As International Women’s Day (IWD) approaches, one group is shining the spotlight on women in real estate leadership roles to show others around Australia how they can do it themselves.
Leading Ladies of Real Estate will be hosting a series of events in capital cities and regional locations for IWD, which lands on March 8.
But they’re far from alone – groups, businesses and others are set to mark the day in their own way and celebrate the achievements of women around the world.
Leading Ladies co-organiser and Ray White head of organisational development Natalie Hortz told Realestate.com.au that visibility was key.
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” she said.
“It’s important for us to showcase the journeys of successful women in the industry, so others can see what’s possible.
“We want to tell the full story – not just the stats and the wins, but how these women got there.
Leading Ladies of Real Estate started in 2022. Picture: Supplied
“For someone juggling parenthood or feeling stuck in their role, hearing these stories can be a game-changer.”
Ms Hortz said the gender divide in the real estate industry was about 50-50 overall, but there was a higher proportion of men in sales roles or who were business owners.
In the past, women have been more likely to work in property management, operations and administration roles in the real estate industry.
While these roles are important, the group wants to change the narrative and show women who want to take the leap into sales and business ownership how others have made the transition.
Leading Ladies was formed by a small group of Ray White staff in 2021, but has become an industry-wide movement focused on building a community regardless of where people work.
They have held events across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, as well as regional locations such as Townsville and Mackay.
“The energy in the room is so supportive,” Ms Hortz said.
“Everyone’s there to connect and network, it’s not about pushing a brand or an agenda, it’s about lifting each other up.”
The group holds events across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and regional locations. Picture: Supplied
The group has embraced a ‘recharge and reset’ theme for their IWD events in a nod to the long hours and high pressure of working in the real estate industry.
Ms Hortz said it was a great time of year for real estate professionals to have a reset.
“We all start the year with so much energy, but we’re often in a slump by March,” she said.
“This event is about giving women the tools to protect their wellbeing and mental health while still pursuing high performance.”
The group hosts women in real estate leadership roles so they can share their stories and insights. Picture: Supplied
For the group, success is measured by the connections women make and the opportunities they pursue after attending the events.
“We want women to build communities outside their offices,” Ms Hortz said.
“If they’re the only woman in their office, we want them to know they’re not alone.”
The ultimate goal, however, is to see more women stepping into leadership roles and become business owners.
“In 10 years, I’d love to see more women in business leader roles or as sales agents,” she said. “That’s the long-term vision.”
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