The WIP Around : Cindy Lee

The Property Council sat down with Cindy Lee, Managing Director of Crème Real Estate. 

• What time do you start work each day?

  I aim to be at my computer reviewing emails, news and action lists by 8am each day.  As a new mum, this can be challenging at times, but that’s where a flexible work environment really helps. 

• How much time do you spend on social media each week?

  I wouldn’t say that I am big user of social media, however I personally appreciate the benefits of professional networking platforms that plug you in directly with your business network. I tend to spend up to 10 minutes each day catching up on Linked In updates as they are relatively targeted to topics of interest in our industry.

• What’s the funniest piece of advice you’ve been given in your career?

  Work hard, play hard and celebrate your wins on our expense account at the pub – just make sure you turn up to work the next day! 

• What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring young women in the property industry?

  Have the confidence to go after what you want and don’t be afraid to speak up in any situation where you know you can make a positive difference. A lot of women have a tendency to hold back, particularly when they are in a male dominated environment.  But if you know your game and you are ambitious – make yourself heard.  If you find that a lack of confidence is holding you back in this area, then you should look for a mentor who is operating at the level where you want to be and ask them if they will assist in coaching you.  Most senior executives will be only too happy to help, you just need to take the first step and ask.  

• Sum up your job in 3 words

  Influencer.  Negotiator.  Marketer.

• If you weren’t a Real Estate Professional what you do and why?

  That’s a tough question as I’m very passionate about what I do. But I must confess to a love for Yoga and Meditation, so if I could tune out and operate as a Yogi every day, I’d be a lot more relaxed and I might feel 10 years younger than I currently do!

• What made you choose your career path?

When I was at university studying for a Commerce degree, my mother was working as a Shopping Centre Marketing Manager for the Perron Group and Jones Lang (LaSalle).  I got a feel for the property industry through her work and once I graduated, I also secured a position with Colliers in Perth marketing Shopping Centres.   But I had a burning ambition to leave WA and head to Australia’s ‘business mecca’ in Sydney.  I resigned from my role at Colliers, but was then requested to stay with the company and transfer to Sydney internally.  It was here that I took up the role of Marketing Manager for Residential Project Marketing, where I ended up being responsible for developments all over the country. I loved that we could start with a blank canvas and then end up with a beautiful end-development that really changed the way people lived.  One of my first and fondest developments that I was involved in was the delivery of the residential Bennelong buildings at Circular Quay in Sydney, right by the Opera House.  I still go walking there every time I’m back in Sydney as I remember what it was like before and what it’s like now – a beautiful place for people to dine, recreate and relax. It’s a wonderful feeling to be involved in projects like this that add to the fabric of how we live, and when you see the difference they make, you just want to do more!