_Forward together with Harriet Hix
Harriet Hix is an Associate in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Consulting team at Knight Frank. She’s worked at the firm for three years. Joining at first as a Senior Consultant in one of the company’s fastest growing teams, she’s very aware of ongoing change and progress at Knight Frank and in the wider industry. And, importantly, what still needs to happen.
On the surface, Harriet may seem like she was born and bred in Surrey, but that’s only true for her first ten years. Aged ten, her family moved to Canada for five years. From there, they moved to Sydney, Australia for a few years where she completed her schooling. The family then moved back to the UK where Harriet went to university.
Harriet feels that spending time in different climates and environments inspired her interest in sustainability. Meeting people from around the world gave her a broader perspective on global environmental challenges and the different ways communities approach sustainable living. She embraced the opportunities to experience different cultures and ways of life overseas. Back in London, she studied a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology, and wanted to help people to live more sustainably.
Knight Frank’s evolving ESG Consulting team
The ESG Consulting team was relatively small and new when Harriet joined, but that’s changing rapidly.
“No day is the same. We’re working with massive occupiers that have global portfolios of offices to small landlords that own a couple of shops or offices around London. It’s fun, fast-paced and entrepreneurial.”
Harriet finds it an exciting space to work in. She explains, “We help and advise landlords and developers on how to make more sustainable, better, healthier, more inclusive offices.” That inclusion involves different spaces for different types of people. Harriet continues, “Certain industries and sectors are really pushing for more inclusive spaces. They see the benefit of having more diverse people join the business and stay with them up to C-suite level. Those forward-thinking buildings would be pushing the agenda forward. They’d be choosing to partner with developers and landlords that share that vision.”
The importance of mentorship
“Mentorship is really important. All people joining Knight Frank should have a mentor,” says Harriet.
She’s seen first hand how senior leaders have encouraged less experienced team members to join in discussions and bring fresh perspectives to meetings.
“You may not have the loudest voice in the room, but you need to know how to use it,” advises Harriet.
Why confidence is everything
Harriet’s found it hugely helpful to have a mentor and sponsor, Katie Oliphant, a Knight Frank Partner and London Commercial Agent. She’s particularly competent and confident, and has helped Harriet to grow in confidence too. “She’s been a game-changer,” says Harriet.
“Confidence is everything. It’s confidence in who you are and what you do and your team does. When you have that confidence you can sell it to a client, and be able to charge the prices that you should.” Katie recognises that she lacked that confidence earlier in her career, but that’s changing. “I’m owning that space more,” Harriet says.
Forward together
Harriet adds, “Even in the last three years that I’ve been at Knight Frank, there’s a lot that’s changed for the positive.”
But what needs to happen next?
“I’d love to see more women stay in the business,” expresses Harriet. She recognises that we recruit a lot of female graduates, and people from diverse backgrounds, at the start of their careers. However, she’d like those people to stay at the firm beyond the graduate scheme and rise to more senior levels.
How do we do that? “Continuing the changes in teams’ cultures,” advises Harriet. “It’s time to create a culture that’s inclusive to all, and celebrate differences.”
Find out more about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Knight Frank.