Professionals from British Land, Derwent London, Segro and other leading property firms have taken part in a candid discussion of the challenges balancing parenting commitments with busy work schedules in a podcast series hosted by real estate recruitment specialist Madison Berkeley.
The REal Juggle, which launched this week with CoStar News as media partner, focuses on the major challenges faced by real estate professionals when raising young families and forging property careers, tackling topics such as childcare costs, the value of flexible working policies and persisting gender stereotypes in the workplace.
Made up of five episodes, Madison Berkeley cofounder Clare Coe and consultant Jack Hechle interview guests from all ranks and corners of the real estate industry, featuring professionals from agencies, developers and investors.
Podcast episode links:
Monday - Lydia Good, head of UK talent at Knight Frank, and Rebecca Gardiner, head of Storey
Tuesday - Andrew Gibson, managing director at Kontor, and Lorna Barratt, senior asset manager at Derwent
Wednesday - Anthea Harries, asset management director at Related Argent, and Anna Strongman, CEO of OUD
The series starts with Lydia Good, head of UK talent at Knight Frank, and Rebecca Gardiner, head of British Land's flexible workspace business, Storey, who discuss the support they received from their employers when confronted with difficult personal circumstances during and after their pregnancies. Please note this recording discusses baby loss and loss in general.
Kontor managing director Andrew Gibson talks about the benefits of being able to shape working from home and parental leave policy as a business leader in Tuesday's episode, having experienced both sides of the coin. He speaks alongside Lorna Barratt, senior asset manager at Derwent.
In another recording, Related Argent asset management director Anthea Harries and Oxford University Developments CEO Anna Strongman shed light on how they carve out time for their work teams and their families during the week in Wednesday's episode.
Anna Whitton, Get Living's director of corporate affairs, and Rebecca Harper, head of investment at Rapleys, discuss the importance of flexible working and how it can support mothers stay in roles after returning from maternity leave, as well as see women progress to senior positions in property.
The series finishes with Legal & General Investment Management senior fund manager Rob Codling and Segro director Alex Keith, who argue parental leave should be a positive event for real estate teams, with junior staff members using deputising for colleges and gaining management experience.
A new episode will be published each day this week at 7am. You will be able to listen to the episodes on Madison Berkeley's website via this link, or on the firm's LinkedIn page, here. This article will be updated every day with links to the new episodes.
Campaign founder Clare Coe told CoStar News a lack of flexibility in the workplace coupled with extortionate childcare fees are making it almost impossible for some women to return to their positions after having children.
She added: "This year Madison Berkeley wanted to start to address the real problems behind the retention of women in senior roles in real estate and also to highlight the juggle and stress that families are having to endure sometimes covertly.
"The government has changed the laws surrounding flexible working and now it is not a choice to offer flexible working but the law. The Madison Berkeley REal Juggle campaign highlights the issues that real estate professionals face, in round table settings which are recorded into five episodes.
"The aim is that the opinions and experiences shared by some of the UK’s biggest real estate talent, both male and female, will help real estate decision-makers shape their flexible working and parental policies going forward positively."
All available podcasts from the REal Juggle campaign can be found on this page.