Five minutes with Alice Harman

How did you join the property industry?

I joined the real estate industry as a tired junior from the trading floor of an investment bank. The appeal of real estate’s tangibility felt like a refreshing shift from the high-speed purely transactional trading environment.

Luckily, the bank had an internal opening in its real estate debt team and I transitioned across with zero sector experience.

What does your job entail now?

As an originator in the corporate real estate lending team at Investec, I have responsibility for securing new lending relationships, winning new lending mandates and structuring and executing transactions, along with asset management. The team has recently executed a number of transactions in the industrial and logistics (I&L) sector, including with Westbrook Partners, Hines, Fiera, Wrenbridge, Chancerygate and CBRE IM.

What do you like most about the property industry?

The people. I get to work with a great team of like-minded, fun and motivated colleagues. I also have a network of deeply interesting clients whom I learn with and from endlessly. Unlike many other industries, the value of relationships and connectivity in the real estate sector remains the fundamental ethos of how we do business, which is something I really enjoy.

And what do you dislike most about it?

The endless hurdles. We, like most industries, are having to juggle the pressures from inflation, rates and macro events. However, beyond these macroeconomic pressures, we also face a complex web of additional hurdles.

Planning, regulation and legislation – although often well intentioned – are frequently introduced without sufficient foresight or resourcing. As a result, they can unintentionally stifle progress and limit the potential of an industry that plays a vital role in meeting essential societal needs.

What barriers or challenges do you feel you have overcome?

There have definitely been challenges and barriers, but I’m a firm believer that the toughest challenges forge the strongest personal attributes.

What are you most proud of in your career?

Proud perhaps isn’t the right word, but I really value being a mentor. Helping others with career guidance and watching them prosper is a hugely fulfilling experience.

What’s your biggest career mistake or regret?

Early in my career, I mistakenly booked a fee ticket to a trader with six extra zeros. Somehow, it cleared the system and put his book majorly out of kilter. The aftermath was intense. The nightmares are reoccurring.

What advice would you give someone starting a career in the property industry?

Be a sponge. There’s so much to learn in this industry from brilliant people. Don’t obsess over the ‘what’ and ‘when’ – focus on the ‘how’ and ‘why’.

Who do you admire most in the property sector?

That’s a really interesting and tough question. I’ve met so many inspiring people with different strengths. I admire those who are technical experts in the field, motivating leaders and mean negotiators – and those who can maintain humour, humility and a healthy work-life balance.

What’s your favourite film?

Braveheart is my all-time favourite film but I can never watch the ending. It’s too emotional.

And what’s your favourite song?

I’m a big country music fan. My favourite song might be Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs. My generously kind husband also chose it for our first dance at our wedding. If you know it, you’ll appreciate the repeated line: “Yeah,
she’s crazy…”

How would you spend £1m?

I’d buy a farm and raise miniature Highland cows. Or rather, I’d strategically invest in a value-added real estate opportunity, of course.

What’s your number-one travel destination and why?

I don’t think much could beat horseriding across the mountains of Argentina. The landscape, the people, the food and the wine are fairly spectacular.