Q&A: Five minutes with Ros Goode, principal and managing director at Avison Young

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Ros Goode, principal and managing director, London, at Avison Young, on how she got started in property. She also shares her cultural tips, her worst purchase and what she would do with a million pounds.

Ros Goode

How did you join the property industry?

I joined the industry as a graduate from Bristol Polytechnic and I am now coming up to 35 years at Avison Young. In fact, I recently discovered that I was not only the first woman grandmothered into the Registered Property Receiver accreditation back in 1996, but also the longest serving. There were not many women doing this type of work back then, so I am really proud of it.

What does your job entail?

As head of our London office, my aim is to get colleagues to come together for the good of the collective, not the individual. I am a huge advocate of collaboration, and by bringing the different ends of the business together we can maximise our positive impact.

What do you like most about the property industry?

As a social industry, it plays to what I enjoy most about the job: the people. It is the sector’s potential that excites me, too; because of its social nature, it is accessible to such a range of different people and views.

And what do you dislike most about it?

The fact that it is taking too long to change, with diversity and inclusion and social mobility being key areas of urgent need.

What do you want to change about the property industry?

How people see it. Instead of being thought of as greedy landlords and investors, our industry should be seen as a force for good in communities and society; and by making the sector more diverse and more inclusive, we can achieve this.

What barriers or challenges have you overcome?

Mainly the barriers that affect women in the workplace: the perception that you are not good or clever enough and having to justify choices around career and family. There is a depressing catalogue of women lost to the industry due to these barriers, so I count myself lucky that I worked in an organisation that gave me flexible/agile working 24 years ago when I had my first child.

What are you most proud of in your career?

I have felt immensely proud of what I have been able to achieve for myself and the people around me, by giving back to those that are helping me be successful, championing talent and helping others achieve their goals.

What do you value in people?

Most important to me is authenticity. If people can show their vulnerabilities and be human, then I think that can create a very empowering relationship.