Natalie Leslie, Harcourts Northern Rivers

Natalie holds the position of Managing Director at Harcourts Northern Rivers, a family-run enterprise underpinned by a strong foundation of values that shape the daily conduct and mindset of every team member.

Natalie's enthusiasm thrives on staying at the forefront of industry trends, leveraging cutting-edge training and technology for her team. She wholeheartedly acknowledges the invaluable contribution of a dedicated team in ensuring the agency's success for its clients.

Q & A with Natalie

IW: What would you do during a typical day?  

NATALIE: I’m a little unusual in this instance.  I consider myself to be a Property Manager – but I am also the chief operations manager/Managing Director for our business.  The beauty of running a PM department is that each day is different, and to answer the question on a typical day is truly difficult.  But on the basics, I will check in with the PM team, make sure everyone is supported and comfortable in the tasks for the day – provide support and advice where needed (they always have their questions ready) – I would then check in on emails and start returning calls.  I check my teams’ stats and KPIs – arrears, maintenance, vacant properties etc.

IW: How did you get into this industry?  

NATALIE: At 16 I worked in a legal office and just enjoyed conveyancing – when that got tedious, I applied and got a job as a receptionist in a real estate office.  They had me temp for the PM when he was off for 2 weeks and I LOVED IT!!!! When the boss wanted me back at reception I was gutted, I then applied for a PM assistant role in Lane Cove and I was off….

IW: What do you enjoy most about your job?

NATALIE:  I have now been in the industry for 30 years – I am still seeing new things, learning constantly, and yes occasionally I am surprised by human behaviour – it is never dull…. We are always progressing, always bringing new people into the industry, showing them how exciting it can be – teaching them how to not take things personally, but be compassionate and understanding of everyone’s situation.

IW: What is the most challenging part of your job?  

NATALIE:   The challenge is always dealing with different personalities – the human factor of our industry (I believe) will always be the most difficult part of our role – everything else is trainable.

IW: What advice would you give others that are looking to move into this industry?

NATALIE:  Don’t hesitate – the limits are boundless.  But this is not glossy and glamorous, you don’t start and have a Mercedes in a week – it is a full-time career that you need to learn how to navigate and learn the balance.  But you will have no end of opportunity, excitement, and support from plenty of experienced people already in the industry.