As part of our series celebrating International Women’s Day, we profile women who are making their mark in different worlds, both in the world of real estate and outside it.
“Women, today, are carefully studying the market to identify assets that will appreciate significantly in value in the future. This explains why an increasing number of women between 25-35 are investing in their own homes,” explains Uzma Irfan, Director of Prestige Group and Founder of Sublime.
In this exclusive interview, RoofandFloor celebrates her unique journey where she has carved a niche for herself in the competitive real estate market of Bangalore.
Tell us something about your journey in the real estate sector. What inspired you to make a career in this male-dominated sector?
When I first joined the Prestige Group in 2006, I interned with every department within the company to get a holistic feel for its enterprises. It was at this time that I realised that there was an urgent need for a Corporate Communications department to streamline all branding and communication-related initiatives. Since then, I have been responsible for Marketing Communication, Corporate Communication, Branding and all image-related initiatives for the Prestige Group. I oversee a team of over 30 people where the majority are women, and I am proud to say that each one is excelling in her role.
Today, women may be in the minority when it comes to overseeing work at construction sites and similar jobs, but many are entering the real estate sector in other roles – Engineering, Sales, and Marketing, Corporate Communications, HR, Legal, Finance etc.
On a more personal note, when I left for London, Prestige was a growing company with around 300 employees. I came back to an empire that was expanding rapidly. My father has always been my role model, and I knew that my place was at his side.
Do you think the number of women homebuyers is increasing? If yes, what are the possible reasons?
Yes! Women, today, are carefully studying the market to identify assets that will appreciate significantly in value in the future. This, perhaps, explains why an increasing number of women below 35 years are investing in their own homes before marriage.
Career opportunities for women have increased manifold. They see the numerous advantages of purchasing a home for investment, which has led to an increase in demand in this segment.
Moreover, the banking sector that had previously been hesitant to grant standalone loans to single women is now customising schemes specific to this category, which has further encouraged this trend.
What is your mantra for success?
My mantra for success is to constantly strive to stay ahead of the game, think out of the box, and keep evolving as a person, both personally and professionally.
In your free time, what do you do?
I enjoy spending my free time with my family and friends, especially my husband, Zaid and daughter, Alayna. I am a voracious reader of both fiction and non-fiction.
I am passionate about travel and ensure that I take a month off work annually to visit a new place. During my visit, I try to learn everything I can about the place, its culture, history, cuisines, arts, and so on.
“I enjoy riding superbikes. My favourite being the Hayabusa!”
Tell us that one thing that nobody knows about Uzma Irfan.
I am passionate about art and wanted to build a platform for young, upcoming artists to showcase their work. This resulted in the genesis of Sublime, which started with the launch of Sublime Art Galleria.
Over time, however, Sublime branched out to include Sublime Media Buying, Sublime House of Tea and Sublime Events as well.
In 2009, I also started the ‘The Luxury Collection’ magazine, and I am currently its Editor. ‘The Luxury Collection’ is a premium luxury lifestyle magazine circulated to HNIs in India and abroad.
My idea has always been to use my travels around the world to pick up new ideas and concepts and eventually introduce them to India. I have done just that, especially with Sublime Galleria and Sublime House of Tea.
Your advice for RoofandFloor women readers.
Though India is going through a radical attitude shift where men are slowly accepting women who are now competing with them in all walks of life, I do believe that women need to work harder to prove themselves in a professional environment.
However, instead of letting this discourage us, my advice to all women out there is to work twice as hard so that we can hopefully help create a more evolved environment for our daughters in the future.
The path to success is to be focused, determined, and hardworking.