_Breaking ground in commercial real estate leadership
In celebration of International Women's Day, we spotlight Aparna Premnath, Director of Occupier Solutions at Knight Frank India. Her remarkable 13-year journey offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of commercial real estate and women's leadership.
Walking through destiny's door
Sometimes the most impactful careers begin with a chance encounter. For Aparna, what started as an impromptu Knight Frank office visit in 2012 blossomed into a transformative career. After relocating from Singapore to Bangalore and sourcing for opportunities, Aparna walked into Knight Frank's office without an appointment – a bold move that led to an unexpected meeting with Viral Desai, Senior Executive Director, and the beginning of her journey with the firm.
Transforming challenges into opportunities
When Aparna began her career, India's commercial real estate sector presented a few unique challenges for women professionals. However, through demonstrated expertise and successful deal closures, Aparna and her colleagues have helped reshape these perceptions, proving that expertise and results transcend gender.
Building success through authenticity
What sets Aparna's leadership approach apart is her emphasis on authenticity and relationship-building. Aparna strongly believes that being able to work with a diverse set of people seamlessly is an underrated and overlooked skill that one needs to possess for sustained success. She and her peers have witnessed the vertical growth of the Bangalore office leasing vertical. She attributes this success to several key factors:
- Patient and resilient follow-up mechanism for effective business development
- Building genuine, long-term client relationships
- Focusing on team complementarity rather than competition
- Leading with authenticity and staying true to one's strengths
- Attention to detail on every transaction
The future of women in real estate leadership
Looking ahead, Aparna envisions significant opportunities for women in real estate leadership, particularly in areas where traditionally female strengths align with industry needs:
"The future of real estate will be influenced by work trends, technological advancements, and changing economic dynamics. Women bring a fresh perspective and a human element to decision-making and will increasingly hold influential roles in real estate development, investment, and brokerage," she predicts.
Keys to success: confidence and collaboration
For aspiring women leaders, Aparna emphasises two crucial elements that form the foundation of success.
“First is confidence, beyond simply being bold or outspoken. True confidence stems from a deep self-assurance and subject knowledge that enables women to trust their abilities and make decisive choices, even in challenging situations. Equally important is collaboration, which involves the courage to venture beyond comfort zones, openly share ideas, and work seamlessly across teams and organisational hierarchies,” she shares.
When creating lasting change, Aparna advocates for several concrete steps to accelerate gender equality in the industry. She believes in the power of specialised leadership development programs tailored specifically for women and speaking opportunities that facilitate meaningful cross-level discussions and mentorship opportunities.
Additionally, she stresses the importance of organising inclusive networking events that unite women across different levels and regions, fostering environments where they can freely share their experiences. These spaces become catalysts for growth, enabling women to build strong professional relationships and learn from each other's journeys.
A Vision for the future
As the industry continues to evolve, Aparna sees increasing opportunities for women in senior management and board-level positions. "We've reached a point where we know how to balance work and family life effectively, and our partners have evolved with us. Soon, we'll see many more women at the top across industries."
This International Women's Day, Aparna's journey is a powerful reminder that through authenticity, confidence, and collaboration, women are not just participating in the real estate industry but reshaping it.
Read more about the rest of our 2025 International Women's Day leaders here.