Claudine Tracey
MSc Real Estate Management
After studying a degree in English and Psychology, Claudine found herself working as a Personal Assistant for a property development company which sparked a deeper interest in the property industry. Claudine鈥檚 master鈥檚 experience has helped her climb the career ladder and defy gender stereotypes.
鈥淢y journey to where I am now wasn鈥檛 a conventional one. I鈥檇 initially completed an undergraduate degree in English and Psychology. The career path I鈥檓 on now was something I never thought possible for me, thinking only men could do the role. Once I let that misconception go, I realised I had the skill set to pursue a career in property, and I was determined to do the job well.
I hadn鈥檛 always dreamed of going into the property industry. It wasn鈥檛 until I was working for a property developer in 探花直播 City Centre that my interest in the sector was piqued. I started working as a Personal Assistant, but I quickly developed a love for the industry and started picking up extra responsibilities and doing the work of a surveyor but without the relevant qualifications.
I started to look into degrees that would give me a better chance of progression in my career, and that鈥檚 when I discovered 探花直播. I was fortunate to receive a loan from my employer to pursue my postgraduate degree, which helped me to go back into education.
The lecturers were friendly and extremely helpful and the university itself was so well equipped. I found myself in the library a lot because I loved the breakout areas. It also helped me to be around everyone reading and studying, as it helped me to focus more.
Still, the prospect of going back to university was daunting. I was already juggling being a mum and working part-time, and I wasn鈥檛 sure how I'd juggle studying as well. There were days when I was exhausted, but I stayed focused on the end goal and got myself there. A lot of people judge you as a young, single mum, but I was determined to prove them wrong.
Although the number of women in our industry is growing, it is still very male-dominated. Many individuals also have a family background in property and have lived and breathed it from a very young age. However, my master鈥檚 made me realise that I鈥檓 just as capable as anyone else and that talent can come from all walks of life. It鈥檚 important to encourage diversity in our sector because it鈥檚 what makes our industry thrive.
Since graduating, I changed companies and started the Development Assistant role at a national development business, Godwin Developments. Within a year I was promoted to Development Manager and I鈥檝e worked my way up from there. I鈥檓 now an Associate Director of Roadside and Retail.
One day, I鈥檇 like to be head of my department. Studying for my master鈥檚 degree set me up perfectly for that career progression because it taught me about all the different aspects of the industry. The various modules prepared me well for everything I now do on a day-to-day basis and I know that knowledge paired with my experience will carry me into a more senior position.
Property is an exciting and rapidly evolving industry. I can confidently say the course equips you very well for what we will meet in the real world. There are so many skills I learnt that I now use in my role, such as going out for measured surveys, and group work聽which was a solid foundation for collaborating with consultants. I also enjoyed the law-focused module which was super valuable, and it is now a major part of my role - whether it is buying, letting, or selling a completed development.
My advice to anyone considering studying at BCU is to go for it - you鈥檒l be surrounded by like-minded, driven individuals who will give you the confidence to succeed.
鈥業 AM BCU鈥� means having the tenacity and drive to know what you want and the determination to achieve it, whoever I am, and wherever I come from.鈥�