Caroline Bathgate
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Knight Frank
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Having completed my Geography degree at Exeter I accepted a graduate trainee role with a real estate consultancy firm, Weatherall Green & Smith. They sponsored my part time study to gain a post graduate diploma in Estate Management, and provided the training to pass the Assessment of Professional Competence to become a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
I joined Knight Frank 18 months post-qualification as a valuation surveyor, and was made a Partner of the business in 2008. In 2021 I was appointed to the role of Global Head of Valuation & Advisory, and became an Equity Partner in 2022.
My role is incredibly varied. I am lucky to have the opportunity to travel, and I love this aspect of the job. Learning about new real estate markets, developing areas/sectors of growth is one of the best parts of the role. I also spend a lot of time with clients, developing relationships and ensuring that our business is providing the right support to help them achieve their goals. It can be really rewarding and ensures that not two days are the same!
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I had always had an interest in the built environment and I knew that I didn’t want a traditional desk job. I wanted a role that would allow me to use the analytical and communication skills I had developed through my Geography degree, and to be actively involved in how real estate impacts peoples lives. I was lucky to have a friend studying real estate at another university, who suggested looking into surveying. He was right!
In my career I have had chance to work on some fascinating projects. everything from shopping centre redevelopments in the UK to mega project planning in Saudi Arabia. I have never stopped learning and that has been really important to me.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
Geography Society.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
The variety of areas of study offered and the flexibility to explore different parts of what is a really wide ranging subject.
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
Having grown up in Cornwall I wasn’t ready for ‘big-city’ life and Exeter was the perfect balance. Incredible teaching in the beautiful West Country!
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
It’s academic reputation but also the location.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Geography really does promote critical thinking and also requires you to develop strong communication skills. Problem solving, and then being able to share that solution clearly and succinctly is critical in my role.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
There are so many great careers in real estate, whether its a consultancy path like mine or working in development, investment, finance etc. Most of the big employers now offer ‘on-the-job’ training to support professional qualification so don’t be afraid about not having studied real estate as an undergraduate. In many cases firms prefer people who come from more diverse backgrounds who bring different skills and perspectives.
What are your plans for the future?
To continue to grow our global business and to champion more women joining the real estate profession, especially in senior roles.
