Lessons from MIPIM: Open up your network and bring an ‘outsider’ along on the journey

COMMENT Another year, another MIPIM done. Does the sun make everything brighter, bigger and better? While there’s no data to back this up, there are very few conferences that can compare to the MIPIM extravaganza and the work hard, party hard atmosphere. But what does MIPIM really feel like for a twenty-something woman? I’m nailing down on the gender and age factor here as they are equally important to fit in in an environment where one obviously stands out. It is no secret that there are more men than women working in real estate, but the real challenge that needs to be overcome is that while women make up over 40% of the workforce in global real estate, solely circa 15% of posts (in both US and Europe) at senior management level are occupied by women. It’s not exactly surprising that at a conference, where each company sends their top employees and management teams, the bulk of representatives will not look like a twenty-something-year-old girl. And for the first time for me, that felt entirely OK. Here’s why: 1. A more inclusive environment I have a very simple example to illustrate this. People are different and so are their notions of inclusivity. As a non-drinker, what is inclusive to me is not having to explain myself about why I don’t drink. It is having the option to conduct meetings that do not require alcohol. Which was the case this year. Parties at beach clubs still exist, but ultimately it is a personal option on how to go about handling them. 2. Leaders who lead (and lift others with them) This was a real game-changer. What I observed was a number of leaders who made an active effort to make others, not quite at their position yet, part of the conversation. This kind of “opening of networks” isn’t industry standard – and I for one haven’t seen it at most events, not even at previous MIPIMs. The women-centred activities and initiatives certainly helped and were a ray of shining light. However, for once, I’d like to stay clear of and push beyond the gender lens if possible. It’s worth giving a shoutout to all the men who (I felt) were incredibly tolerant, and most importantly made an effort to break past existing circles and open them up to newcomers, those who are different – whichever term you’d like to use here. The only way to make newcomers, women, those who are different (whatever label you’d like to put there) feel included is by actively being able to bring them into the conversation, to bring them in to networks that have typically taken decades to build. Proptech tended to also have this “outsider” position in industry circles as well. During times of macroeconomic as well as ESG pressure this is luckily becoming a thing of the past too. These past few days of post-MIPIM (self)reflection have given me a sense that the feeling of being or feeling included starts from within. Our perception of the outside world starts with ourselves. And until you’ve got a sense that you’re all that and you feel like you belong exactly where you are, you’ll feel excluded every time. And that, dear readers, in most cases only comes with time. So, my ask for you post-MIPIM is to be tolerant towards newcomers to the industry. The next time you’re having a meeting with someone important for your company, take a younger colleague with you. Open up your network to someone who you actively see has the urge and drive to build theirs. Tides change, and at the end of the day we’re just people. We need others to advance forward. Tzvete Doncheva is investor relations lead at PropTech 1