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International Women’s Day 2022 #BreakTheBias

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is challenging both women and men to Break the Bias and promote equality in all walks of life. We have caught up with Charlotte Steggles who has given us an insight into how NG Chartered Surveyors is helping to do this.

How have you aimed to #BreakTheBias within the workplace?

The property industry for many years has been very male dominated. For me, growing up having a passion for playing football and then coming into a male-dominated environment was not intimidating or unusual. I am lucky enough to have entered a firm where there is no bias. The culture here is very much: if you are good at what you do and you are a team player, no matter your gender, age, race or sex then you will be respected and rewarded.

However, I know this is not the case for all female surveyors or professionals across the industry. I recently had coffee with a few female professionals, and it became evident that each woman had endured some form of discrimination or prejudice for being a woman and this does need to change. I hope that by raising awareness, with days such as international women’s day that women will be given equal opportunities.

Why is International Women’s Day important to you?  

I think it is important that everyone from any background, race, age or gender is treated equally and, as it stands, this is not currently the case. Being a woman, you are not always given the same respect or opportunities as male counterparts. I admit that I don’t necessarily think that this is always deliberate, and this can be an unconscious bias, but in order to help people change that bias we need to make them aware that they have this bias.

How important is it to you to have female role models?

Having role models whether that be male or female is important to me, knowing you have people that you can go too and ask for assistance or words of wisdom is important. But in our industry to have role models to look up and see career progression is really important. Having Jude Weston to look up to has been great. I can see that you can have a family and be a business owner and that you don’t have to pick either/or. Growing up that was very much the stereotype that I was made aware of, so to be able to see that you can have both is important. But for NG too I think it’s important to be able to have owners of different ages, beliefs and genders to enable the business to thrive.

What advice would you give to those young girls and women who aspire to have a career in property?

Don’t ever be afraid to ask for help.

My family had no history in property, so entering this world was a bit unknown but I am so glad that embraced it, and when need be, I ask for help from those around me. I couldn’t wish to be surrounded by better people who have created an environment where I hope I can thrive in.