Why Women in Property Deserve the Spotlight
When I first stepped into the property industry over two decades ago, I was often the only woman on site. It was a world of hard hats, steel-toed boots and male-dominated boardrooms. While I loved the work, the imbalance was impossible to ignore. Honestly, I embraced my feminine energy and used it in my favour, rightly or wrongly. I was often overlooked and underestimated, and in the end, it became a superpower of mine. There were so few women around me, so few role models to look up to, and even fewer opportunities for recognition.
The landscape has shifted since those early days. Today, we see more women entering the sector than ever before. However, visibility is still a battle. Despite their impact, many women’s achievements go unnoticed, overshadowed or uncelebrated. That reality has driven much of my career: creating programmes, networks and awards that give women the spotlight they deserve and ensure they know there is a seat waiting for them at the table.
Hard Hats to Heels: A National Movement
One of the most rewarding initiatives I have launched is Hard Hats to Heels, a networking platform built specifically for women in property and business. The idea was simple at first: bring together women who too often felt like the only one in the room. What started as small, intimate gatherings quickly grew into something much bigger.
The name says it all. Women in this industry navigate two worlds: the "hard hat" world of sites and planning, and the "heels" world of boardrooms and client meetings. Hard Hats to Heels celebrates that balance and provides a supportive community where women can share experiences, mentor one another and build connections that last.
Today, it is a national movement. New hosts and events are popping up across the UK, from London to Manchester, Birmingham to Leeds. Each event carries the same energy: women coming together to lift one another up and remind themselves that they are far from alone. Watching Hard Hats to Heels grow into a nationwide network has been extraordinary. It proves there is a hunger for these spaces and a need for platforms that allow women to thrive in our industry.
Less Than 5%: The Stat That Sparked a New Award
I have been very fortunate to be a long-standing judge across many awards ceremonies in our industry. Over time, I noticed something that shocked me: less than 5% of applications and nominees were women.
Less than 5%.
It was not because women were not achieving. They were. I had seen them leading multi-million-pound projects, driving sustainability, negotiating complex deals and often doing it behind the scenes quietly and unapologetically. The problem was visibility. These women were not being recognised in the spaces that mattered most because they were not putting themselves forward.
This frustrated me, and it became fuel for action. It is the reason I founded the Women in Property of the Year Award: to change the narrative. This category was designed to shine a spotlight on the women who were breaking barriers, leading with vision and shaping the future of our industry.
Cutting Through the Noise
We live in a “fake it before you make it” era, and honestly, I hate it. I see solid, hardworking women (and men) with decades of experience slip under the radar simply because they do not have a glossy personal brand. At the same time, brand-new entrants with barely a deal under their belt pitch themselves as seasoned experts, lead communities and sell mentorships.
It raises a question: are we celebrating people for their marketing, or for their actual experience and results? It is one of the reasons this award matters so much. The Women in Property of the Year Award is not about who shouts the loudest. It is about recognising real achievements, real impact and real leadership.
Let me be clear. This is not about being anti-men; it is simply being pro-women. Recognising women does not diminish the contributions of men. It simply brings balance to an industry that has historically overlooked half of its talent.
A Defining Moment
Announcing the very first winner of the Women in Property of the Year Award was a defining moment in my career. I was blown away by the calibre of the applications that came through. Honestly, every single nominee deserved recognition. Each woman represented strength, innovation and leadership.
When I stood on that stage and revealed the winner, I was not just celebrating one person. I was sending a message to the entire industry: women belong here, their contributions matter, and their achievements must be recognised. It was more than an award ceremony. It was the beginning of a shift in visibility, confidence and expectation.
What It Means for the Industry
This award is about more than a trophy. It is about changing perceptions and showing young women that property is not just a career they can step into; it is an industry where they can lead, innovate and thrive.
Property is stronger when women are visible. Diversity brings new ideas, new ways of thinking and better outcomes for businesses and communities alike. Recognising women in property is not just fair; it is smart business.
The ripple effect is already visible. Women are putting themselves forward in record numbers, nominating their peers and celebrating each other’s successes. The category, across all major awards, is building momentum, creating role models and inspiring the next generation of women to see property as a place where they can build long-term, rewarding careers.
Pride, Passion and Legacy
Looking back at my own journey, from being one of the only women on site over twenty years ago to launching a national network and founding an award that is now part of major industry ceremonies, I feel deeply proud.
I am proud of the women who have put themselves forward, often for the first time. I am proud of the finalists who inspire others with their resilience and success. I am proud of the network we have built through Hard Hats to Heels, which continues to grow stronger every day.
Above all, I am proud of the legacy this represents. For me, this is more than a passion project. It is about telling women that they can enter this industry and know, from day one, that there is a place for them at the table.
The Future Is Ours to Shape
There is still work to be done. Recognition, visibility and equality do not happen overnight. However, with every event, every award ceremony and every woman who steps forward, we are creating momentum.
From Hard Hats to Heels events happening across the UK to the Women in Property of the Year Award shining on the biggest stages, the message is clear: women in property are no longer the exception. They are the expectation.
To every woman in property, whether you are at the start of your career or decades into it, I will leave you with this: your work matters, your voice deserves to be heard, and your seat at the table is already waiting.
This is just the beginning.
