Tell us a bit about yourself…
I am a director/owner of the project management company Pragmatix and a mother of two teenage girls. Born in small town NZ, I spent my early career exploring the world, living, working, and travelling in the UK, Europe, and Asia before returning to raise a family.
Which women inspire you the most?
Female leaders who are honest about their achievements and acknowledge that having it all is unrealistic inspire me. They are not driven by perfection but are open to trying new ideas and experimenting. They celebrate successes, admit failures, adapt quickly, and embrace uncertainty in complex environments. I see these women at all ages and stages in organisations, not just famous leaders. They inspire and influence their teams, sometimes leading from behind, to achieve great results.
Emma McDonald
Director
Pragmatix
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #AccelerateAction—what does this look like to you?
It means moving beyond planning to take immediate, experimental actions toward gender equality. This involves making numerous, fast, and small steps simultaneously and learning quickly, rather than implementing fewer, larger, and slower change initiatives.
What do you think is the key to building a workplace where women thrive?
Creating a psychologically safe environment to encourage diversity of thought, embrace new ideas, and where it is safe to fail.
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
Concentrate on the learning rather than aiming for perfection.
We all belong in property
There is no denying that a diverse industry is a more adaptive industry.
Property Council’s D&I initiatives are proudly driven by our Diversity & Inclusion Committee, a group of 16 property leaders gathered to lead initiatives that bring the industry together and move us forward.