Careers in real estate and construction rarely follow straight lines. They twist and pivot, shaped by chance encounters, uncomfortable conversations, and the occasional leap of faith. That much was clear at the latest Capstone Mentored event, where two industry leaders, Barbara Welch of Mace, currently seconded to the Royal Household, and Mary Osuagwu, Operations Director in the data centre sector, shared candid accounts of their journeys.

What emerged wasn’t a tidy set of rules, but something more useful: stories that reveal how people actually navigate the complexity of building a career in our sector.

Choosing conviction over comfort

Barbara recalled the moment she turned down a carefully laid-out career path in favour of moving overseas. The decision meant disappointing a senior leader who had championed her, but she knew she couldn’t ignore the pull.

“It’s your career at the end of the day, no one else’s,” she said. “You’ve got to follow your conviction.”

Her honesty struck a chord. Everyone has faced moments where the safer option promised security, but the braver choice offered growth. Barbara’s story was a reminder that careers built purely on convenience rarely satisfy for long.

Finding a voice when it isn’t offered

Mary spoke of arriving at meetings early in her career only to be mistaken for administrative staff. In those days, she often stayed quiet. Time, experience, and a few sponsors willing to take a chance on her helped her realise silence served nobody.

“I used to shrink into the background,” she reflected. “Now, I know I’ve been given the opportunity to challenge, so I use it.”

Barbara added her own mantra: “Never sit at the edge of a room. You’ve earned your seat at the table.”

These weren’t abstract points about confidence. They were practical reminders that presence and contribution are as much about positioning and preparation as personality.

When setbacks redirect, not define

Both panellists spoke of setbacks. Mary described an interview she was sure she had nailed, only to be rejected. Instead of burying the disappointment, she requested feedback and used it as fuel for her next opportunity.

“This wasn’t rejection,” she said. “It was redirection.”

Barbara compared career setbacks to sailing: calm waters don’t teach resilience, only stormy seas do. The metaphor landed, everyone in the room could recall their own moments of rough water, and the way those experiences eventually sharpened their judgement.

Mentors, sponsors and the “personal board”

The conversation turned to the importance of guidance and advocacy. Barbara spoke of keeping a “personal board”, a quiet group of trusted voices she consults before making big decisions. Mary emphasised the role of leaders who are willing to “take a punt” on emerging talent.

There was also a distinction drawn between mentors and sponsors. Mentors share wisdom; sponsors put their own reputation on the line to back you. Both panellists agreed that the latter often makes the crucial difference in accelerating a career.

Networks that compound over time

Networking, often seen as awkward or transactional, was reframed as something subtler. Mary admitted that LinkedIn once felt alien, “The first time I posted I uploaded a picture of a kitchen renovation,” she laughed, but has since embraced it as a way of staying visible and authentic.

Barbara stressed the importance of starting early: “The people you meet at 21 will be the ones you cross paths with for decades.”

Neither advocated “collecting contacts”. What mattered was tending relationships and staying present, so that when opportunities arise, you are remembered and trusted.

Beyond the panel

The discussion left the room buzzing, not because it delivered neat answers, but because it exposed the realities behind career progression: the compromises, the doubts, the difficult conversations, and the value of those who help along the way.

If there was a common thread, it was that conviction, confidence and connection are what sustain a career. And as Capstone’s mentoring community grows, those conversations, sometimes uncomfortable, always human, will be the glue that holds it together.

Please contact us if you're interested in attending our next event, or want to learn more about Capstone Mentored.