Monday Meets Kirsty Williams - Associate, Property Management

Today, we welcome Kirsty Williams to our #MondayMeets series. Kirsty joined Derwent London in 2007, managing the Property Finance team for six years before moving into business process management and systems optimisation, where she is responsible for designing and implementing improvements to the way we work. She is currently working as an Associate within the Property Management team.

What’s keeping you busy at the moment?

I am currently working with several areas of the business to centralise and use the data we hold relating to utility usage. As we continue to move towards our target to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030, and the recent disruption to the supply availability which has impacted pricing, utility information is of high importance to us and our occupiers and needs to be accurate and readily available.

How did you get into the property industry?

After finishing full time education, I applied for a role at a property investment firm as an Accounts Payable Clerk, and here I am, 25 years later. This industry continues to offer me opportunities to learn new skills and challenges me to think differently; it’s not just for property professionals.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I spend more than half of my time talking to people. Conversations range from discussing current challenges and opportunities for improvement, training people on systems and processes or reviewing project progress. The rest of my time is spent analysing data we hold, monitoring performance KPIs and maintaining data quality.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy using my analytical skills to deliver tangible improvements for the business and my colleagues. Updating the way we work improves efficiency, enhances the quality of what we do and therefore can reduce the cost of operations on the business. I find that my colleagues tend to be more engaged and satisfied when they work in an environment that is continuously improving, as they have more time to focus on the value-add areas of their job. It helps that we have a team of highly motivated staff who are open to challenging the status quo to give us the competitive edge; there are always lots of exciting new initiatives to work on.

What are some of the key challenges you face??

Many people approach change with caution, so it’s crucial to ensure the right level of detail is shared with those affected at the appropriate time to not be met with resistance. It can be challenging to balance the expectations of individuals as everyone would like something different. It highlights the importance of the relationships you build and maintaining open communication.?

What has been your highlight at Derwent London so far?

I was appointed as an employee representative on Derwent’s Responsible Business Committee in 2022. Bringing the voice of my colleagues to discuss employee satisfaction with the Executive Committee and Non-Executive board members is a privilege and I have learnt many new skills along the way. We have an amazing Senior Management team who are open to being challenged and want to continually improve to retain the best talent in the industry.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into what you do?

Keep things simple, clearly define what you want to achieve but be agile enough to make changes along the way to ensure that you deliver the objectives. Build strong relationships and listen to people around you, everyone has something to teach you. Lastly, never stop asking “why”, the answers will broaden your understanding.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Having young children keeps me busy. We like to get outside for a walk along the beach or spend time with friends and family. We can often be found playing board games in the evening, which has revealed that I am little more competitive than I would admit to. I am also training to qualify as a therapeutic councillor.?