In this episode I am joined by Vanessa Murray, an Asset Manager for Stanhope Plc, property developer and investor who delivers large scale commercial and mixed-use construction projects across the UK.  Prior to joining Stanhope, Vanessa spent eight years specialising in property management. After a very brief stint in rural surveying and a whirlwind 18 months working in the property department at EasyJet, she transitioned to commercial surveying and exchanged Stelios for the bright lights of London.  It was in London she found her niche specialising in high end commercial portfolios, standalone assets and mixed use estates working for both Workman LLP and subsequently Savills Plc as an Associate Director.  With a degree in music and no connections to the surveying world, her first few years working in property were particularly challenging. The difficulty of building a network from scratch and the lack of access to senior female leadership was the inspiration behind Mentoring Circle, an initiative that Vanessa founded to provide mentoring for junior women in the industry from women in senior leadership roles.  If you would like to get involved in Mentoring Circle further information can be found at www.mentoringcircle.co.uk'    Here are the highlights:  (03:47) An unconventional journey  (09:21) Starting a new life as an immigrant  (12:12) From music degree to estate management  (19:08) You don’t know if you don’t try  (23:23) Ambition limited only by resource  (28:00) How to apply to be a mentor and mentee  (34:12) Construction is not just for people who fail GCSEs  Business of Building celebrates the normal and the regular; the inspiring risk taker; the dreamer in all of us and hear from those who have walked the path before us and dared to dream. We will hear their journey, their stories, and what they learned along the way.  So please subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcasts, and remember to leave a review so others can find us. This podcast is produced by The Podcast Boutique.