professional achievements, Wylie treasures the friendships that have formed within her team. She finds joy in collaborative work and in her personal pursuits of painting, mural making, and surfing all around Costa Rica.

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER & ADMINISTRATION

Ari is an accomplished professional with a background in management and human resources, excels in administration and compliance tasks.

Her previous experiences highlight her leadership skills and expertise in personnel management, HR policy implementation, and staff organization but also demonstrates her ability to handle high-level responsibilities effectively. With a Master of Arts in Management in Switzerland, Ariane's educational background complements her practical experience. Her proficiency in communication, project monitoring, and administration tasks, along with her multilingual abilities, positions her as a standout strength for roles in administration finance inside Shift company. 

Ariane's particular attention to detail and her keen eye for aesthetics make her also very knowledgeable for more Creative tasks.

FARM MANAGER

Emanuel joined Shift in 2023 as the Farm Manager, leveraging his deep agricultural roots from Costa Rica and extensive experience in both agriculture and the electrical industry.

Emanuel comes from a family of farmers and has a small agricultural project in the mountains of Heredia, where he and his family grow and process their own coffee.

Emanuel holds a degree in Biosystems Engineering, which gives him theoretical basis in biology, chemistry, physics and the correlation between them in an ecosystem. Working at Shift gives Emanuel a chance to apply this knowledge by helping the project in the restoration of healthy ecosystems, conscious food production, protection of water resources, residue management, and positive social impact.

LEAD LAND DESIGNER

Sam Kenworthy is a water systems enthusiast and landscape manager with over a decade of experience in the tropics. He has experience designing and developing educational curriculum for students of all ages, particularly focused on conservation, practical skill building, and applied research. Originally from the east coast of the United States, Sam currently resides on the southern Pacific coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica.

Dedicated to continued learning and improving his skill sets, he is passionate about self sufficiency, water management, generating more and better yields, and well executed design for human eco-systems. Experienced in working in a wide variety of environments, he enjoys the challenge and process of designing around problematic landscapes. Sam holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Political Science and Hispanic Studies.