The Female Role Models Who’ve Had A Life Changing Impact On Australian Agents

International Women’s Day is a fitting opportunity to celebrate the women who inspire some of Australia’s top real estate agents.

We contacted agents across Australia, asking them to name the female who has had the biggest impact on their working lives.

Answers came back thick and fast, revealing many of the women most influential on today’s real estate industry stars are also active campaigners for equal gender opportunity.

We asked agents: Who was the female role model that made a life-changing impact on your career?

Kate Strickland, Marshall White, Brighton, Melbourne     

Barb Gregory had over a decade of experience when she presented my opportunity to enter the industry. We had our first “cuppa” and I remember the test was to see if she was happy for me to shadow and learn from her for a while as I had no experience myself, and whether I felt she was someone I could look to as a role model and industry leader.Ten minutes into our catch-up she had dropped avocado on her shirt while we were lost in great conversation and connection and I thought, “this girl and I are made for each other!”.

Barb taught me there is enough property in Bayside for all competing agencies and agents to thrive. She taught me to “win pretty”, “be elegant in defeat” and to just be a good person; the easiest and most impactful lessons in our industry.

 

Bethwyn Richards, The Agency, Bondi Beach, Sydney

Wendy McCarthy has definitely been my standout, not just as a female but as a mentor crossing both genders.

She was a sounding board for me in an, initially, predominantly male-dominated industry and she was instrumental in me being made a partner at McGrath Estate Agents. I was the only female for a very long time.

Our relationship covered professional expansion, navigating pregnancy, parenthood and how a young mother maintains momentum while building a personal brand within a company. Of most value has been her encouragement of personal growth through education, and by keeping your eyes open to what the world can offer.

 

Jamie Mi, Kay & Burton, South Yarra, Melbourne

Patricia Cross has been an executive director of the National Australia Bank, JB Were and Qantas Airways, as well as Macquarie Bank. She has been a client, friend and a great life mentor for me. Her driven and positive attitude to life and everyday challenges are constantly surprising me and taking me to a new level of calmness but with strong will. She is a big life example of what impossible can be possible. The impact on me is going to guide me through my life, business and career.

 

Sherrie Storor, agent, coach and keynote speaker

Veronika Princeton is the woman who actually got me into this business. She was a sales manager at Wallace Bishop and then left to go off and sell land packages.

She was the one that said, ”hey, why don’t you have a go at this?” She had 20-plus years’ experience on me and was by far the person who had the most impact on my career path. I owe a lot to this woman. If it wasn’t for Veronika, honestly, I wouldn’t be here today 17 years’ later. It is as simple as that.

 

Rosalind Neale, Neale Realty, Kent Town, Adelaide

If I look at inspirational business women, two who come to mind would be Ita Buttrose and Maggie Tabberer.

Both paved the way in predominantly male-dominated industries and rose above their own insecurities to become successful entrepreneurs and business leaders.

My amazingly selfless mother is also an inspiration. She always looked for the good in people and the positive beauty in life.

Andrew Bell, Ray White, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Lorna Paton and I met through business coaches in the early 2000s and she fundamentally helped me and my executive team tear down lifetime thought processes and habits and rebuild ourselves as highly effective people taking personal responsibility for all that happens in our world.

I credit Lorna with helping us be the type of people others would want to follow. Beyond question she transformed me as a human being and while still battling the pressures of life, I now do so in a far more effective way not only for the good of others but for greater personal happiness.