Bricking It: Recent Episodes
Bricking It
Bricking It is the podcast offshoot of Mentoring Circle - a property industry initiative set up to partner senior female industry leads working in Real Estate with their junior counterparts for a period of 12 months. Here we interview a selection of our mentors to discover the personality behind the accolades in order to understand how they became so successful...despite bricking it
Formerly Managing Director for the Avison Young London business, Ros is responsible for the management of 500+ personnel, supporting the financial success and growth of the business through business development, recruitment and impactful liaison underpinned by a strong culture and platform of collaboration.
Ros is also a Principal in the Restructuring Solutions team, (having previously acted as National Head). She practiced within the real estate sector for over 35 years, operating through three recessions, acting for lenders, accountants and stakeholders in often complex real estate situations.
Ros is now working with the UK and Global Executive to develop future talent, supporting professional, personal, business development and networking skills. She is also heavily involved in the RICS' Advancing Inclusion for Women Surveyors and presented the inaugural event in December 2022. One might be forgiven for wondering how Ros can fit all this in yet she does this and more - as a die hard Abba fan and sequin-rocking legend.
To wrap up our second season, tune in to find out more about the wonderful Ros Goode.
Suzannah is the Chief Executive of Build UK, the leading representative organisation for the UK construction industry.
Inspired by a site visit during a week’s work experience, she achieved a degree in Construction Management before starting her career as a site engineer. She then qualified as a health and safety professional before taking over the reins at the National Specialist Contractors’ Council. After 13 years leading the specialist sector, Suzannah was the driving force behind the merger to form Build UK, bringing the industry together within one organisation. Under her leadership, Build UK is at the forefront of improving business performance, increasing productivity and recruiting, training and retaining talent across the industry.
A passionate advocate for construction, Suzannah is recognised and respected for her work with government, media and key industry stakeholders. She was awarded an MBE in 2005, was one of the first Timewise Power Part-Timers, is a member of the Construction Leadership Council and the Women’s Business Council.
Suzannah loves being outdoors, one of the reasons she joined the construction industry in the first place. She also has one of the biggest grins in the industry! Listen to todays episode to find out the benefit of asking multiple questions and what it means to love the job you're in.
Mimi is a Senior Development Project Manager at Lendlease and highly passionate about creating thriving communities, regenerative design, placemaking and thought leadership.
With 23 years experience in the Built Environment, Mimi has pathed out a diverse international career. Graduating with first-class honours BA Interior Architecture (1998) and working in Sydney for over three years, her intrepid curiosity and love of minimalist design led her overseas, where she has made London her home for over 20 years. Leading international teams, delivering landmark design and development projects throughout Europe, Middle East, America and Australasia within the high-end Hospitality, Residential, F&B, Retail and Lifestyle sectors are just a handful of examples that keep Mimi busy.
She is passionate about inspiring future generations, unlocking potential of young talent and an ambassador for gender diversity in the built environment. Mimi is as an International Design Critic at UNSW Built Environment, Alumni mentor of Graduates in career development and vocational futures in the industry, mentor with Mayors Fund for London/Create Jobs UK for young adults from diverse backgrounds and an active Alumni of Oxford, LSE & UNSW.
Mimi is also massive foodie and you will often find her sharing her creative ‘ingredient palettes’ or design inspiration on insta and exploring culinary adventures with creative foodies, as the founder of ‘Designers Who Dine’ Dining Club and ‘Concept to Plate’ Supper Club.
Above all, Mimi exemplifies the aims and visions of Mentoring Circle and has been a beacon of the programme since she joined as a mentor. We chat to her to find out about some of the challenges she's faced along the way, the buildings that have inspired her, and the time she forgot her shoes on the way to her final exams....listen to find out more!
Gauri is a Co-Founder of Iolas Capital, a family run private equity firm based in London with a portfolio of companies in the construction and building services sector.
She trained as a Chartered Engineer at a top Mumbai University before moving to the London to complete a Masters in Management. Gauri progressed her career in construction initially growing the White Stuff real estate portfolio from 20 to 103 stores then moving to Hugo Boss where she ultimately led the North Europe property function with £50m of Capex and c.100 projects per year, setting global construction standards and included being the youngest board member for the region.
As a business owner, Gauri works with like-minded team members who are passionate about making change in the industry and using businesses as a vehicle for doing good.
Gauri understands the importance of diversity in the workplace and is passionate about opening the doors to our industry and debunking the myths of who can join the industry. She is involved in speaking at schools about women in engineering and construction and is a member of WISE.
Gauri is also a mother of a 6-year-old. She loves to paint, is a trained Indian classical dancer and loves walking and cycling over the weekends with her husband and little one. She also volunteers as an in-house mechanic for a cycling club over the weekend.
Join us to listen to Gauri's incredible story, her passion about sustainable places, how this links to community and family, and most importantly her unending enthusiasm and tenacity in a career she loves.
Chloe is editorial director at Assemble Media Group overseeing three publications – Building, Building Design and Housing Today. The titles boast a membership community of 85,000 professionals in over 100 countries.
Her team of journalists regularly interview industry CEOs, review ground-breaking buildings and report on controversies and challenges facing construction.
Chloe has worked in journalism for 20 years, and specialises in setting editorial agendas and devising campaigns that will resonate with audiences. As the face of the flagship title Building she regularly chairs online debates, hosts podcasts and speaks at public events.
She combines her career with being a mother of three children. She is passionate about the importance of education and training for young people and is chair of governors at a local school.
To kick of our second season of Bricking It, this time Chloe takes the hot seat to talk about life in journalism, how she started her career and the building that have shaped her journey to date.
As Head of Build to Rent for the John Lewis Partnership, Katherine Russell is our next guest on Bricking It. With a natural ability to lead, Katherine is currently driving the Partnership’s latest venture into the Build to Rent sector, which is currently forecast to create 10,000 homes over the next 10 years with a strong emphasis on the social contribution housing can make to society.
Katherine also applies her experience as a Board member of NEWEC which helps to shape and drive forward the West End of London. She has previously served as a Trustee and Board member of a charity that turned vacant buildings into vibrant spaces for the benefit of local communities. As a Mum of 2 young children, Katherine strives every day to ensure there is a level of work-life balance. Prioritisation, personal development, flexibility and a strong support network are some of essential ingredients that enable her world to successfully function both professionally and personally.
As BRE Group’s Chief Executive, Gillian Charlesworth is responsible for the organisation’s strategy, culture and performance. She is passionate about the importance and potential of the built environment in supporting sustainable, vibrant and productive life on the planet. She aims to be a responsible leader, choosing to work in purpose-led organisations, and has held roles in the UK civil service and various professional bodies. Listed in Kind Leadership, 50 Leading Lights UK 2018, Gillian believes that leading with kindness – by which she means respect, honesty, empathy, inclusivity and fairness – motivates people to do their best every day and strive for results, producing long-term success for both organisations and individuals. In addition to leading BRE, she mentors a wide range of women in the construction sector, as her contribution to achieving a more diverse, and therefore successful, industry.
Our first guest is Polly Plunket-Checkemian. Polly has over 35 years' experience specialising in estate, asset and property management having previously worked on landmark schemes such as Regent Street, Heron Tower, Battersea Power Station and Television Centre. Polly is widely recognised for promoting and driving change in the sector and her role at MAPP is focused on delivering a new vision of property management.
Polly speaks to us candidly about her entry into the industry, different leadership styles, and the people who continue to inspire her over the course of her career.