Monika Newton, Partner, is based in Workman’s London Cheapside office. Monika heads up the Welcome Offices team, a service created to deliver a new standard of property management for the office sector, designed for the modern occupier at flagship assets.
Year joined Workman: 2015
In what ways did your early years at Workman prepare you for your career in property and your role as a Partner?
Workman recognises people with a passion for the job.
Our people are encouraged to think outside the box and have the opportunity to get stuck in with as many projects as they wish, which will inevitably assist with their career development.
What did your Workman grounding teach you in terms of technical knowledge and softer skills?
Property management is constantly evolving, so it’s important to be adaptable and keep up to date with current best practices. The many projects I have been involved with over the years have led me to work collaboratively with a wide variety of staff, many with specialist skill sets that I have had the opportunity to learn from and develop my own technical and soft skills.
Were there any memorable projects or properties you worked on that you now look back on as invaluable experience? If so, why?
The official launch of Welcome to the market in June 2018 felt amazing after months of hard work involving various individuals across the firm. It was a real team effort. The sense of achievement was great, and so was the knowledge that the service we launched had been successfully tested across our sites.
What did your closest Workman mentor teach you that’s been most valuable in your career so far?
When you get overwhelmed with the never-ending to-do list, take a step back, take a deep breath, and start with the most important task. Also: delegate as you won’t be able to do it all yourself.
Keep your sense of humour.
In your journey to becoming a Partner at Workman, what have been the most significant or pivotal moments?
Being involved with successful pitches such as 10 Fleet Place, 100 New Oxford Street, 45 Cannon Street, and the Norges portfolio of Queensberry House, 60 Holborn Viaduct, Dean Street, and Sedley Place definitely gave me the extra confidence boost to realise anything was possible.
Now in your role as a Partner, when mentoring younger staff, what do you think are the most important aspects of coaching and developing staff in your team?
Give them time to develop and encourage them to try find answers for themselves. I found that when they need to come up with their solution themselves it gives them a real sense of achievement, plus they learn much quicker. If their solution is not quite right, it is important to explain to them in detail the reasons why, so they understand it clearly and can learn from it.
What advice would you give to graduates on the Workman scheme starting out now?
Roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty: get involved with as many projects as you can.
Take time to know your colleagues across the business and visit their offices, as this helps with building relationships with colleagues and help to understand the jobs they do.
What one attribute do you look for when recruiting graduates / junior staff?
Attitude. If they are passionate, want to learn, and are willing to work hard, everything else can be learned along the way.