Masakhe 01 DIGITAL HIRES SINGLE - Flipbook - Page 56
A
s the age old saying
goes, the apple
never falls too far
from the tree, Kim’s
own father was
passionate about
real estate. Kim has been drawn to
the world of real estate from her
formative years, “I grew up listening
to stories at the dinner table of
rezonings, subdivisions, approvals,
rights, restrictions, various forms of
ownership – you name it!”
Kim hails from the Western
Cape, having been born and raised
in a village named Wilderness
from her pre-schooling up until
she matriculated. She packed her
bags for Europe and Asia on what
she describes as a “shoe string
budget”. He father insisted that she
return to South Africa and enroll
for her bachelor’s degree which
she eventually did but not initially
in real estate; she enrolled for the
Bachelor of Business Science degree
at UCT. It wasn’t until her final year
that she finally enrolled switched
to the Faculty of Engineering &
Built Environment (Construction
Economics and Management), the
switche was once again inspired by
her father! Kim eventually graduated
with a first-class Bachelor of Science
(Honours) in Property Studies.
“I have great memories of my
years at UCT. Every time I drive past
the campus, and I see the ivy either
bright red or green I remember it
was exam season! Similarly, when it
rains and the wind blows (sideways!),
I laugh and reminisce (with anyone
who will listen) about clinging to the
ISSUE 1
lamp posts on campus with one hand,
trying to stay grounded, while wielding
a very cheap and flimsy umbrella back
into shape!” Kim reminisces.
As Kim was launched into the work
space, she found herself in an area
which was dominated by males and
she describes the property industry
as a less popular career choice as
compared to finance or medicine. With
now over sixteen years of experience in
property and real estate, she describes
the sector has evolved in terms of
scope and gender representation.
She has noted a marked increase in
the number of woman who are now
entering the industry. During her
honours year in 2005, she recalls that
only six students were enrolled for the
honours program and now the faculty
boasts of over forty students enrolled
for their honours program. Kim did
highlight she marked lack of women
in C-suite positions in the industry;
she herself is the only woman in the
C-suite at the firm she works at. She
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