Leadership, equality, and the future of the lettings industry on International Women’s Day

In all aspects, the lettings industry is going through a period of intense change. From shifting market dynamics to legislative reforms, professionals across the Private Rented Sector (PRS) are developing, adapting, and creating opportunities that will shape the industry’s future.

To mark International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting the voices of women who are leading the charge at Goodlord. Across the business, female leaders are working closely with agents, landlords and partners to navigate an increasingly complex market as easily as possible.

Here, you’ll read perspectives on leadership, building a career in the PropTech space, and thoughts on the industry from true industry experts.

• Career advice

• Leadership
• Advancing equality
• Conclusion 

Career advice

Nilaxi Maken, Product Manager - Landlord experience

“'Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.' In a fast-growing business like Goodlord, the world doesn't wait for you to have every single answer. It’s better to get a solution into the hands of our customers, see how it performs in the real world, and iterate based on their feedback than to spend months polishing a theory behind closed doors and this applies to anything you do in life.”

Charlotte Bresnahan, Enterprise Marketing Manager

"The people who hire you have likely made many hiring decisions and know what good looks like for that role. So who are we to doubt their judgement and assume they’ve got it wrong?"

Imposter syndrome is so common, but this has helped me focus less on self-doubt and more on honouring the trust they have in me.”

Tyla Meyer, Product Marketing Manager

“My advice to all the women out there is - ask for forgiveness, not permission. You are the only one standing in the way of your own success. Build resilience because you will get knocked down a lot, so learn to get back up stronger every time. Play to your strengths - yes, you have tons, women are superheroes.

“Find a mentor who truly believes in you and will take you under their wing. This will accelerate your growth. INVEST! INVEST! INVEST! Invest in yourself, financially and personally - women are naturally brilliant investors, and we don’t need anyone to teach us.

“Finally, be bold, be brave - cry, laugh, and enjoy every chapter, nothing lasts forever, so make it count.”

Leadership

Nicola Harding, Head of Referencing

“A great leader is someone who can inspire through strong collaboration. Someone who has a great ability to listen and observe all the time and to share and feedback at the right opportunity.

“A great leader will be there to help if you need a support net, but will allow you the freedom to try and sometimes fall, but get back up and go again.”

Helen Aboagye, Director of Marketing

“For me, great leadership starts and ends with emotional intelligence. It's the ability to read a room, to truly listen, not just wait for your turn to speak. And to make people feel genuinely seen and heard. It's being strong and direct without being combative; having conviction without needing to dominate. I've had to work hard at that balance as a woman, because the same qualities that earn a man the label "decisive" can earn a woman a very different one.

“Great leadership is also knowing when to say yes, when to say no, and being comfortable with both. It's making the hard calls, sitting with the discomfort of difficult decisions, and doing it anyway. And one of the things I've grown into most and value most is recognising that my voice doesn't need to fill every room. But when I have something to say, I'm not afraid to say it.”

Joanna Harman, Director of People

“There are many elements to a great leader, but the 3 things for me are:

“Bravery - having the courage to have difficult conversations or address the difficult situation, particularly when the outcome is uncertain. It's also being brave in speaking up when you see something is wrong or when you don't know the answer.

“Values - Within Goodlord, great leaders are those who fully practice our values and then use those in guiding how they interact with others, how they make decisions - even if it's the harder route.

“Trust - Good leaders are trustworthy; they do what they say they are going to do. They also trust and value their teams.”

Leah Creighton, Head of Product Marketing

“As a senior leader and a new mother, I’ve learned that balance isn’t about splitting time evenly between work and home. It’s about being intentional with energy, clear on priorities, and confident in the trade-offs you choose.

“At work, that means focusing on impact over presence. Setting clear direction. Empowering others. Letting go of perfection.

“At home, it means being genuinely present in the moments that matter. Accepting that some seasons will tilt more one way than the other.”

Deborah Aniteye, Major Accounts Manager

“One of my first jobs in estate agency was with Faron Sutaria; my Boss at the time was Polly Ogden, who is now the MD of John D Wood. I always admired her; she held herself very well, she was so confident, and she took no nonsense from anyone. This was about 20 years ago, and that world was very male-dominated, but she always held her own and ran the most successful office in the area. I knew she would always do great things. She taught me how to be confident and to stand my own ground.”

Advancing equality

Natalia Lourdesamy, Junior Growth Marketing Manager

“Housing insecurity disproportionately affects women. Single mothers are far more likely to face homelessness. Women are overrepresented in temporary accommodation. Rents take up a bigger proportion of women’s earnings, especially for those with low incomes.

“Housing is a basic need. If we’re discussing equality and progression for women, secure housing is absolutely a place to start. Without a stable roof over your head, it’s not hard to see how career progression, financial independence, and safety become harder to achieve.”

Nishma Parekh, Director of Referencing

“Equality means not having to dilute your standards to be considered collaborative.

"It means women being allowed to be commercially sharp, decisive and demanding without being labelled difficult. It means strategic intensity being recognised as leadership rather than attitude.

"True equality isn’t just representation. It’s behavioural freedom. It’s being able to protect margin, question assumptions, push for brevity, demand commercial rigour and still be seen as credible.

"It also means accountability is applied evenly. If we value performance, then we measure performance. Not tone. Not likability. Not volume.

"Equality, to me, is when competence is evaluated without bias and female ambition doesn’t need to apologise or isolate.”

Alice Norkett, Key Accounts Manager

“International Women’s Day is empowerment, a celebration for women, acknowledging the changes and improvements made for women's rights within business and socially. It's amazing to think about what women are expected to do and then what we silently achieve beyond those expectations, so it's important to stop and celebrate it!”

Conclusion

From championing innovation in PropTech to advocating for fairer workplaces and a more secure housing system, Goodlord aims to make renting better for everyone.

As the PRS continues to evolve, the need for diverse leadership and open dialogue has never been greater. By sharing experiences, challenging assumptions, and supporting one another’s growth, women across the industry are not only advancing their own careers but also driving meaningful change for agents, landlords, and tenants alike.

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the voices, achievements, and ambitions of women across Goodlord and the wider industry, and look ahead to a future where leadership in lettings reflects the full diversity, talent, and potential of the people who power it.

Find out more about the future of the industry at the Goodlord Leaders Forum: Let Without Limits, our exclusive event for UK letting agency directors and founders navigating the Renters' Rights Act.