Women in Real Estate

Agents from across the state celebrated ambition, achievement and authenticity at REINSW’s sixth annual Women in Real Estate Conference.

Musical group Song Division kicked off the conference with a great performance.

Agents kicked up their heels and settled in for a day of lively, inspirational presentations at The Ivy Ballroom in Sydney.

Musical group Song Division kicked off the day with their energetic and catchy performance, followed by a spirited brainstorming session as participants helped write a song especially for the Women in Real Estate Conference. By the end of the session, Song Division had all participants up and singing the catchy tune.




Speakers Margie Warrell, Veronica Morgan, former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Sebastian Terry kept participants on the edge of their seats with entertaining and inspirational sessions about courage, authenticity, stepping up in challenging times and making the most of every day.

Former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh had her audience hanging off every word during her presentation.

Speaking about her career and personal challenges, Ms Bligh shared lessons learnt from her experiences in the political arena.

“I said yes to the invitation to join you today because it’s my experience that when you get a couple of hundred women together in the one place, good and powerful things happen,” she said.

“You generate smart ideas, you make some great connections, you get the chance to get a few things off your chest – and that’s always healthy – and it’s generally wrapped up in quite a heavy dose of fun.”

Ambition

“I want to say out loud and proud that ambition is a good thing. It is a good thing generally and it is a good thing for women.

“Getting to the top simply doesn’t happen by accident, and it certainly doesn’t happen by accident for women. So I want to encourage women to own your ambition and to embrace it.

“Ambition, in my experience, is one of the most powerful motivators. It drives you through the tiredness and complacency that can set in for all of us sometimes.

“Ambition is not a dirty word. Make it work for you, embrace it and don’t be shy of it.”

Balancing work and family

“The reality is that for many working women it is a constant tug of war between our work and our family that causes us constant turmoil.

“I learnt to accept early on that there is no such thing as a perfect balance. In fact, it is that myth of perfection that gets us into so much trouble.

“Many of us are torturing ourselves with this myth of perfection. Well, it’s just that, it is a myth and I think we all need to work hard on busting it for ourselves and for each other.”

Standing your ground

“I don’t propose that you take up being difficult, but in my experience, standing your ground when you are in the right is very important. It’s important for you, but it is also important for your organisation and the people who depend on you.”

Leadership

“It’s important to rely on instinct. Instinct is the sum of everything that you’ve learnt up to that point. It comes from the gradual layer upon layer of life experience. This layering that life gives us, not only helps our judgement. More Importantly, it helps our character

“Having responsibilities and life experience builds you. It makes you good at things. It makes you good at important things, like decision making, negotiating, staying calm under pressure, getting outcomes, holding on to your values when everything is moving around you, and inspiring other people to take difficult decisions with you. All of those are the core elements of leadership.” 
 

Key messages for agents 

• Courage is taking action in the presence of fear.  
• Don’t be afraid that you don’t have what it takes to succeed, be afraid that you will let an opportunity pass by through your inaction.  
• People willing to step up and take risks achieve success.  
• Look at people who seem to be ‘exceptions to the rule’ and ask yourself what are they doing that you could do?  
• Leverage your diversity.  
• Don’t let your setbacks define you.  
• Get your work and life balanced by identifying at least one thing you want to do before you die and commit to achieving it