I joined British Land in early 2017 having come across the role of ‘Consumer Insight Manager’ on LinkedIn. I had relevant experience as I was working in the Colliers research team at the time and had started my career on the Tesco Property graduate scheme, but I’d fallen into the Real Estate industry having googled ‘Geography jobs’ in my final year at Cambridge University. I've never had a specific career path in mind and know that I benefit from variety and challenge, so perhaps it was inevitable that I wouldn't pursue a traditional ladder. It seems to me far more likely that we need to try a few things to understand where our talents truly lie.
I joined British Land in our newly formed Insight team, working across the business to understand our customers and consumers, support leasing activity and carry out analysis to shape our strategy. I loved the role, particularly my work supporting leasing, and am still to this day teased by my friends for my 'passion for retail'. Culturally, I felt at home at BL from the outset; I enjoyed working collaboratively with different teams and found my colleagues smart and supportive. Socially, I started cycling soon after joining the company, buying my first road bike on the Ride2Work scheme and meeting fellow cyclists in our fantastic basement facilities who offered tips and invited me on group rides to Regent’s Park, Hampshire and France!
Fast forward four years and despite taking on new challenges within my role, including supporting our new Logistics strategy and managing a small team, I felt my learning on the job was plateauing, so I began to think about my next move. My preference was to stay at BL as I knew how lucky I was to have found such a great cultural fit, but looking around the company, I struggled to see the transferability of my skills to many other roles. In an environment where a majority have a professional qualification, either as a surveyor or an accountant - it was very easy to rule out whole departments as 'out of reach’.
I've been incredibly fortunate at BL to benefit from the advice of some incredible sponsors, managers and mentors. As I began to explore options, I leant on all these advisors and spoke with HR about running 360 feedback to identify my strengths and development areas. I wish I could say this led to an epiphany and sudden clarity in my career direction, but in the end, it was a phone call with an ExCo sponsor that gave me the nudge I needed to seriously consider Retail Leasing. I gave him some half-hearted excuses about experience and qualifications, but through conversations with my support network, began to believe I might be able to do it!
I moved in early 2022 and under the supportive guidance of my new manager, began building relationships with advisors and customers as well as learning and technicalities of the role. I really enjoyed spending more time with customers, understanding their priorities and finding ways we could work together. I also loved being part of an asset team where colleagues with varied skillsets came together to devise a strategy and deliver on a common goal; resulting in tangible change at our places.
Whilst the new role was exciting, significant change always comes with challenges and there were times where I felt out of my depth! Through this, I learnt never to be afraid to ask for help. People generally like to be asked for their advice and we are surrounded by so many experts at BL with the knowledge and wisdom to share. Retaining other interests and involvement in cross-functional teams has been a fantastic way to counterbalance the difficult days.
Becoming Chair of equitaBLe has been a great way to retain a broader network across the business and stay connected with a range of colleagues in a variety of locations and roles. It also allows me to use the skills I'd developed as a people manager and leader, gives me a social purpose to improve the working lives of 51% of our employees and is great senior level exposure. I'd highly recommend that anyone at BL to get involved with one of our ten employee networks, all of which are full of motivated people committed to making BL a fantastic place to work.
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