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Fifteen years is a lifetime in the corporate world. While many young professionals hop between companies like stepping stones across a river, Bella Pulj has planted deep roots at Ray White, her story becoming something of a legend within the organisation.
Her journey reads like a masterclass in professional evolution - seven departments, countless mentors, and a transformation from a person who admits she was "never really a 'graphy numbers' person" to the company's unofficial data evangelist.
The family that keeps you
"It sounds corny," Bella laughs, settling into our conversation with the ease of someone who's found their professional home, "but it really is the family feel." It's a phrase that gets thrown around corporate Australia like confetti, but when Bella says it, there's weight behind the words.
She's witnessed this family dynamic firsthand built from the fourth generation White family leadership of this business. Seeing the genuine care from Ray White leadership for the "mums and dads" running real estate businesses across the network: "when you see leaders so incredibly passionate about their people, it's hard not to want to commit your time and effort to something like that."
Bella's fondest memory perfectly encapsulates this ethos: at the historical village in Crows Nest (QLD) where founder Ray White's original tin shed office, now affectionately known as The Shed, still stands. “Brian (White) and Paul (White) were walking through Alan (White)'s house together, looking at photos on the wall," she recalls. "It was the sweetest moment - just two brothers sharing memories together at the head of Australasia’s largest group in real estate. Just so incredibly humble. I don't think a lot of people outside of the business truly understand just how humble they are."
The curious wanderer
In an age of specialisation, Bella has become Ray White's renaissance woman. Seven departments in fifteen years speaks to an insatiable curiosity, a value that is hailed as Ray White's differentiator in an ever-evolving industry.
"I've been very fortunate to be able to move around quite a bit and try different things," she reflects. "For me, keeping curious and asking questions - 'can I have an impact on how this goes and can I make it better?' - and being afforded the opportunity to try it, that's something very special about this business."
That questioning mindset was nurtured by mentors who read like a who's who of Ray White Group senior leadership: Mark 'Macca' McLeod, Kelly Tatlow, Jason Alford, Stephen Nell, Matt Gay. "All very caring, wanting to make sure they spend time with you, mentoring you, really putting effort into their people and challenging you in a positive way."
Jason Alford, chief systems officer and one of those mentors, knows the extent of Bella's impact well. "From the early days in her career, Bella was able to quickly deliver value to our members and took a range of opportunities that evolved her leadership skills," he explains.
"She was always curious, ambitious and had the 'can do' attitude. She understands that Ray White can provide opportunity to everyone's career if you just know how to look for it and work collaboratively to go further together.
"Bella is an outstanding individual who embodies our values in everything she does."
It's these leaders who cemented Bella's belief in her most valuable piece of wisdom: ask questions, always. "Not enough people ask questions because they're either too nervous or they think they'll look stupid," she observes. "But I don't think I've ever been made to feel silly asking any question. People would rather know that you're interested in understanding something better."
It's advice that applies whether you're in a network or corporate office, starting out or fifteen years deep. In Bella's experience, curiosity isn't just welcomed at Ray White - it's the engine that drives everything forward.
From numbers phobic to data champion
Perhaps nowhere is Bella's transformation more dramatic than in her relationship with technology and data. When Ray White's Pulse system launched around 2018-2019, she found herself staring at screens full of numbers that posed a similar challenge to deciphering hieroglyphics.
"I remember being quite challenged by the program myself, trying to understand what I was looking at," she admits with characteristic honesty. "I've actually never been a really 'graphy numbers' person and I've just had to develop that skill."
And develop it she did. Her involvement in NurtureCloud and her current work in the Pulse Suite tie for first as her most impactful work. "It's a battle between the two because they're both such big advancements in the prop tech industry and real estate in general."
The project to bring NurtureCloud into the business represents a particularly pivotal chapter in her evolution. "Getting the opportunity to step into that particular role and take something brand new to our business - a really big change management piece - and help develop that in the early days was pretty big and pretty exciting," she explains.
Today, Bella has earned a reputation as Ray White's unofficial technology evangelist - the person who takes complex systems and makes them digestible, even exciting, for others. Her approach is refreshingly human. Rather than drowning people in features and functions, she asks: "What are people struggling with and how do I make it easier to understand?"
Full circle moments
The real magic in Bella's story lies in how her journey has come full circle. From the challenges faced in the “hard gig” of property management, learning to ask for help and collaborate, to now receiving heartwarming feedback from the very network of which she once was a member.
"Yesterday I was having a conversation with Kyle (Dorman) from Ray White Cheltenham - a really good friend I've made over the years," she shares with genuine warmth. "I've been able to see him grow through the business as I've grown too."
Now a business owner himself, Kyle's recent comment perfectly captures their parallel journeys: "He said to me, 'oh, didn't we get lucky?'. It was really sweet - we've both come so far together."
These relationships are what energise her. "Being able to see people in the network grow and knowing that you've had some sort of impact in that growth - particularly getting incredible stories off the back of the products we're working on - that's a big motivator."
Recognition that still resonates
In 2020, Bella's efforts culminated in winning the prestigious Myf Porter Award - which recognises an individual who has had the greatest impact on the skill development of our network. A moment she cites as her proudest achievement at Ray White, and a memory which still moves her.
"It's a weird thing to describe because you kind of never expect it," she says. "I generally try and go about things putting effort in because I want the other people I'm working with to do well. To be recognised for that is really special."
The award ceremony itself was emotional. "Having Myf there was really cool - she's such a beautiful person who's done so much for this business. To even be slightly put in the same bucket as her doesn't make any sense to me. I was in complete shock - and definitely cried like a baby."
Building the next cool thing
After fifteen years, what still gets Bella out of bed and excited about work?
"There is literally no day that's the same," she beams. "Particularly in the Pulse Suite, we're all about creating new products for our members. Being able to be really creative in how we develop those products, utilising my knowledge from my time in the network, collaborating with everyone to make the next cool thing - the next feature that's going to make someone's day easier or automate a process."
Future-proofing a legacy
When asked why Ray White has survived over 120 years while other brands have fallen by the wayside, Bella's answer reveals the strategic thinking that makes her such a valuable voice within the organisation.
"They've stuck to their beliefs the whole way through but been so nimble at the same time," she explains. "Not at one point did they say 'no, that's not for us' when it came to new technology. It was 'okay, this is the future, we've got to do it.'"
This adaptability, coupled with humility and genuine care for people, forms the foundation of Ray White's longevity. As Bella puts it: "Although they know what their bones are and why the business runs so well today, they want to make sure they future-proof it as well."
The evangelist's creed
Bella's story isn't just about longevity or even transformation - it's about finding purpose in making complex things simple, in bridging the gap between what technology can do and what people actually need. In a world increasingly dominated by digital solutions, she's proof that the human touch - curiosity, empathy, and the willingness to ask questions - remains irreplaceable.
After all, that's what evangelists do - they don't just believe; they help others believe too.
