Name: Kate Green
Job title: Director of workplace at The Crown Estate.
What I do: I’m the leasing director for workplaces at The Crown Estate, which basically means I help shape how people use and experience our workspaces across London. I spend a lot of time talking to occupiers, understanding what they actually need from their offices, what’s changing in the market and which sectors are growing, so we can stay one step ahead. Sustainability is a big part of what I do too. I work on bringing green lease clauses into our deals, making sure they line up with NABERS UK and our net zero goals. At the end of the day, it’s about creating welcoming, flexible, high‑performing spaces that work for customers and the planet.
Why I got into the property industry: Honestly, I was drawn to real estate because you can see it, touch it and people use it every single day. I’ve always been fascinated by how people move through and experience space, and property felt like this perfect mix of understanding human behaviour and thinking commercially. It’s a sector that’s constantly changing, which keeps it challenging, and when you get it right, the impact is genuinely rewarding.
How I did it: After completing my masters in real estate management at Reading during the global financial crisis, graduate programmes were closed so I applied to every opportunity I could find – leveraging my network and applying for work experience with real estate consultancies. That persistence led to an unpaid internship at CBRE, during which I was couch surfing and cycling to work. That opened the door to their graduate programme, where I rotated through several departments before specialising in London office agency.
From there, I took a client side secondment at Derwent London as leasing manager, which gave me invaluable insight into landlord strategy. I returned to office agency but there was a fire inside me to go client side, I wanted to move beyond transactional work and influence the bigger picture, shaping portfolios. That ambition ultimately led me to The Crown Estate, where I now feel incredibly proud to lead workplace leasing across one of London’s most iconic portfolio.
My first proper job: My first proper job was working as a waitress in a restaurant. It taught me the importance of teamwork, clear communication and delivering great customer service under pressure. Those early lessons – listening, problem solving and staying calm when things get busy – have stayed with me throughout my career.
My first big break: My first big break was being promoted to director after six years’ experience. A female managing director championed me – she saw the potential, gave me stretch opportunities and backed me to step up. It was the result of hard work, strong client relationships and being proactive about learning from senior colleagues.
My inspiration(s): From a work perspective, I really look up to Kristy Lansdown and Hannah Milne at The Crown Estate, senior women leading real change, restructuring with clarity and doing it all while being approachable, committed and incredibly sharp. Seeing leadership like that up close is hugely motivating. On a personal level, I’m inspired by people who’ve had to push hard to make their mark, people like Mira Murati, who’s navigating a fast moving, high pressure industry with calm confidence and real vision. It’s the kind of energy that really motivates me.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: My biggest challenge was returning to work after having my two daughters. I was eager to get back and continue my career, but I struggled with a huge sense of lost time and guilt. I’ve learnt that you can’t have it all you have to make choices and sacrifices, but the key is not to feel guilty for them. Setting clear boundaries and being intentional about where I spend my time has helped me balance work and family without losing myself in the process.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: My proudest moment has to be getting the Ares deal over the line at One Hanover Street – the biggest West End transaction of 2025. It was a real milestone, not just because of the scale, but because of the teamwork, pace and sheer precision it took to make it happen. It felt like one of those moments where everything came together: the strategy, the relationships, the negotiation, the pressure… and then that brilliant sense of “we actually did it.” It’s one of those deals I’ll always look back on and feel genuinely proud of.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: A big misconception about the property industry is that it’s full of men. In reality, it’s far more diverse than people think. There are incredible women and people from all backgrounds shaping strategy, design and innovation every day and that diversity is only growing.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: My biggest bugbear about the industry is how slow we are to embrace technology. Proptech has the potential to transform leasing, customer experience and sustainability, yet adoption often lags behind other sectors. We need to be braver about innovation, streamlining processes, improving transparency and using data to make smarter decisions
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: I’m passionate about DE&I because it’s all about learning from different backgrounds and perspectives to make things better. When we bring diverse voices to the table, we challenge assumptions, spark innovation and create workplaces where everyone feels valued and included.
Why I’m so passionate about ESG: First and foremost, I care about ESG because real estate is a huge contributor to carbon emissions, and our industry has a massive responsibility to do better. It’s too easy for sustainability to slip down the priority list, but the impact of not acting is far too big to ignore. On a personal level, I’ve got two young children and I want the world they grow up in to be healthier and more sustainable. That’s a big driver for me. In offices, occupiers can only operate sustainably if landlords help make it possible. So for me, ESG has to be a partnership, not just a line in a lease. It’s not a tick box exercise; it’s about shaping workplaces that genuinely work for people and for the planet.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: I’d like to have evolved in my role, building on the lessons from pre-letting major developments and making our processes even tighter and more customer-friendly. I want to be out in the market, meeting business and getting to know their needs, much like retail does, and shaping strategies that attract the best businesses to London. My goal is to think big: how can we work with our workplace customers to keep London vibrant, competitive and a destination for talent and innovation?
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: I’d love to have Ella Fitzgerald there for the timeless music – imagine that voice filling the room. I’d ask chef Clare Smyth to take charge of the menu so the food is unbelievable, and I’d bring in Michael McIntyre to keep everyone laughing. Great food, great music, and effortless fun… that’s my idea of the perfect evening.
What I do in my downtime: In my downtime, I still cycle to and from work – it clears my head and keeps me active. At weekends, I squeeze in a swim between the usual whirlwind of children’s activities, and whenever I get the chance, I love going wild swimming. Cooking is another passion; I find myself asking my mum more and more about her recipes and recreating family favourites.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: If I wasn’t in property, I think I’d be off exploring the ocean as a marine geologist, mapping the sea floor and uncovering the hidden worlds beneath the waves. There’s something pretty magical about the idea of reading the earth’s story like a giant underwater treasure map.
My advice for someone just starting out: Stay curious, Ask loads of questions, get stuck in and try to learn as much about the business as you can as the more you understand, the more valuable you become. Also, an obvious one maybe, but nail the basics, because how you handle the small stuff is what builds trust for the bigger opportunities.
My motto/mantra: Pressure is privilege.
