IWD: It wasn’t an option for my grandmother to have a career like mine

Ahead of International Women’s Day, we caught up with women across our business to discuss their career paths, working in regeneration and placemaking, and what IWD means for them.

We spoke with Hollie Boxall, Project Manager in our Southern office, about this year’s IWD theme – ‘Accelerate Action.’

My route into regeneration and placemaking was through an initial love for art and graphic design at school. This led to me studying a degree in architecture where I was able to leverage my creativity and passion for design.

I particularly loved how architecture combined functionality with aesthetic, creating spaces which are not only beautiful, but functional. How architectural movements coincided with history and culture was interesting and I could see a lot of connections.

It was this which opened the door to construction, and I quickly found that project management was much more aligned to my skill set.

Project Managers need to be able to manage both people and information – a challenge I have always enjoyed. My architectural training provided me with the technical knowledge and understanding of how buildings are constructed, as well as a comprehensive view of the full lifecycle of a project. Combined with an ability to solve complex problems, communicate well, and collaborate with a range of disciplines, being a Project Manager was an ideal fit for my skills and interests.

I completed an MA in Construction Project Management and then became an RICS Chartered Project Manager. It was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I’ve done in my career, working evenings and weekends to achieve the qualification.

Having worked as a consultant, I joined Muse nine months ago as a Project Manager in the Southern office. It was my first opportunity to work ‘client-side.’

I wanted to have greater control and influence over the direction of projects, and the decision-making process. I also wanted to understand more about how decisions are influenced, viability, and how large and complex regeneration starts out – including collaborating with stakeholders, investors, councils, and communities.

In my previous consultancy roles, I was often only involved once a new opportunity was committed and moving forward.

My job gives me the opportunity to contribute to sustainable development by addressing critical issues like housing shortages and economic disparities which is deeply rewarding.

In Horsham, I am currently leading on the delivery of a new neighbourhood with 244 new homes, all of which will be affordable. It’s a brownfield location which has been derelict for a decade. I’ve also recently supported the completion of Manor Road Quarter Phase 1 – a new community in Canning Town, with 50% affordable homes.

As a woman, I was nervous about joining a team which was male-dominated – but I needn’t have been. There are so many allies – male and female – across my team and the Muse business who share a responsibility in promoting gender equality. I’ve been exceptionally well supported and fully integrated into all the work we do.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise how far women have come in our society. My grandmother, for example, had three children and was expected to be a stay-at-home-mother.

In just two generations, our respective roles have changed so much. It wasn’t an option for my grandmother to have a career like mine, and I know she is full of admiration for what I’ve been able to achieve.

We have so many incredible women across our society and every day women are playing a fundamental role in our economy, public services, businesses, or government. It’s particularly inspiring to see women achieve great things as entrepreneurs or senior leaders.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have had a supportive upbringing that has allowed me to pursue my career ambitions.

Not everyone has the same opportunities, and it’s crucial that we support women who may not have access to the same resources. By providing mentorship, advocating for inclusive policies, and creating supportive networks, we can help ensure all women have the chance to succeed.

By focussing on areas of improvement, we can continue to create opportunities for other women wherever we can.

With more diverse teams, with different perspectives and points of view, we make better decisions.  We recognise that very clearly at Muse, as we seek to represent the areas in which we operate. Greater diversity enhances creativity and innovation, along with better problem solving, collaboration, and improved decision-making.

With more women in senior roles, we also inspire the next generation. I am confident we will see even more progress in the coming years.