Where it started
For seven years I worked as a premium travel consultant, sending people off to five-star hotels while hopping on planes myself. New Zealand stole my heart. And one of my wildest “is this really my job?” moments was flying first class to Mozambique to review a brand new luxury 5* hotel.
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Life felt exciting. Busy. Glossy. And then March 2020 hit. And it hit hard!
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The world shut down.
Travel stopped overnight.
And with it, so did my job.
I had one source of income and suddenly it was gone. No safety net. No plan B. Just a very strange silence after years of constant movement.
I did what a lot of us did at the start.
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I stayed at home. Watched films. Ate Ben & Jerry's ice cream straight from the tub, and spent time trying to make sense of the fact that everything I’d worked so hard for had disappeared overnight.
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Then one day, as I was scrolling on Facebook in my pyjamas, as we all do. I saw an advert for a two-day online property course for £99. I didn’t overthink it. I just clicked “buy” and thought, ‘why not’?​
Well, that tiny decision changed everything.
The course itself was not the thing that changed my life. What really shifted everything was my mindset and the quiet knowing that I could choose something different, alongside this slightly delusional but unwavering belief that I would make it work.
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The course covered the basics over 2 days, from getting started in property to setting up a limited company. And I remember sitting there thinking, ‘I could do that’. So despite a lot of advice from family and friends not to do it, I went all in.
I listened to podcasts, audiobooks and YouTube videos on repeat, learning as much as I possibly could and trusting myself along the way.​​
Eventually, I stopped just learning and started doing. This is when the real education began.
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I used the savings from my travel job to buy a one-bed flat in Bournemouth, which I still own today.
That was the start of my property journey, and the start of MANY lessons to come.
THE FIRST LESSON
What happens when you run out of money?
This is the part people shy away from talking about.
After that first flat, I hit a wall.
I didn’t have endless cash sitting in the bank. I couldn’t keep buying property in the traditional way.
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So I did the only thing I knew how to do by then. I got educated.
Like so many people starting out, I joined multiple property education programmes. Some were brilliant. Some were… expensive lessons.
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In total, I spent over £30,000 on property and business training.
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Was it all ‘worth it’? Not every single penny. But it did lead me to one strategy that changed everything for me.
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Rent to rent.
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Rent to rent is a property strategy that lets you control an asset without owning it. You use other people’s properties to create income, and for me, it was a way in when funds were limited. It meant I could scale a portfolio quickly without needing huge deposits every time. I remember thinking, this is brilliant.
In just under a year, (11 months and 10 days to be exact), I had earned enough to leave the corporate job I had gone back to and step into property full time.
Most people could not believe I had done it, including me. It took hard work, long nights, and if I am honest, a few moments of burnout too. But I remember walking out of those office doors, going home, getting into bed that night and thinking,
"I'm really doing this.”
The room that changed everything...
In summer 2022, I went to my first property networking event.​​
There were 45 people in the room and only three were women.
I will never forget how that felt. Being there. Being outnumbered. Feeling like the odd one out in an industry I wanted to be part of.
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I went home that night and started searching for UK-based communities, podcasts or networks that were specifically for women in property.
​Surely there had to be something.
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​A membership? A podcast? A Facebook group? ANYTHING?
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And there was…nothing.
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No women-led community where we could ask questions without feeling silly.
No events where we weren’t the token few in the room.
No place to see women who looked and sounded like us, building what we wanted to build.
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So I did what so many of us end up doing when we cannot find the thing we need.
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I created it.
So here's my story,..and ours
In January 2023, the Girls in Property podcast officially launched.
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It started in a small meeting room in Southampton, alongside my bedroom with simply a microphone, a laptop and a VERY big vision.
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Since then, I have:
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Released over 150 episodes, every single Monday from 7am
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Reached more than 60,000 downloads plus.
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Grown into a community of over 100 women from all kinds of backgrounds and strategies
Girls in Property was never just about the deals and money.
It is about women walking into rooms where they feel seen and heard and safe.
It is about making sure nobody ever has to be ‘the only one' again.
And if you are reading this thinking, “That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for,” then you’re in the right place.
Ways to work together
Join Our Girls In Property Community
Join our vibrant community of over 100 like-minded women working across property, finance, and business.​
Our exclusive platform is built just for you with a space to connect, learn, and grow together.
Courses & In Person Workshops
Not sure where to begin? The Girls in Property Foundation Course is a self led online programme for women starting out, with flexible learning plus optional in person events for personalised support.​
Group Coaching & 1-1 Mentoring
Ready for more? You have started already and now want deeper support, real transformation, eyes on your business, and momentum through accelerator rooms and tailored guidance to reach your next level.​
"Girls in Property is such an incredible community. Whether you’re starting out on your journey or a seasoned investor, Athena has created a supportive, welcoming and safe space for all."
"Athena is a powerhouse- her podcasts , guest speakers and events are full of genuine value. It’s such an uplifting, motivating and inspiring space to be able to ask questions, share wins & wobbles and build real friendships and connections. So grateful to be a part of it!"
Lauren H
