Name: Ashleigh Corbett
Job title: Head of flex – Scotland, CBRE
What I do: My role as head of flex, CBRE Scotland, is a completely unique role in the Scottish property market as a direct response to the growing demand for flexible office space. I secure new and existing space for occupiers, advise operators on growth opportunities and support landlords on the diversification of existing space.
Why I got into the property industry: After having my daughter, I didn’t know what my next step should be. I’ve always been very driven and incredibly personable, so I knew that a role that was sales and customer services based would be a good fit. Starting from scratch, I began my property journey as a receptionist and CSR advisor with a flexible space provider. Since then, I have taken every opportunity to grow my knowledge of the sector and progress.
How I did it: For me, there was nothing quite as motivating as having a child at a young age. I was determined to prove the stereotype wrong and that’s what has always pushed me. I have worked hard and taken every opportunity available to me to learn and grow. Through the years I have identified what I enjoy doing within the sector while continuously challenging myself. Taking every opportunity – no matter how big or small – has been intrinsic to my development.
My first proper job: Like most kids in their late teens, after leaving school I had no idea what I wanted to do. Do I travel, go to university or get into the working world? I chose the latter and started off in my first ‘proper job’ in a call centre for an inbound sales department and was quickly promoted to a management position. It not only taught me a lot about myself, but it helped set the foundations for me professionally.
My first big break: I spent the first chapter in the flex industry learning from my peers and taking every opportunity I was presented. This paid off when I was offered a position with Orega, which allowed me to bring my operational and commercial knowledge into one dual role as sales and customer service manager to launch and manage their first centre in the central belt of Scotland.
My inspiration(s): Young, successful women. Being both professionally and personally successful as a young independent woman is challenging and when I see the next generation push through this, it not only inspires me, but makes me incredibly proud.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: I think that for most people, but certainly for me in the early days of my career, my biggest challenge in a difficult situation was myself. I have had to learn that it is ok to not know what to do and ask for help and to see these situations as an opportunity to learn.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: My daughter is now in her teens and reflecting on our journey together throughout my career and how this has impacted the young woman she has become is definitely my biggest achievement.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: The biggest misconception people have when it comes to the flex side of the industry, is that it is only smaller businesses who consider flex space. Of course the pandemic was an accelerator, but even prior to that, this was simply not the case.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: If I could change one thing in today’s flex industry it is this idea that you must treat your competitors as your biggest competition. I have enjoyed my biggest successes when I have been working collaboratively with my competitors, not against them.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: Being new to this role there is so much for me to learn and put my own stamp on, which takes time. If in five years-time I am in the role I am now but still learning, growing the flex brand for CBRE in Scotland and consistently creating new successful opportunities, I’ll still be where I am meant to be.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: I’ve always thought it would be interesting to sit down with my generation’s past. To be able to talk and learn from their experiences would be incredible. I think we could all learn a lot about ourselves if we had the ability to do that.
What I do in my downtime: There is nothing I enjoy more than spending time with the people I love having fun. Whether that’s days out, nights in, trips away – just being in good company is the best way that I can spend my downtime.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: My answer has changed on this so many times throughout the years. I am creative and have become the designated ‘balloon and gift’ creator within my family and friends. I make party displays, baby shower gifts, etc, for them regularly and have toyed with the idea of setting up my own small business to run alongside my current career path for a while. One day…
My advice for someone just starting out: Ask yourself, in a years’ time, am I still going to be worried about this? Remember you are where you are because you are capable and almost everything has a solution. Engage, learn and don’t sweat the small stuff.
My motto/mantra: I would say I don’t really have one, but someone once bought me a mug with the words ‘it is what it is’ on it because I said that often. Understand that not everything is in your control, but make sure you do your best to change things that are within your power for the better.
