Real Estate, Real Passion: How SVP of Real Estate Ryan O’Sullivan Builds Joy for Pets and People

When you meet Ryan O’Sullivan, PetSmart’s Senior Vice President of Real Estate, it’s immediately clear that he’s as passionate about our mission to help everyone experience more joy with pets as he is about the spaces that make it come to life. With nearly two decades at PetSmart, Ryan’s #LifeAtPetSmart and career journey is one built on growth, curiosity, and a deep connection to both pets and people.

From Analyst to SVP

“I joined PetSmart in 2006 as a Real Estate Research Analyst, supporting new store growth through mapping and analytics. Today, I’m the SVP of Real Estate, where I get to work alongside our entire Real Estate team.” Ryan’s path from analyst to senior leader is a testament to the opportunities PetSmart offers for associates who are eager to learn and grow. “I had been a loyal customer since the early ’90s and a big fan of the brand,” he recalls.

Friends who worked here spoke highly of the company’s culture and mission. At the time, I was only a couple of years into my real estate career, so when the opportunity came up, I jumped at it.

Meet Cat 🐾

Ryan is a proud pet parent to a black rescue cat appropriately (and simply) named Cat. “She adopted me in 2022 during a store walk at #147 in Scottsdale, AZ,” he says.

Lessons in Leadership

Over the years, Ryan has learned that success in real estate—and in leadership—comes from perspective. “The first SVP I worked for taught me the importance of looking beyond my role, giving me an understanding of how my actions can impact not just my immediate team, but the larger organization.” He describes his PetSmart journey in three words: “Fun, challenging, and dynamic.”

Ryan chose this meme to describe what he does :)

Beyond Site Selection

When people hear “Real Estate,” they often think of new store openings—but Ryan says the work goes far beyond that. “Many people assume the Real Estate team only focuses on finding new store locations, but the department supports the full lifecycle of our stores. Beyond Site Selection and Leasing, we partner on Development, Construction, Fixtures & Equipment, Resets, Refresh & Remodels, Facilities Management, Lease Administration, and Energy. It takes a diverse, talented group to bring it all together.”

Living PetSmart Values

Ryan connects most deeply with two of PetSmart’s core values. “Responsible Leadership is one of my favorites because anyone can be a leader, no matter what their title is. I’m also a big believer in having a Bias for Action as it keeps us moving forward.”

Those values are evident in how Ryan approaches his work—and how he advises others to do the same. “Spend as much time in our stores as you can. Everything we do supports what happens there, and every visit teaches you something new.”

Growth, Motivation, and Balance

Reflecting on what’s helped him grow, Ryan credits one consistent experience throughout his career: time in stores. “Ever since I first started my career here, I have had the opportunity to continually visit our stores across the United States (including Puerto Rico) and Canada. This experience has allowed me to better my understanding of how our business works and guides me to always work in the pursuit of supporting our stores.”

When it comes to staying motivated, Ryan doesn’t have to look far.

Our mission to help everyone experience more joy with pets keeps me inspired. At the heart of it all are our customers, associates, and pets, and that’s a constant source of motivation.

He adds a personal touch to his workspace as well: “My must-have item in the office is my vintage PetSmart hoodie! It keeps me warm and shows my PetSmart pride.”

Ryan’s team surprised him by all wearing his favorite color — black — to celebrate his birthday!

His best advice for maintaining balance?

Be intentional about your time. When you’re at work, focus fully on learning, contributing, and growing. When you’re outside of work, give yourself permission to unplug and be present with family, friends, and pets. Both sides fuel each other.

Wrapping Up

Ryan’s story is one of growth, gratitude, and grounded leadership. From mapping new store locations to leading the team that helps bring PetSmart’s mission to life in every community, he embodies what it means to experience more joy with pets — and with purpose.