Close to 200 people tuned into the latest instalment of Journey’s webinars from the Leading Ladies of Real Estate initiative. The subject is one of the most prolific women in Australian real estate, Emily Sim, CEO of Property Management for the country’s largest real estate group.

Interviewed by head of organisational development at the Ray White group Natalie Hortz, Emily is celebrating her 30th year in the real estate industry.

“It felt fitting that we interview someone who has been in almost every role possible within our industry! 40 minutes is simply not enough time to cover a career like Emily’s,” Natalie said.

Providing a snapshot of her lengthy career; Emily started as a humble property management assistant, moved her way into leadership roles, became an Elite-level selling principal of a top franchise, and became CEO of Ray White’s property management division.

“I applied for a property management assistant job in the newspaper in the last term of year 12 in Melbourne. I was really lucky and had great leadership and structure; and I worked really, really hard. I was taught hard work from a young age; but it was like nothing I had experienced at school. From age 18 to 28 I worked six days a week,” Emily said.

“I had signed up close to 100 new properties to our rent roll within one year; I did the figures and realised I needed a pay rise! I came out the other end of the conversation realising I deserved to be valued higher. I am always genuinely invested in my work, and my work needs to also genuinely be invested in me.”

The mecca of real estate in Sydney eventually drew Emily in, and she relocated her life. 

“It took me a long time to feel settled in Sydney. I ended up at McGrath where I learnt a lot about customer experience. I was always learning and open to learning, even after 10 years in the industry. It was my first role in leadership and I made mistakes, but learnt from them.”

17 years ago now, Emily met Ben White who was the CEO of property management at Ray White. This marked her foray into the Ray White group.

“Ben was the first one to start real conversations about property management in the company. We were really working on one of the first technology offerings for property management and my job was building that business,” she said.

Whilst she was at Ray White corporate, the opportunity to buy Ray White Balmain came up. And in true Emily style, she really did take up every opportunity that was afforded to her.

“I realised how desperately I wanted my own business. I was frightened and it took me a really long time to make the decision. Opening the business was the greatest leap I ever made in my career,” she said.

“I had a very supportive business partner, and my dad was also my greatest mentor. He always knew I could open my own business, it just took me a bit longer to have that self belief.”

To become a successful agent, Emily did literally everything that her training and mentors taught her to do. 

“It made me realise that property managers are actually highly skilled selling agents too; the skills are so transferable,” she said.

“I ended up chatting to Ben White again and the opportunity arose to come back into corporate. It was hard to give up my business, I was making really great money and was independent. However I knew that I could sell the business well, and I realised that I was wanting to have some more time for my daughter and family.”

When asked why she is still here after all this time, 30 years later, Emily said that there is absolute purpose in what she is doing.

“The property management industry today; there are not many people investing in it. We are a company that believes in it and invests in it. I love real estate; I love sales, auction results and especially love solving the problems of property managers,” she said.

“Property management is my bread and butter, it is who I am. In my lifetime I would like to make a real and genuine contribution to the industry.” 

When asked if there was anything she regretted or would go back and change, Emily said that even the negative times have shaped her and brought her to where she is today.

“The best advice I have ever received is to always move forward. Sometimes opportunities disguise themselves as chores, or jobs or problems. Nothing arrives on a silver platter; I have always created the opportunities in my life from problems.”

“If you start something, finish it. And if you are going to do a job, do it well.” 

Natalie asked Emily what her formula for happiness is, in a job that can often be demanding and stressful.

“I have tweaked a few things in my life to keep the happiness. I have taken up horse riding again, and really making the time for it. The pandemic affected property managers in a very unique way. Being remote and out in wide open spaces helps my mental health. When I can, I spend a lot of time ‘unplugged’ off my phone and off social media,” she finished.