When Watchdog was founded in Philadelphia in 2003, the idea was straightforward: give clients an independent, conflict-free advocate to navigate the complexity of real estate project management. More than two decades later, the firm has grown into a national, middle market operation spanning multiple service lines and it still calls Philadelphia home.
"Our headquarters and a large part of our team still reside in the Philadelphia region," says Natalie Malawey-Ednie, President of Service Lines at Watchdog. "We want to stay connected to our roots, continue to invest and build right here at home, and provide opportunities for our people to be connected to their community."
That community investment shows up in tangible ways. Through the Live and Learn initiative, funded by a grant from the William Penn Foundation, Watchdog partnered with the Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network to bring co-designed learning spaces to affordable housing developments in Philadelphia's Susquehanna Square and Sharswood neighborhoods. The installations, unveiled last summer, range from murals to fully designed play-friendly backyards, all built alongside residents to reflect the culture and values of the communities they serve.
The firm's growth has been deliberately shaped by the people it brings in. About a decade ago, Watchdog made a conscious decision to recruit beyond its corporate roots, building a team with diverse backgrounds and experience. The result is a company repeatedly recognized on the Philadelphia Inquirer Top Workplaces list and one where 54% of employees and 58% of leadership are women.
Malawey-Ednie is matter-of-fact about what those numbers mean. "I believe real success on this front can be acknowledged when statistics like ours become more the norm and not the outlier."
Watchdog joined the Chamber to stay connected to the broader business community it has helped shape. For Malawey-Ednie, the value has been in the conversations, particularly in smaller forums where leaders can talk openly about how to grow the region together. That spirit of collaboration, she says, is what keeps a company like Watchdog invested in Greater Philadelphia even as its work takes it across the country.
