Grace Willcocks - Burbeck Group - Women in Luxury Property
Grace Willcocks - Burbeck Group
Head of Commercial
Interiors, Management, Capital
Why do you think it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day?
Firstly, to acknowledge the achievements of the successful women within society and to encourage women to further support women, specifically in a work context. It is also essential to raise awareness of continuing gender inequality especially as women living in poverty still face the highest level of inequality and the challenges that provides. Highlighting these issues and fundraising to support charities focussed on positive social change is an important part of the day.
Have you faced any challenges in your career as a woman and if so, how did you overcome them?
Starting my career in a graduate scheme for a very well-known insurance broker in EC3 meant that I came up a lot of blatant sexism and the female contingent had to fight very hard to be taken seriously. I decided that culturally the behaviour seemed quite embedded so after a few years in the sector, I pivoted to another area of financial services that was better suited to my aspirations.
Is there another woman on whom you would like to shine a light, in the luxury property industry and why?
I would like to shine a light on Sally Maier-Yip. We have been working with 11k Consulting and I am genuinely astounded by her incredible work ethic and ability to drive projects forward, all whilst running her own business and having 2 small children!
How can we encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship or senior leadership roles in the luxury property industry?
Motherhood is always the elephant in the room I feel when it comes to senior leadership roles. I have worked with many successful senior women over the years who have felt that they have either had to choose a leadership career path or a family. Thankfully, I think that attitudes towards this are softening, and I have been fortunate enough to benefit as the mother of two small children myself. That said, I did once resign from a job when they refused to let me work one day from home a week whilst my first son was a baby!
Offering mothers flexible working as an employer is always a good idea. In my experience, there is nothing more efficient that a multi-tasking career driven woman! I had my last child 10 months ago and have been working throughout my maternity leave which people seemed shocked by, especially when I tell them that it is not because I have to work but because I want to. People can sometimes underestimate women and their drive to work hard and succeed.
What is the best advice you have been given?
You are your own story, write something beautiful.
At The Luxury Property Forum we truly believe in “you cannot be what you cannot see”.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, throughout March we are shining a light on our wonderfully inspiring female members who are all leaders in luxury property. If you are an LPF Member and would like to celebrate a senior female member of the your team, please get in touch at marketing@theluxurypropertyforum.com