We can’t change the world single handed but we can make a difference in the time we have

International Women’s day gives us an opportunity to celebrate women's achievements and increase visibility. I sat down with two wonderful women to hear about their experiences and the impact of having more women at the top of the property industry.

Naomi Webborn has worked in the property industry for 20 years and is currently Marketing, PR & Systems Co-ordinator at Dawsons Swansea Estate Agents .

"In my early days as an estate agent, there were invisible barriers that I was not aware of. The valuers were men, the women working in admin. That's not to say there were no women in senior positions, there were, but the workplace was definitely male-oriented.

I believe the world is changing. Women feel empowered to seek out senior roles far more than would have been the case at the start of my career."

Everyone deserves equality, a level playing field, and the opportunity to grow and become whoever they want to be without prejudice. I couldn’t imagine working in a workplace where equality wasn’t recognised.”

Emma Preston , a property industry professional, has had first-hand experience with how inequality can impact a woman’s confidence and hinder her growth.

“I’ve achieved a lot in my career but I have faced many barriers over the years. There have been many jobs and promotions that I didn’t get despite my qualifications.

I was the first woman to be hired by Meat Trades Journal (an EMAP B2B magazine). Although I loved the job, it was clear that the meat industry at that time was very much male, pale and stale, and they didn’t really know how to handle me!

As a child, I learned not to strive for advancement. Imposter syndrome is a major hurdle, and still a struggle to overcome. This is a problem that holds back many capable women from higher positions, and one that we need to address for future generations.

Motherhood can also be a major obstacle for women pursuing leadership. As you climb the career ladder, the number of women decreases significantly. Taking time off to raise children can cause women to lose years that male peers use to build their reputations and advance their careers. I’ve experienced this myself as a mother of two.

Stay-at-home moms (SAHMs) have valuable skills and experiences that make them an asset to any company. Employers often overlook this and fail to recognize the potential they bring to the table. We need to help women returning to the workforce see the value in the skills they’ve developed and show employers how these experiences can benefit their companies.

My teenage daughter believes she'll have equal career opportunities, which I never thought was possible at her age. Although I believe there is still work to be done, International Women’s Day and the spotlight it shines on inequity have a lot to do with shaping her worldview and giving her the confidence I lacked at the start of my career.

Final parting comments from Emma and Naomi to make us all sit back and reflect;

"If we truly want equity in the workplace, then we also need to forge it in the home. Having it all shouldn’t mean having to do it all. That starts with how we teach our sons and daughters to navigate their futures." - Emma Preston

"We only have one life, and with mine, I want to make a difference and leave a legacy. We can’t change the world single handed but we can make a difference in the time we have." - Naomi Webborn

Thanks to Naomi and Emma for sharing their experiences and giving us some food for thought.