Nella Pang on real estate change

You launched your business at the end of last year, how has the experience been so far?

It's been incredible. I hadn’t anticipated my business to take off as quickly as it has. The pandemic has definitely helped because it’s put me on an even field with my competitors. It's a really interesting time because no one really knows what to do with real estate. There's definitely an opportunity to utilise my skill set, and really help businesses navigate their way through this post-COVID world.

What have been the effects of COVID-19 on the commercial property sector?

The industrial market is pretty much booming. We're in serious low supply of decent quality industrial units on the south coast and rent has increased.

In terms of the office market, we're seeing many businesses reassess their accommodation and they’re redesigning space to make it much more efficient.

What we're finding is that some businesses are looking for commercial properties closer to home. We're seeing some businesses relocate out of London, resulting in quite a lot of investment into the regions.

What does the south coast property market look like at the moment?

It hasn't really stopped, despite restrictions and lockdown, businesses have still operated. The good thing about the south coast is that we're not wedded to one industry; Aerospace, Marine, Life Science, Finance, Tech, all of those industries have still thrived despite the pandemic.

There are lots of opportunities happening in the region like Solent Freeport, and the expansion of the runway at Southampton Airport. All of this has a great effect on people wanting to invest in the south coast.

As a woman working within a male-dominated sector, what have been your experiences of inclusivity and diversity in the industry?

It's very much a male dominated industry. I've had occasions where some of the older generations haven’t accepted my advice until they heard my boss repeat it verbatim.

Everything I do, I have to back up and work a little bit harder for. I'm always well prepared and have the research to back up my opinions. On one occasion with a group of leading agents, I tried to say something and got shut down straight away. Afterward I gave the client the research document I was trying to get across which resulted in us winning the contract. That was a changing point in my career, to say that I'm running my own race, I'm not competing with the guys anymore.

What are your hopes and aspirations for your business and your sector?

One of my aspirations is to encourage more women and diverse backgrounds into real estate. When I started my business, I wanted to reach out to other females in the sector, and it was really limited. I was asked to be a role model at my old university UCEM, and I’m now trying to actively encourage more non-traditional surveyors to join the property industry; it’s something that I'm really passionate about. We just launched the strong female lead - a series of webinars to encourage females into the property industry and share experiences.

In terms of Omega RE, my main purpose is to be able to offer honest, transparent advice to occupiers that are navigating this crazy world that we find ourselves in right now. I want to be able to share my corporate knowledge, but also be a part of their journey.

One of my key things is connecting stakeholders in our region, to encourage inward investment. I'm part of Collaboration 360, which promotes this and we've got a big event in November showcasing what the opportunities on the south coast are.

Do you have any aphorisms you live by?

I have positive affirmations that I do every morning. My favourite one is - In order to discover new horizons, you have to have the courage to lose sight of the shore. That really resonates with me right now, leaving the corporate safety net, saying I'm going to do this on my own, and I'm going to be successful.