Happy International Women’s Day in Real Estate
The real estate industry is an amazing sector where women have and keep on performing incredibly. They have truly shattered the glass ceiling and made an invaluable place for themselves. On this special occasion, we wanted to shed light on some of PRD’s most wonderful over-achievers, how they came to the industry, what they have accomplished and how women of the future can flourish in this business.
Jacqui Bijnens - Chief Operating Officer of PRD Tamworth
What led you to begin your career in the real estate industry?
“After a career in Corporate Finance as a Partner of a global Chartered Accounting firm in London, I returned to Tamworth in 2013 with my husband to raise our young family and to be near my home town and parents. I felt a career change was needed and applied for a new role that had been created by the then owners of PRD Tamworth for an Operations Manager.
Having previously worked with clients in the real estate industry I felt I’d be able to make a great contribution to the business in this role, and that I’d be able to do it on a part-time basis, which suited my young family. I was struck by how professionally the PRD Tamworth business was run and by the values of the Director team and knew this would be a great place to continue to develop my career in a different sector.”
What has been a highlight in your real estate career?
“Winning REB’s Women in Real Estate Awards – Diversity Office of the Year 2021 – Regional is definitely a highlight. It was wonderful to see how the integration of our Core Values, developed in 2015, have helped shape the fabulous team we have today. Our core value of “Balance is our Backbone” has certainly contributed to assisting women working in real estate, with 92% of our team being women!"
What advice would you give to women who want to get into the real estate industry?
“It really depends on what stage of life you are in and what works with your current commitments. Thinking you can launch straight into being a Sales Agent when you have a young family would likely not be realistic, however, there are plenty of other options.
We have run a number of Real Estate Career Information Evenings and many people are not aware of all of the various roles in Real Estate. My main advice is to do your Certificate of Registration and get your foot in the door in a role you will do well in. It may be as a receptionist or in administration, but if you do your role well and show potential, the career paths and earning potentials are vast."
What is the most important piece of advice you have been given in real estate?
“I still remember our Founding Director consoling me one day early in my real estate career with the phrase “Managing Property Management is like wrestling with an octopus.” It certainly can be at times, but with a great team there are ways to tame the octopus!”
Philippa Brooks - General Manager of PRD Port Stephens
What led you to begin your career in the real estate industry?
“As a kid, I was always interested in houses, in particular, home interiors and was always dreaming about one day having a home just like the ones in the magazines. This sparked my initial interest early on and it just grew from there. Later on in life I knew I loved meeting new people and hearing their stories so naturally, these 2 interests came together.”
What has been a highlight in your real estate career?
“Being able to work with some of Australia’s top agents and more recently being recognised across a few awards platforms after 19 years in the industry.”
What advice would you give to women who want to get into the real estate industry?
“Real estate is a great career, there are a variety of roles within the industry suited to a range of personalities and skillsets and if you work hard in the earlier days you can create a flexible lifestyle later on which can be very beneficial for women who choose to become mothers but still want to maintain a career for themselves as well. “
What is the most important piece of advice you have been given in real estate?
“Don’t try and be someone you’re not, people see through insincerity. Work hard and do the right thing by people and your time will come.”
May Dunlop - Principal of PRD Darwin
What led you to begin your career in the real estate industry?
“It was suggested to me by a friend who thought it would suit my personality, this friend also happened to own PRD Darwin and there I started my career back in 2003, I was only 20. I worked the stale listings sitting in the office that the other salespeople lost interest in doing opens for, I was hungry to make sales. I ended up selling 7 of those stale listings in my first month.“
What has been a highlight in your real estate career?
“Winning the Real Estate Institute of Australia Residential Sales Person Award in 2010. At the time I was the first female to have received the award and the youngest. Another major highlight was winning the Real Estate Institute of Northern Territory’s, Small Agency of the year 3 years in a row - 2015, 2016 and 2017.”
What advice would you give to women who want to get into the real estate industry?
“It’s an exciting and flexible career that allows me to have a good balance between work and home. I enjoy being my own boss, it allows me to choose what days and hours I work as well as be there for my kids."
