Property Week's 5 minutes with Louisa Butters

How did you join the property industry? 

Accidentally! I studied Finance and French at university – I was keen to use the French but less so the finance. My cousin studied a real estate degree which opened my eyes to the industry. I managed to arrange an intern stint with CBRE in Birmingham which I loved (albeit a lot of time was spent in Metro bar) and then looked at graduate programmes - working abroad was hugely appealing. I started with Chesterton (commercial) for a short period before moving to King Sturge in Paris. 

What does your job entail now? 

I have oversight of UK Retail Asset Management for our international funds, and I have hands-on experience with several assets. My day-to-day role can range from wholescale repositioning of an asset or talking terms with a retailer, to studying the branding, marketing, and demographics of a scheme. I’m also involved with our CRM initiative at CBRE IM – it’s a key part of our structure.  

What do you like most about the property industry?  

I love that it’s a people industry – not being able to deal with people face-to-face during Covid was difficult. I also enjoy the variety that it brings. Our pure retail assets are evolving to become mixed-use which has opened conversations with a broad spectrum of operators – we’ve been looking at leisure operators, dark kitchens, healthcare, co-working and more. We’ve got the opportunity to make a difference with our retail ownerships – create places for communities to enjoy and, although by its nature it’s slow going, we can make a difference to our environment by using sustainable energy, reducing our carbon consumption, and exceeding our targets in this field. 

And what do you dislike most about it? 

I would have said the lack of diversity but that’s changing – women are well represented within CBRE IM, and I see meaningful efforts to promote racial diversity. There’s still work to be done in these arenas so sustained efforts are required across the board. 

What would you change about the property industry? 

As an industry we need to work harder to make our voice heard. We’re working with outdated legislation and practices which need widescale reform – we never seem to reach top of the list! The latest proposal around enforced letting of vacant retail units is an example of how little our industry is understood. 

What barriers or challenges do you feel you have overcome? 

I had a career break with my children and thought that was it for me – it took five years to reverse that decision and it was a challenge to identify any role that offered some flexibility for working parents. A three-day week was an apparent impossibility, so I looked closer to home. I worked for my local authority, and this gave me the confidence to step up when the next opportunity presented itself. I still find parenting and full time work a challenge – school holidays make my heart race. 

What are you most proud of in your career?  

Seizing the right opportunity. It’s easy to stay ‘safe’ in a cosy position but it takes bravery to take on a new role in a new business. I’ve not turned down a challenge yet and I hope I maintain that appetite for many years. 

What do you value in people?  

Sincerity. It’s important to be genuine – it saves so many headaches.  

What advice would you give someone starting a career in the property industry? 

Get as much experience as you can – there are so many different aspects of real estate, requiring differing skill sets. Don’t specialise too soon and be prepared to pivot if you want or need to in your later career. 

One film/television series and why you like it: 

Nothing too high brow I’m afraid – I loved Call My Agent and I confess to binge watching Below Deck during lockdown! 

One book and why you like it:  

Vanity Fair by William Thackeray. I’m much more a Becky than an Amelia…   

What’s the most ridiculous fact you know? 

It didn’t feel much fun at the time, but I helped my daughter learn the capital cities of over 125 countries for an exam. I think I’ve managed to retain the knowledge of 80 tops! 

What’s your number 1 travel destination and why? (It could be somewhere you’ve been or somewhere you’d like to go)  

Ile de Re – the perfect combination of the outdoors, exercise and amazing food and wine.