To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, which takes place today (8 March), BE News is running a series of interviews with inspirational women who work across the built environment sector
Name: Gayatri Kunhiraman
Title: Principal, occupier solutions, Avison Young
What I do: I work with corporate occupiers, advising them on real estate strategy and supporting execution globally.
Why I got into the property industry: Actually, quite accidentally. I am an engineer with a master’s degree in management. I started my career in telecommunications and joined a niche consultancy focussed on telecommunications and emerging markets. We were engaged by Nokia back in 2008 to help them expand into new markets across Middle East and Africa, and I helped manage the client engagement. I really enjoyed working with clients and building lasting partnerships, so I never looked back.
How I did it: By leveraging my technical background, growing and working with diverse teams, fostering a culture of trust and adapting to change.
My first proper job: Graduate engineer at Cognizant.
My first big break: This would be my role at Source8, a startup where I started my career as a consultant in this industry. As part of a small team, I was able to get involved in all aspects of client engagement and running a business. It was the best training ground, as everyone got stuck in and worked hard to ensure the client was happy!
My inspiration(s): My dad, who passed away when I was quite young. He was an economist and author, who pushed the boundaries and dared to be different.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: The pace of change in the real estate industry, resulting from the climate crisis and post-pandemic disruption, has been truly phenomenal – exciting, scary and challenging all at the same time, driving innovation and agility.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: My proudest achievement is being part of an amazing team that is engaged and driven, with a culture built on integrity and trust, alongside working with some truly incredible global clients, to help realise their vision and objectives. I am also quite proud of the fact that we have worked across most countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa, collaborating with a diverse supplier network across the region.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That the office is dead. The workplace has evolved to be dynamic – adapting and morphing to suit new workstyles, new generations of workers and digital transformation, whilst still being the hub for culture and identity.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: Service providers and clients often work in silos with a reluctance to share and collaborate. Some of the challenges that we currently face are existential, whether that’s the climate crisis or championing DE&I in the industry. There are massive benefits in collaborative working and sharing ideas.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: I believe that promoting DE&I is not just the right thing to do, but also a smart business decision. Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation and problem solving, ultimately leading to a more successful and sustainable industry. The real estate industry has a significant impact on shaping our communities, and it’s crucial that everyone can participate, contribute, and thrive in it.
Why I’m so passionate about ESG: As the built environment is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gases emissions, it is our responsibility to champion change across the real estate lifecycle, from decision making and strategy to implementation and collectively reduce our impact on the planet.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: Our industry can be the driver of huge progress. This ranges from carbon reduction within the built environment, achieving wider ESG goals, creating inclusive and diverse supply chains in global markets and digital transformation. I would like to be a part of that positive impact, collaborate with and champion other women on this journey.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Salman Rushdie, Yuval Noah Harari, Roger Federer, Zaha Hadid and Trevor Noah.
What I do in my downtime: Working out, reading fiction and listening to podcasts on business and politics.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: I would be a journalist as I am passionate about geopolitics.
My advice for someone just starting out: Take the initiative, be proactive and curious, learn how to get things done.
My motto/mantra: A comfort zone is a happy place, but nothing ever grows there.
Why is IWD important to you: International Women’s Day is a reminder of the remarkable achievements of women within our industry, pioneering architects like Zaha Hadid have paved the way for others to push boundaries. It also signifies the ongoing need for progress towards gender equality in the real estate and construction sectors. While we’ve made strides in recent years, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions and across various disciplines. IWD highlights the importance of fostering an inclusive environment where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.
