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The fastest way to close the gender gap in real estate is for more women to become principals, according to a chief executive.
One Agency CEO Paul Davies has said, “the real estate industry has made a lot of improvements in gender equality during my 40-plus years in the industry, but we still have some way to go”.
“The fastest way to close the gap is for more women to become principals, because then it inspires other women to follow the same path,” he commented.
One Agency co-founder Annie Davies – one of the only women in Australia to have founded or co-founded a network the size of hers – sees real estate as an industry that suits many women.
“Real estate is one of those industries where you need to be a self-starter and you get judged on results, so there isn’t as much of a glass ceiling,” she said.
Ms Davies also acknowledged that while real estate can involve long hours, “there’s often some flexibility in when you do those hours, which means, if you’re a working mum, you can make time to do school drop-offs and attend school functions”.
The pair have revelled in the fact that their network has grown an “unofficial network” of sorts – women mentoring women.
One Agency Liverpool Plains’ Elizabeth Morris is one such licensee who drew on the support.
“It’s a very male-dominated industry, and as much as we have progressed in the years, there are still a lot of older males out there who don’t think we can do it,” she expressed.
“If we listen to that side of the argument, we can become very self-conscious.”
She said that coming from a middle-class family and making the call to go out on her own was a “huge decision” – and one she thought she “would never be able to accomplish”.
Annette Pinkerton, the owner of One Agency Pinkerton Properties, knows all too well the importance of female real estate professionals supporting each other.
“I believe that because women are not greatly represented in our area, that prospective new talent looking for mentors or someone to aspire to might bypass our industry,” she said.
“I try to ascertain what their goals are before dishing out advice. I let them know that I’m here to support them. Sometimes, all they need is the encouragement and belief from another woman to find the courage to take the leap.”
Stephanie Mason is another woman who has offered herself in a mentorship capacity, despite only opening One Agency Stephanie Mason in July of last year.
She said: “I find it very easy to relate to these women why the move is so great for a female in particular, especially if they are running a one-person business like myself.”
As well as touting the benefits of joining the group, Ms Mason spends time with the women she is supporting, discussing the reasons an agent may be looking to move into a business or leadership role – acknowledging the obstacles that might appear, and the benefits such a career move can provide, whether that’s for personal, lifestyle, or professional goals.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace Ormsby
Grace is a journalist across Momentum property and investment brands. Grace joined Momentum Media in 2018, bringing with her a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from the University of Newcastle. She’s passionate about delivering easy to digest information and content relevant to her key audiences and stakeholders.
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