Ray White Leading Ladies sparkle across Australasia

The unity and collaboration among the leading group is what makes Ray White so special. Ray White is building a strong female-led community to support women into the industry as many women don’t often choose real estate as a first career.

Women from across the real estate industry at large came together in Sydney to hear from three of the industry’s leading ladies.

(L-R) Tamara Shakespeare, Kate Morgan, Bridgette Collis, Bianca Field and Ray White head of organisational development Natalie Hortz.

Ray White New South Wales general manager Bridgette Collis hosted a panel of top performing women from administration, commercial and residential sales. Ms Collis was joined by Ray White Surry Hills | Alexandria | Glebe | Erskineville senior sales agent Bianca Field, Ray White Commercial South Sydney manager of operations Tamara Shakespeare and Ray White Gerringong principal Kate Morgan.

Ms Field began in real estate when she was 16 years old but her love of real estate began much earlier in life when she would visit open homes with her father, betting on how much the property would sell for. She said some of us are lucky to work out what we want to do early in life but there are still those who want to put you in your place.

“There are barriers others will put up for you and there was a time when I listened to those people too much,” she said.

“We rely too much on what others think. If I could go back to my eight year old self, I would say you don’t need to listen to anybody else’s opinions. You know yourself better than anyone else and if you’re ready for the next challenge then just go for it.”

Ms Field said “she has found her family” at Ray White Surry Hills | Alexandria | Glebe | Erskineville and director Matt Carvalho (pictured above with Ms Field) attended the event to support her.

“One thing that has been proven today is we have a lot of successful women in our network and success doesn’t always mean who writes the highest fees. Our business wouldn’t be the business it is without the women we have in it.”

It was only after a skydiving accident that had her out of action and unable to continue working in tourism that Ray White Gerringong principal Kate Morgan considered real estate. She said her husband’s nickname for her is Nike because she will always get out there and just do it.

“I began as a receptionist in real estate and just got the bug for it. I looked at what other sales agents were doing and thought I could do that and do it better,” she said.

“I just go out and do it, that’s my attitude and you don’t know if you don’t have a go. Get out there and have a go and see where it takes you.”

Ray White Commercial South Sydney’s Tamara Shakespeare impressed on the women gathered at the event the importance of having confidence in yourself to succeed. She left her hometown of Port Macquarie straight after her last high school exam and threw herself into every opportunity that came her way.

“You need to have the confidence to try everything, give it a go until you find your right place. The ceiling is always moving and so are my goals,” she said.

“It’s so inspiring to come here today and hear the stories from these amazing women.”

Ray White Woollahra | Paddington agent Kate Smith (pictured above) praised the event and said it’s great to network with like minded women in real estate.

“Real estate is a very male dominated industry and at times it can feel quite isolating but it’s so lovely to come to events like these and hear other women’s stories and use that motivation to change direction or try something new,” she said.

Chairman’s elite agent and Ray White Caringbah principal Wendy Samrani (pictured above with sales assistant Pennii Castle) echoed Ms Smith’s sentiments.

“It’s good to get ideas from other women in the industry and to see what they’re doing in the current market place, how they are reacting to a challenging market at the moment and finding out more from them.”

In Brisbane, the ladies in the room at Hillstone St Lucia heard from the highly regarded speaker Julie Cross who is affectionately known as ‘sparkles’.

Ms Cross combined her insights into human behaviour with practical strategies that left the audience with powerful tools for living their best life and setting a higher standard in all aspects of their existence.

The high energy speaker resonated on a deep level to the room, and left a lasting impact. She was able to connect her message of inspiration, motivation and practical personal development at all levels of business.

“Sometimes you need to talk, laugh and act yourself into a new vibration. Talk yourself up ladies. You are great,” she said

Leading Ray White agent Sonya Treloar and Isabella Polovich of Ray White Bridgeman Downs enjoyed the function immensely. “I just love seeing so many women all together, it’s important to have all women come together in a real and authentic way to lift each other up,” Ms Treloar said.

Ray White Bulimba agent Robyn Hoare (above left) said it was good for the soul to support each other. “Leading Ladies events gives us confidence to break new ground,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ray White Bulimba agent Amanda MacDougall (above right) said it was great to learn from the success of other women.

Speaking on the panel Ray White New Farm agent Christine Rudolph said her journey into real estate was accidental, prompted through her own personal experience as a property owner and renovator.

She swapped a successful corporate career including professional qualifications as a television journalist/presenter because she was passionate about making a difference to the real estate industry.

Ray White Marsden agent Rebecca Cuderman told the attendees that in her six years experience she had a genuine interest in placing her clients’ needs first.

Ray White Maroochydore, Buderim, Mooloolaba, Kawana Waters and Nambour general manager Jo Madden spoke about her experience working with Grant Kenny and Lisa Curry for 14 years in the 1990s. As a mum of two, Ms Madden started her career with Ray White in 2005 as a senior administrator and now runs the business for its owners with more than 120 staff. She’s an inspiration to many of the Ray White ladies.

In New Zealand, the Leading Ladies event was abuzz with excitement, as more than 50 people attended the sold-out breakfast held at Auckland’s Ortolana.

Guests heard from keynote speaker, nutritionist and wellbeing educator Claire Turnbull, about fighting fatigue and boosting brain power, giving her top habits for happiness.

Ray White Manukau salesperson Candace Williams (pictured below) said really enjoyed the event.

“It was a really good chance to get together with other female real estate professionals, and it was a nice opportunity to get a really good glimpse of all the outstanding women in the business,” Ms Williams said.

“The speaker was quite interesting and I related a lot of what she said to my life and the people around me. There were lots of nuggets to take away which were really easy to implement.”

Ray White Mt Eden business performance manager Clarissa Searle also enjoyed catching up with other ladies in the real estate industry.

“I really enjoyed coming along with some of the team to the Leading Ladies breakfast this morning,” she said.

“There were some great takeaways from the keynote speaker and it was so lovely to connect in person again with other ladies in the industry and Ray White Group”.

In Adelaide, keynote speaker Rachael Sporn, operations manager for the Port Adelaide Football Club (pictured above) , said her best advice ever given was to try as many different sports and see what you love the most.

“Team sports are great as you can learn so much about life,” she said, also very worried about the mass drop out of female sport players. “And always have fun.”

(L-R) Panellists Nici Godwin of Ray White Goolwa | Victor Harbor, Tali Stow of Ray White Adelaide Asset Management and Ashleigh Olsson-Jones of Ray White Norwood.

For Ms Godwin of Ray White Goolwa | Victor Harbor getting into real estate wasn’t intentional. She had completed a business administration course and started working with a solicitors’ firm. Fast forward a few years, she started working in real estate for a boss who was “kind, considerate and taught people how to treat people”.

Meanwhile, Ms Olsson-Jones of Ray White Norwoo said she had always been interested in property. She was in retail since she was 14 years old and ended up managing two stores before moving into real estate.

“Ladies don’t underestimate yourself but being around good people opens doors,” she said.

Likewise Ms Stow of Ray White Adelaide Asset Management also said she had no intention of getting into real estate.

“But everything you do in your career leads you to where you are, everything is a stepping stone,” she said.

“Don’t take no for an answer. No, is a very easy word to say and can be taken to heart but back yourself.”

More than 50 Ray White people (pictured above with WA CEO Mark Whiteman as MC) turned out in beautiful Perth to listen to Michelle Cowan, Head of Operations and Player Wellbeing for the West Coast Eagles AFLW Team, who told them everyone to “choose to challenge”.

“Choose to seek out and celebrate achievements. From challenge, comes change,” she said (above).

In Melbourne, some more than 120 ladies gathered at Greenfields to hear keynote speaker Katherine Persoglia of Property Before Prada (above left with Property Management BDE Lauren Macpherson) encouraged the ladies to educate themselves and build their wealth to be independent.

“Don’t invest in handbags, when you haven’t invested in something else . I wanted to educate women, I wanted to be a source of guidance and empowering women to look after themselves,” she said

“Property Before Prada focuses on something important and not just the superficial.”

“Get the right people on your bus who share the same passion and goals. Culture beats strategy and also don’t be afraid to be different. Don’t feel like you have to be the same as everyone else.”