Name: Ellana Woodley
Job title: Graduate surveyor, Montagu Evans
What I do: I am on the chartered surveyor graduate scheme at Montagu Evans. As a graduate, I am completing four, six-month rotations in different teams across the business. My current rotation is with development advisory, which is a diverse team helping clients realise value through development opportunities.
Why I got into the property industry: One of the main reasons I got into real estate is because it’s a good way to have a positive impact on the built environment. There are a variety of different pathways in the industry that you can specialise in and it offers a great work culture. The real estate market is always changing and working in the industry gives me a good insight into current and future prospects. This is an aspect that has and will keep me interested in the industry for the rest of my career.
How I did it: I applied for a degree apprenticeship at Montagu Evans, while working towards my degree one day a week and gaining practical experience at work four days a week. After successfully completing my apprenticeship, I was then accepted onto this year’s graduate scheme.
My first proper job: I worked for a wealth growth company called FNZ in the city when I was 16. This was after completing my GCSE’s and just before my A-Levels.
My first big break: Being accepted onto Loughborough University’s civil engineering course, followed by changing my career and being selected for the Montagu Evans degree apprenticeship.
My inspiration(s): David Attenborough is my biggest inspiration, mainly due to the influence he has had over many people and how he has inspired many to care for the natural world. He is a talented writer and producer and uses these skills to engage his audience effectively to raise awareness about biodiversity loss, climate change and other threats.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: I encountered my biggest challenge when starting the apprenticeship programme. This is a slightly unique position. An apprentice generally has less background knowledge compared with a graduate who has studied a real estate degree course prior to starting a corporate job and has learned the foundations. It was overwhelming to integrate into and learn about the company, keep on top of my university work in addition to my day job, and learn the market from the beginning.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: My proudest moment is realising that the initial civil engineering career pathway I chose was not something I was 100% passionate about and having the courage to change. It was a very challenging decision, but it worked out for the best and I learnt a variety of life lessons along the way, which in turn set me up for transitioning into full time work in comparison to full time education.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That the role of chartered surveyors is limited to estate agency. Not enough people are aware that we are involved in many other aspects of real estate, including investment and valuations.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: One thing that I would change is awareness of the industry with the younger generation. Many young people are unaware of the industry and the various routes into it. There seems to be a common pathway into property which is most likely due to the lack of exposure/awareness to diverse backgrounds. Although this has improved over recent years, there is still more work to be done in terms of giving better opportunities and awareness to people who are from a less fortunate background.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: I am passionate about DE&I because I appreciate people’s individualities and value the importance of people feeling like they belong in society. Collaborating with different backgrounds increases the variety of perspectives, innovation and outcomes which directly contributes to success. I believe that breaking down systemic barriers and confronting biases improves not only the lives of individuals, but also the overall culture. It creates spaces where people can feel that they contribute fully and that their needs are heard, which resonates with my personal values.
Why I’m so passionate about ESG: ESG provides a framework for driving positive change and stimulates innovation for sustainable growth, which is something that I enjoy seeing in the real estate industry.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: In two years I will be sitting my APC exam, which means I will (hopefully) be a fully qualified chartered surveyor. For the remaining three years, I hope to specialise in my chosen field and progress to a higher level within the partnership.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Marilyn Monroe.
What I do in my downtime: I often play netball matches on the weekends, and occasionally play tennis. In the evenings I like to go to out with friends and explore different areas of London.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: I would have loved to be a chat show host – I would enjoy interviewing a variety of different celebrities in different countries.
My advice for someone just starting out: Go in with an open mind, learn about your strengths and weaknesses, your likes and dislikes, and put yourself out there.
My motto/mantra: “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen” – Muhammad Ali.
