Determined. Bold. Unstoppable & Stronger Together. ✌🏿✌🏻✌🏽
It takes a lot of courage and determination to seek support for your business. To take full responsibility for your growth, and to allow yourself to be held fully accountable for your success and progress, especially by someone outside of your immediate circle.
Investing in a mentor is a really big step for your business, and it can feel a little daunting to commit to. But, as they say, “fortune favours the bold!” and there’s no better time to be brave than when you’re growing your property business.
This is why I want to take the opportunity to showcase the women that I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with over this past year. Women from all over the country and of all stages of their property careers – from complete newbies looking for guidance as they step into their first projects, to absolute pros needing support with certain trouble areas of their business.
I hope by sharing their stories, you’ll see just how beneficial mentorship can be and that you feel inspired by their grit and determination – because these women really do deserve the recognition!
➕ Meet the mentees
As an advocate for women in property, it makes me so proud to showcase such a varied group of women here, with such an array of home lives, working backgrounds, and motivations. It really shows that no matter who you are, if you work hard enough for it and are determined to push yourself, you can smash your goals.
Each one of these ladies took it upon themselves to step up their businesses and their property game, invest in their future, step out of their comfort zone, and just go for it! And I’m SO proud of them all for what they have achieved because of it.
⚡ Julia Nice – @fortuniceproperty
✖️ Tell us about yourself and your property business, Julia:
We’re seaside based, at St Leonards on Sea. We do property development and investment for our family – taking on projects at our own pace to enjoy life. We aim to do good things to property, in places we adore.
✖️ Why did you decide to get a mentor?
I had just had my second baby and was coming out of my ‘maternity leave’ and into a challenging project. I was drawn to Jade as a mentor as she is so authentic, no-nonsense, doing the life-juggle, all the while smashing it out in business. “How does she do it?” I thought, “I need a few pages out of her book!” Additionally, design is a hat I do not wear confidently and wanted guidance for the creation of two units.
✖️ How has being a member of the mentorship program positively impacted your property business?
It was excellent to have a sounding board during a time I had a wobble in deciding if I would continue with a particular development or not. With Jade’s guidance, I’ve got the confidence to smash it out. What was so impactful instantly was dictating the use of my time, as previously my workday had been all over the place.
✖️ Have you had any major achievements since that you’d like to share?
Ownership of my time. Gaining a better business & mum balance. Enjoying the process of creating mood boards for my current development (this previously filled me with fear!). And talking through the process of our rebrand.
✖️ What would your words of advice be to other female property developers thinking about mentorship?
Don’t hesitate! I gained loads during my sessions with Jade, which I always came off buzzing. I was constantly inspired by Jade’s no fluff, no BS approach.
She listened very well and understood me and our business, and with that guided me accordingly. The group mastermind sessions and the encouragement between the mentees was a lovely bonus of the program.
⚡ Sarah Watt – @altstproperty
✖️ Tell us about yourself and your property business, Sarah:
I invest with my husband and our business is Alt Street Property. We have been landlords and investors for over 10 years and run a global portfolio. We are based in Milton Keynes and our UK portfolio of single lets and HMOs are local to us. We are currently refurbishing project no. 13 #ASP13
✖️ Why did you decide to get a mentor?
We wanted to scale our business, but needed the clarity of how to do it. We wanted to work with someone who has achieved more than us and had been in the industry longer than we have, so we could leverage their knowledge, expertise and network.
✖️ How has being a member of the mentorship program positively impacted your property business?
It has allowed us to scale the business side, which I didn’t expect. We hired our first VA which has been instrumental to our business growth and allowed me to focus on funding and finding the next deal.
✖️ What would your words of advice be to other female property developers thinking about mentorship?
If you really want to scale and want the clarity, a mentor will help you get there faster than trying to do it on your own.
For myself, joining a mentorship has been great for our mindset. Jade has really helped us provide the clarity we needed in order for us to achieve our short and medium term goals, and now it’s up to us to take the action to implement and grow our business.
⚡ Kath – @anetoproperties
✖️ Tell us about yourself and your property business, Kath:
I head up a property development and investment business with my husband.
✖️ Why did you decide to get a mentor?
I decided to get a mentor earlier this year. I felt stuck in a rut and I needed some motivation and inspiration.
✖️ How has being a member of the mentorship program positively impacted your property business?
Having a mentor has driven me to be more business minded. For example, I’ve put an Investment Pack and Project Pack together which has since driven investors to our business.
✖️ Have you had any major achievements since that you’d like to share?
We’ve achieved a ‘social club to 9 flats’ conversion – to supported living facilities for adults with learning disabilities.
✖️ What would your words of advice be to other female property developers thinking about mentorship?
Women tend to take on more plates to juggle, and feel guilty if one or two of those plates drop. Getting a mentor onboard helps to drive your business, but also gives you like-minded support and shows you don’t always have to be perfect.
Jade has really helped me focus on the importance of running my business. To think about putting systems in place to enable me to free up time to concentrate on driving projects forward, and gaining more investors.
It’s been a hard slog this year and I don’t think I would have pursued half the stuff I have if I didn’t have Jade to chat to and bounce ideas off.
⚡ Lola Thorburn – @Thorburn.property.investments
✖️ Tell us about yourself and your property business, Lola:
I’m a relative newbie to the property industry, learning about HMOs and building our portfolio to create space to do bigger projects further down the line.
✖️ Why did you decide to get a mentor?
I decided on getting a mentor as soon as I felt that I had gotten to grips with the idea of possible routes I could explore within the property industry.
I got in touch with Jade about a year after we started setting up our company but, I wish we had started with a mentor sooner – because I think I would have used my time more efficiently, rather than trying to muddle through on my own.
✖️ How has being a member of the mentorship program positively impacted your property business?
It has given me focus and drive to achieve the foundations. Accountability has also been a massive thing, to have others that I can be accountable to and connect with. That sort of support is invaluable.
✖️ Have you had any major achievements since that you’d like to share?
Definitely a breakthrough with design and decor elements for my latest project has helped me move the project in the right direction.
✖️ What would your words of advice be to other female property developers thinking about mentorship?
Absolutely do not hesitate signing up with Jade. She is such a support in life and business. She also knows her stuff, and is the go-to guru for all things property and design.
What I really love is that she doesn’t give you the answers to things per say, she will encourage and guide you in the right direction to find out for yourself, the specific things for your own journey. I’ve learnt so much in the last couple of months, that I wouldn’t have even thought to look for or research. Don’t delay signing up. You won’t regret it.
⚡ Laura Ackers – @hauspropertyinvestments
✖️ Tell us about yourself and your property business, Laura:
I’m a newbie to the property industry! Using a combination of single BTL and HMOs. I’m working full time in hair care sales so running the business alongside.
✖️ Why did you decide to get a mentor?
Once I had my offer accepted on my first single BTL I decided to get a mentor. I’m quite methodical and like to understand things in detail, so a mentor made sense for me. Podcasts etc. are great but I wanted someone that would work with me specifically on my projects/goals/hurdles.
✖️ How has being a member of the mentorship program positively impacted your property business?
I am in the process of purchasing a property that will be my first HMO, and it’s happened way sooner than it would have done without support from Jade – as it felt too scary on my own! I also feel like I’ve got a much deeper understanding of what I’m doing and where I’m going with my business.
✖️ Have you had any major achievements since that you’d like to share?
First HMO in conveyancing. Understanding deal stacking. And zero analysis paralysis!
✖️ What would your words of advice be to other female property developers thinking about mentorship?
Simple… Do it! I love working with Jade! I’m not risk averse but I only like to take measured risks and having her on my side means that I’ve always got someone to help analyse my scenarios before I take any leaps. Having her as my mentor means I feel more confident to achieve more in a shorter time frame.
⚡ Kim Opszala – @komoproperties
✖️ Tell us about yourself and your property business, Kim:
I am a multi award-winning solicitor turned property investor. I replaced my full time salary by adopting a mixed strategy approach (BRRR/PLO/R2R). At KoMo properties we invest in student and professional HMOs as well as single lets.
✖️ Why did you decide to get a mentor?
I have always valued the power of learning from someone who is where you want to be, and in fact my first mentor was someone I invested with on an earn-and-learn basis. Since then I have worked on and off with mentors. My business wouldn’t be where it is today without having mentors over the years.
✖️ How has being a member of the mentorship program positively impacted your property business?
I joined the mentorship program after taking extended maternity leave during the pandemic. I wanted to breathe new life into our business as well as adjust to managing the business and being mum.
The mentorship has had an amazing impact on both, my weeks are now very structured and I have found other ways to outsource. In terms of the business, we now have core values and an identifiable brand I can take forward. The program coincided with 2 live projects so having Jade’s insight on layouts and design was fab.
✖️ Have you had any major achievements since that you’d like to share?
Having solidified our brand and applied Jade’s techniques in the design process, the first of the projects we worked on, a student HMO, was let at the first viewing … for 2 years!
✖️ What would your words of advice be to other female property developers thinking about mentorship?
Do it! I wouldn’t be able to quantify in monetary terms the amount of value added to my business through mentorship over the years.
⚡ Lauren Metcalfe – @hoosproperties
✖️ Tell us about yourself and your property business, Lauren:
I live in South Liverpool with my husband Brian and two children, Rex (3) and Olive (1). We invest within a several mile radius of where we live, as we love the area and know it inside out (the commute time is also a bonus!)
Historically we have focussed on buy/refurb/refinance Buy-To-Let’s, but our strategy has evolved and we are currently at the build stage of our first Multi-Let project; a building we are converting into three flats. We have enjoyed the increased scale, profitability and freedom to be creative with this project and will look to do more of these in the future.
✖️ Why did you decide to get a mentor?
Diversifying and scaling our business is a huge focus for us. I know from my corporate career how effective having the right mentor can be in ‘turbocharging’ growth. When Jade announced her mentoring programme I jumped at the chance to be part of it.
✖️ How has being a member of the mentorship program positively impacted your property business?
We have a clear vision, mission and goals. We are laser focussed on our area, strategy and the financials of what good looks like to us. We have created the foundations of a scaleable brand which we are working to bring to life. We are building a project management business. Systems and processes are now a big focus. Jade has added to all of these elements with really clear guidance in her no BS style, and has instilled confidence in us when we already had the answers!
✖️ Have you had any major achievements since that you’d like to share?
Yes! Brian has resigned from his job to manage the property business full time! This is a huge step for us which will allow us to launch and scale a project management business for investors in Liverpool, as well as managing our own property business.
✖️ What would your words of advice be to other female property developers thinking about mentorship?
Invest in yourself and your business and just do it! Jade’s bloody awesome!
⚡ Ruth Hunter – @veredusproperty
✖️ Tell us about yourself and your property business, Ruth:
I’m a serial entrepreneur with a number of businesses including a wedding and event design company, an e-commerce health and well-being company, plus Veredus.
I’m a mum of two and have been married for 18 years. I started Veredus Property Ltd a couple of years ago with the view of providing a more secure income for our family and this year I’m currently investing in 2 HMO’s in Gloucester as well as working with SSAS pensions investors on supported living properties.
My ethos is to provide homes (to both young professionals in our HMO’s as well as vulnerable people in supported living housing) that enhance and support mental health and well-being by using biophillic design (influenced by nature), creative storage solutions and providing support in the form a tenant mental health care package allowing my tenants to access councillors and support if and when required.
✖️ Why did you decide to get a mentor?
At the beginning of this year I was suffering with huge overwhelm and wanted someone to help me through the process of managing a double renovation as well as help me become more structured and organised.
✖️ How has being a member of the mentorship program positively impacted your property business?
Where I thought I needed help to manage my huge workload and all the potential new projects, what I actually needed (but didn’t know it at the time) was for someone to guide me to the conclusion that I needed to focus on one thing and stop getting distracted.
This has made a huge impact on my own mental well-being and I’m feeling a lot more in control and calm. This in turn has allowed me to focus on the important elements and I can plan my property journey, as opposed to try and do everything at once which would have had a detrimental affect on the business.
Also, being part of Jade’s mentorship has introduced me to so many other female developers and investors and the support we are able to provide each other has been amazing. Plus there is also the element that Jade has a large following on socials and to be seen as a mentor of Jade’s only enhances my own business profile.
✖️ Have you had any major achievements since that you’d like to share?
I have overcome many issues and problems, not least missing the completion date on a purchase and finding the strength to carry on, find a solution and to get the house over the line.
✖️ What would your words of advice be to other female property developers thinking about mentorship?
If you think you can’t afford it, find the money! I have had to do just that and it was scary as it’s a large commitment but you’re not just paying for Jade’s time, you’re paying to be part of a very exclusive, inclusive group who are all there to help and support each other.
I’ve thoroughly loved being part of Jade’s mentor group. The other ladies I’ve met over the last few months are amazing, inspiring, supportive and brilliant.
I’m proud to say I’m a Jade mentee. Jade is honest and direct and will give you direction but without pushing it onto you so that you’re able to make your own decisions and come to your own conclusions. She’s always there at the end of a Slack message if you need help or advice at any time, and having Eli her right hand man also at the end of a message has also been invaluable. Being able to access their huge amount of knowledge and resources has been invaluable and I feel confident that I will be able to produce high end, beautiful properties because of their help and advice.
See what I mean?! These girls are absolutely smashing it! It’s been an honour to watch, support, and mentor them this year. So another massive THANK YOU to them for trusting me and for sharing their experience here for others to read.
Want a super quick run-through of what they said the benefits of mentorship for female property developers were? Okay, here you go:
⚡ You’ll have a trusted and experienced sounding board to support you in your decision-making
⚡ You’ll feel encouraged and inspired having someone who understands you and your business and who is passionate about your growth
⚡ You’ll grow in confidence, knowing that there’s someone cheering you on and guiding you in the right direction
⚡ Being held accountable to your progress, by your mentor, will see significant changes to your output and business processes
⚡ You’ll be encouraged to dig deep and find out what really fuels your business and what sets you apart from the rest
⚡ Hearing advice from an unbiased external source, can offer the clarity you need to move forward and can open up alternative options
⚡ Having another valued opinion and ‘voice at the table’ can push you out of your comfort zone. Encouraging you to take positive risks, that you otherwise may have overlooked
⚡ Depending on your mentor’s areas of expertise, you can get invaluable advice and support on a specific area you need help with the most – like design and branding.
⚡ With the Redesigning the Property Industry mentorship program you’ll have the opportunity to meet with other like-minded female property developers, through Mastermind sessions, who hold similar business values and goals – growing your property network and building professional relationships
⚡ You should come away feeling inspired, pumped and motivated to work on your business
⚡ So, JOIN ME?
I’ve recently opened up slots for my second mentorship intake of the year. If you want to redesign the property industry with me too, please follow the link below to download the ‘Redesigning the Property Industry’ information pack – which has all the information you need to know about the mentorship program and how to book!
And if you’re 100% in already, let’s hop on a call together! It’ll take 15 minutes of your time and we can chat all about the ins-and-outs of the program.
