IWD: I’ve always been supported by talented and inspiring women in the industry

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 Iona MacRury, Regional Marketing Manager for the South and Midlands, about this year’s IWD theme – ‘Accelerate Action.’

I was drawn to work at Muse because of the company’s outstanding track record. It was a chance to work with some of the most talented professionals in the industry and collaborate with a diverse range of partners across the country.

I had always wanted to work in marketing, but the property sector had not been an obvious avenue for me. My first role, as a Marketing Executive at a property company in Manchester, opened my eyes to the possibilities the sector offered.

From strategy, digital marketing, event management, PR, and community engagement, the breadth of work and the range of opportunities was immediately rewarding.

Muse is a place which really invests not just in its own brand and marketing but also place-based brands. Across all the places we are delivering we take great care to develop exciting and dynamic new brands, and bold strategies, which not only respect the heritage of an area but shape its future.

At Arden Cross, for example, we recently launched a new brand for the £3.2bn regeneration opportunity facilitated by the HS2 Interchange in Solihull.

It’s an approach which will help define the future of the entire West Midlands, with a new HealthTech Campus being delivered in collaboration with the University of Warwick.

At Stroudley Walk, in Bromley-by-Bow, we are delivering 274 new homes – including 115 affordable homes – in partnership with local housing association Poplar HARCA.

As part of our place-making approach we’ve been working with local charity Bow Arts and artist Will Redgrove to commission a new public artwork based on ‘empowerment’. Working with children from St Agnes Catholic Primary School, the new bright and engaging artwork will define the entrance to the school.

Across both our Southern and Midlands regions I take great pride overseeing and managing a diverse range of new places, working with varied stakeholders, and delivering bold and exciting marketing strategies.

As we reflect on this year’s International Women’s Day theme, Accelerating Action, throughout my career I’ve been supported by talented and inspiring women. In my first role I had an outstanding female mentor.

She helped instil in me tenacity, independence, and self-advocacy. She also emphasised the significance of education and the need for both men and women to collaborate and foster an inclusive working environment.

At Muse, I’ve continued to be inspired by the progression of women in senior positions. This includes Maggie Grogan, Managing Director for the Midlands, who reinforced the idea that such achievement is attainable. It’s a powerful motivation.

International Women’s Day is a unique opportunity to raise awareness and foster a deeper understanding of the challenges women face in the workplace – particularly in property which can often be male-dominated.

It’s also a chance to think about how all genders can offer their support.

It should be a collective effort, where everyone is encouraged to participate and create a more equitable and supportive working environment for women.