Name: Dani White
Job title: Lead workplace strategist, Peldon Rose
What I do: I’m a workplace consultant at Peldon Rose, leading a team in our workplace strategy and change management offering. It’s a very multifaceted role, which is what I love most about it. I could be working on business development, collaborating with our design team at the start of a big new project pitch, delivering a strategy engagement, or supporting my team and nurturing new talent in the industry, all on the same day. It keeps me on my toes, that’s for sure!
Why I got into the property industry: There isn’t really one reason why I got into the property sector, because I didn’t initially choose to. I stumbled into my first role in the industry and ended up staying because I enjoyed it much more than I expected.
How I did it: People often ask me how I ended up here, and I love answering this question. Like an awful lot of young people going through the education system, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up. My journey into the property industry has been a series of pivots and lessons learnt, and I’m incredibly proud of that.
Originally, I went to university to study veterinary medicine. I could tell from the first day that I didn’t connect with the course, but being the first in my family to go to university, it took me a few difficult years to admit that to myself. Eventually, I built up the courage to “fail” at something, and I understood firsthand the bravery it takes to prioritise yourself and your wellbeing. That was one of the most important lessons I learned early in my career.
From there, I moved into hospitality, which turned out to be the perfect industry to build a foundation of transferable skills. It taught me about people and communication, teamwork and commitment. After working my way up to supervisor and then general manager, a local resident, who owned his own workplace consultancy, recognised the value in those transferable skills and gave me the chance to transition into workplace consultancy. I’ve always been very grateful to him for seeing my potential and valuing the strengths I bring. It’s the reason I try to do the same when I’m building my own team.
My first proper job: My first proper job was technically working at kennels. However, my first taste of managing people, instead of canines, was working at the pub.
My inspiration(s): I find inspiration from lots of different places. They say you are the sum of the five people that you spend the most time with, so naturally, I find lots of inspiration from my friends, family and colleagues – be that for their kindness, drive, or positivity. Growing up, my biggest inspiration was my grandad. He never received any formal higher education, but he was the smartest guy I knew. He’s the reason my colleagues often say that I am a human dictionary; my competitiveness and my love of board games come from him.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Imposter syndrome. The little voice in my head that tells me I don’t have the “right” background or experience to be where I am has always been my biggest challenge. I’m not sure if that ever disappears completely, but over time, my belief in myself has grown louder than that voice.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: The thing I’m most proud of is getting this role. After being made redundant, it was a tough period, but it pushed me to really put myself out there. I was reaching out to my network, leaning on the strength of those relationships, and backing myself in a way I hadn’t before. That process not only helped me bounce back, but also built my confidence and resilience. It ultimately led me to this role, where I now have the opportunity to shape my own team and continue to grow our strategy function within the wider business. The fact that it came through such a tough process makes it all the more meaningful.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That we are all in it for the money! I am very much here for the people. A third of our lives are spent at work, so your wellbeing at work naturally affects your life outside of it too. I’m driven by the opportunity to positively shape that experience for others.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: The lack of diversity. Despite strong representation at entry level, women hold only around 31% of top paying roles and the gender pay gap remains at 14.2%, placing us fourth highest amongst all industries for pay disparity. The data is clear. The barriers to progression are still very real for underrepresented groups and too often shaped by a sector that favours more privileged backgrounds. That’s what I’d most want to change.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: For me, it starts with doing the right thing. This means giving everyone equal opportunity to excel and to bring their unique perspectives to work. I have seen personally how much richer my collaboration and thinking becomes when I’m surrounded by people who are different from me. That’s reflected beyond the anecdotal too. Companies in the top quartile for ethnic diversity are proven more likely to outperform their industry nationally.
Why I’m so passionate about ESG: We only have one planet. Ever since I gave £2.50 a month of my pocket money allowance to WWF as a kid, I have always been passionate about doing the right thing for our planet.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: I want to really nurture and inspire the next generation of talent coming through. When you can see one of your teammates go on to be as, or even more successful than you are – that’s how you know you have succeeded.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: I would get my loved ones back together, living and dead. My granddad passed away four years ago. It made me realise that we don’t appreciate people enough when they are here, but we seriously miss them when they’re gone. There is so much I could learn from lost loved ones, so many questions I would ask my great nana that I never thought to ask when I was young.
What I do in my downtime: I have never been very good at sitting still. I’ve not been to the cinema since I was a teenager for this exact reason. Most of my downtime is spent being active. I have a yellow Labrador who is my best friend and taking him out for hikes or runs and being out in nature together is my favourite way to pass time.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: It’s been a long time since I considered what I would do instead as my role now aligns so well with my personal motivations and passions. I enjoyed my time travelling in New Zealand, so maybe something to do with travel.
My advice for someone just starting out: Too often we are our own toughest critic. You need to be your biggest cheerleader instead. Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from doing anything, know your worth and just give it a try.
My motto/mantra: It’s good to do something that makes you feel just a little bit sick at least once a week. I was speaking to someone recently who was surprised when I said that I still feel nervous when I go into pitches – but nerves show you care. If there comes a day when you can’t remember the last time you felt a little bit sick, I would question whether you are in the right role.
