Promoting Women in Property- Julie Hislop
The Property Council sat down with Julie Hislop, Associate Director, Bankwest to discuss how industry initiatives help to encourage and promote young women.
- What advice would you give to future leading women in property?
Dream big. Anything is possible. Don’t not go for that next role because you haven’t 100% ticked all the boxes on the Job Description. More often than not you have the skills and can learn on the go. We are our own worst enemy self-doubt wise.
- What are the greatest challenges you have had to overcome in your career to date?
Public speaking. As you progress in your career the requirement for public speaking increases and even if you find it uncomfortable, you still have to do it. But the more you do it, the more proficient you get at it and it doesn’t seem as nerve-racking.
- What can/ should the industry be doing to promote women in industry?
The Women in Property mentoring program and the Property Council’s diversity committees are great initiatives to promote women. We need to be supportive of each other and network more regularly and have more women guest speakers to have a presence.
- Who have been your greatest influences, both personally and professionally?
Personally, I would have to say my dad. He has always challenged me to think outside the box and go for anything – use everything as a life experience. Failures and set-backs are there to learn from and to use to grow and develop. Professionally, Steve Osborne (Previous head of Property Finance, BankSA). He wasn’t the best people person, but he lived and breathed property and taught me a great deal about the industry and finance side of things. He challenged you a lot in your outlook in that there are many ways to look at a property transaction – look for ways to do the deal rather than not do it.
- Why did you choose to be involved in the Property Council and what are your thoughts on our various diversity initiatives?
I thought the Future Directions Committee promoting young people in property and it’s motto of ‘promote, connect, inspire’ was a great initiative to be a part of to increase my networks in the industry in WA. The various diversity initiatives are all inclusive and go a long way to lowering the perceived glass ceiling.