Name: Lauren Verdi Bowker
Job title: Building surveyor, CBRE Manchester
What I do: I’m a building surveyor.
Why I got into the property industry: I wasn’t sure what to do with my history degree so I thought I’d move to London and become an estate agent. This was before Netflix’s ‘Selling Sunset’ had glamourised the role so there was really no excuse. I then progressed into purchasing investment properties at auction on behalf of doctors and when the local authority implemented new legislation restricting development, I had to adapt. I thought the term ‘surveyor’ was one profession and did a masters in building surveying, not really knowing what a building surveyor was.
How I did it: With difficulty. I worked full time whilst doing the one-year masters at Sheffield Hallam and took a pay cut when I started as a graduate building surveyor. Fortunately, my commute was so long that I wouldn’t have had the time to spend any money even if I had it.
My first proper job: At the weekends and school holidays when I was 15, I did the morning shift in a dry cleaners and the evening shift as a hostess in a restaurant.
My first big break: My graduate building surveying role at GIA in Manchester. The market was tough at the time with few jobs available. Several peers from my building surveying masters didn’t manage to secure a role at all so I am grateful GIA gave me a job.
My inspiration(s): I recently attended two Women in Property events having not been before and had some incredibly moving, inspirational and humbling conversations with women in the industry. If you’ve not been to a WIP event before, Go!
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: A particularly challenging PM role which should have been straight forward. The design team let us down, there were issues with the contractor and the client was understandably frustrated. All previous expectation-management skills were fully implemented in order to successfully deliver the project.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Professionally, passing my APC. Because I came to building surveying later on, I really got in my own head about being ‘too old to fail’ (I was 29) and refused to leave the house for months so I could revise. Perhaps overzealous, but it worked.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: DE&I has made strides in this industry, however, there is still a long way to go.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: DE&I is required to provide very necessary, different perspectives. At the very least, a diverse workforce can highlight social/cultural sensitivities which can open up unique insights and provide a USP with clients and the future work force.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: I’d like to continue to progress my career at CBRE and in a senior leadership role. I want to continue to help graduates flourish and become more involved with CBRE’s Women’s Network and Women in Property.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Aretha, Whitney and Prince.
What I do in my downtime: I love going out for food. I do all the cooking at home so I enjoy being presented with food that I haven’t made. And of course, telling the dog how beautiful and special he is every time I walk past him is very time consuming.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: I’d love to say something to do with dogs, but I don’t think I’m emotionally strong enough.
My advice for someone just starting out: In surveying, take full ownership of the APC process and your personal development, no one is going to do it for you.
