International Women’s Day – Changes and opportunities for women

I was thrilled to be promoted to Managing Director – Hospitality Consulting and invited to join Sub Co, our senior management team, last month, and over the past year Courteney Donaldson was also promoted to Managing Director of Childcare and Education and invited to join Sub Co. 

Other well-deserved promotions include: 

Rosie Adlem, Director
Sophie Cooper, Consultant
Anna Eck, Associate Director
Hannah Gaskell, Senior Consultant
Tamara Gee, Senior Agent
Jen Gill, Senior Surveyor
Gemma Glazier, Senior Secretary
Amy Gray, Valuer
Beth Hall, Senior Valuer
Olga Kiilunen, Senior Consultant
Kate Marchant, People & Development Executive
Vicky Marsland, Business Agent – Childcare
Caroline Matthews, Director
Anna Muizniece, Corporate Communications - Junior Executive
Sandra Pechac, Marketing Manager Germany, Austria & CEE/Team Assistant
Katie Richardson, Valuer
Rachel Seward, Director
Kia Shaw, Valuer
Kay Strobl, Director
Hayley Taylor, Senior Valuer

Whilst the property market has often been seen as a male-dominated sector, I am seeing more and more powerful and motivated women leaders who are pushing the glass ceiling and with that, making a real difference to the workplace. 

Earlier this week I attended the International Hotels Investment Forum (IHIF) where my colleagues and I attended a women’s networking breakfast. I was encouraged to see so many inspiring women there – a growing number every year is such an encouraging sign. Last summer Christie & Co hosted our first women’s networking cocktail event where Courteney discussed her road to success, leading a highly-successful, female-dominated team in the childcare sector. What was clear from her story, and from many women I’ve spoken to in the property sector, are the recurring themes of strong female role models and women supporting women. The property market has drastically changed over the past decade and it is motivating to see that all of us can make perceptions change and create a strong support network for the ladies of tomorrow. 

A few weeks ago I co-hosted a round table event with Claire Hughes, Partner – Property Group at Pinsent Masons. We were joined by women from leading advisory, private equity and hotel companies to discuss the role one’s mind plays in enabling success, identifying the barriers which limit self-belief and sharing our own experiences. A common theme was ensuring that we achieve change for ourselves and the next generation. At Christie & Co we are determined to hire, grow and foster the careers of women, whether they be senior hires or graduates making their first move into the property market.