_'There are no excuses' – Alistair Elliott on the Future Female Leaders programme and Kathryn Cripps
Whilst I’ve followed the Future Female Leaders initiative with great interest, it’s only as it nears its conclusion that I’ve spent some time with Kathryn Cripps to understand a little more as to the benefit, and as importantly, the issues that the programme has brought into sharper focus.
Kathryn has been candid about the experience and, as much as anything, learnt most from the interesting and diverse group of female leaders that have been introduced to each other as the initiative has developed. The different perspectives from a broad group representing occupiers, investors/developers and advisers has been of benefit. Kathryn has undoubtedly got value personally from this interaction, whilst also developing her personal thoughts about the key issues where change might be influenced to greater effect. These things will be encapsulated in Kathryn’s presentation.
At a time when Knight Frank is putting more and more resource to introduce balance and improve diversity, Kathryn’s learnings will definitely help in our focus.
There are no excuses. The industry is clear. Our businesses are generally out of balance and as we introduce better balance it is now accepted that this is not just right, but that it will improve performance. We’ve developed a number of initiatives, some more advanced than others and we are learning week by week. There is no doubt diverse teams are better for business. Getting to where we want to be will take more time than any of us would like, but we are committed to increasing the pace of change. Recent additions include a new training programme across the firm on unconscious bias.
We have completed a survey to understand the reasons behind women having resigned from Knight Frank over the past few years. The results will help inform our agenda.
We’ve engaged with an external consultant which will result in a radical change in our engagement with potential candidates for early careers at Knight Frank and help guide those who begin with the firm in a very different way.
Having identified that our extensive range of benefits, particularly those linked to paternity and well-being, are not as understood or as accessible as we had thought we have committed to a programme of better engagement with everyone at the firm so there is greater clarity.
The Group Executive Board has just agreed a pilot under the heading Dynamic Working to see how teams across the business might respond to having greater flexibility in their working day. Not, as is often the misconception to reduce hours, but rather location and times.All of the above is hand in hand along with a re-emphasis of support to our teams championing well-being, ethnicity, LGBT+ etc.
With others we continue to engage with the RICS to ensure their resources and reach can be galvanised to assist the industry’s endeavours. Especially improving accessibility and promoting the depth and breadth our industry offers. Sadly something not promoted in the title Chartered Surveyor, which I suggest still leaves most people exploring real estate uncertain as to the depth and breadth offered by our industry. For real estate to become mainstream to ease the understanding as to what the industry offers has to be a priority.
The Future Female Leaders programme and Kathryn Cripps
Kathryn Cripps speaking at the Future Female Leaders event
Stephen Clifton, Head of Commercial, discusses Kathryn Cripps' involvement in the Future Female Leaders programme and KF X in further detail.
Investing in talent and the future of the real estate industry remains top of the agenda at Knight Frank.
We are committed to leading from the front and ensuring that we help shape our industry to be the best, most balanced and innovative that it can possibly be.
We recently launched KF X, a unique and innovative programme to drive ambitious diversity across the firm and fast-track the fantastic talent that is coming through.
We are focused on ensuring our business is fit for the future and equipped with the right tools to meet the needs of our people and our clients.
EG’s Future Female Leaders programme directly aligns with our core KF X values, providing a platform to engage the next generation of women in the industry, addressing the key issues and taking steps to make those significant changes - we are delighted that Kathryn Cripps will represent us as our chosen Future Female Leader.
As a member of the KF X People board and the Knight Frank Gender Focus Group, Cripps strives to positively champion gender diversity and improve the working environment for working parents within the firm.
She has regular one-to-one sessions with young women in the business, acting as an informal mentor. Outside of her working life, Cripps is a mentor for the OBREMS network and a member of Real Estate Balance, an association focused on addressing the industry’s gender imbalance.
In 2018, she ranked 34th in the Top 50 Female Future Leaders in the Financial Times Champions of Women in Business.
Cripps is a huge asset to our firm and ideally suited as a Future Female Leader, there is no doubt that our involvement in EG’s programme will be enormously effective.
Throughout Knight Frank we are committed to enhancing our unique international partnership culture by creating the optimum, supportive and inclusive workplace and believe the Future Female Leaders programme serves to strengthen this aim.
Podcasts and Videos
Watch Kathryn Cripps speak at EG's Future Female Leaders event