Through our Empowering Women in Real Estate series, we showcase the immense and varied contributions women are making to London’s built environment, explore their experiences of working in the sector and share their advice on developing a career in the industry.
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Empowering Women in Real Estate: An interview with WPA Board member Olivia Harris
In our latest interview, we speak with Olivia Harris, WPA Board member and Housing Lead and Chief Executive of Dolphin Living.
- What is your current role in the real estate sector and what are you most proud of achieving?
My current role is Chief Executive of Dolphin Living, an affordable housing charity that provides homes in central London for London’s workers on modest incomes, enabling them to live near to their place of work. We own, manage, develop and purchase homes to rent at below market rent.
Since I joined in 2012, we’ve grown significantly as an organisation. What I am most proud of though is how our culture has evolved. Our culture applies both internally, to staff and our work and externally to our residents and stakeholders, as well as to existing homes and new developments. Our culture influences what we do, how we do it and an aligned culture delivers a better outcome for our residents.
- What initially motivated you to join the industry and what has been your experience working in a sector traditionally perceived to be male dominated?
Having trained as an accountant I had experience of working in a number of sectors. Real estate appealed to me because, using my accountancy background, it gave me the opportunity to work within a business in a commercial role, understanding and influencing business decisions. Many finance related roles, at the time, sat more on the periphery of organisations and so were of less interest to me.
It’s never phased me working in a male dominated industry and I’ve met many inspiring, kind and clever people, many of whom I count as friends. That said, things have changed a lot over the last 25 years and at Dolphin we have good gender balance. To increase gender diversity, we need to increase flexibility in roles, something I support personally. Having worked part time as Finance Director, I now have two Directors at Dolphin who work part time. Supporting flexible working in this way means we retain highly motivated, high achieving and experienced employees.
- What advice do you have for women looking to advance their careers in real estate?
Pretty much the same advice as I’d give a man! Don’t be constrained by your job description and ask for help and support, whether it be with a piece of work, an introduction or a meeting invite. I used to scan my line manager’s diary and ask to attend meetings I thought would enable me to do my job better or would just be interesting. Also, people like to help and feel valued when asked for help.
Access all our Diversifying Real Estate guidebooks hereFurther reading:
Interview: Empowering Women in Real Estate: An interview with CPA NextGen Chair Sophie Morgan
Interview: Empowering Women in Real Estate: An interview with DEI Co-Chair Katy Ghahremani
Report: Social Value in the Built Environment
Guidebook: Diversifying Real Estate Guidebook: Gender
Podcast: Shaping London – The Women Who Define Our Spaces
Blog: ‘Equality versus equity’
Video: International Women’s Day 2022: London Property Alliance
Blog: Gender diversity in the real estate sector by Sue Brown
