Construction
Published: August 4, 2023 | Updated: 27th October 2023
“Life throws challenges at you left, right and centre – It’s not straightforward. It’s about how we overcome those challenges and keep striving for more.”
Nella Pang, Founder of commercial real estate advisory firm Omega RE, knows a thing or two about challenges.
“I always thought I’d be corporate through and through, but then between the pandemic and becoming a mother I started to think more about my legacy.
“So, I launched my own business on 1st December 2020 then on the 20th I found out I had skin cancer, having just lost my corporate safety net.”
Thankfully, Nella received the all clear from the disease in March 2023 and it didn’t stop her making strides in the South Coast property scene.
“I’m quite a naturally determined individual, I was a world champion kickboxer which shows my competitiveness and drive.”
While continuing to run Omega RE, which supports businesses and landlords in property matters, Nella set up a podcast: Let’s Talk South Coast, kept working on the annual South Coast Commercial Property Show, which she runs with Lucy Richmond, and maintained her work championing careers for women and those from non-traditional backgrounds in the real estate industry.
“A big driver for me is thinking about what I’m going to leave behind for my children.
“I want to support the next generation, particularly as I don’t have the typical real estate roots.
“I don’t come from money and, as an Asian woman, I really want to be a role model for people from non-traditional backgrounds and show them that it’s possible to have a career in real estate regardless of who you are.”
During lockdowns, Nella set up a webinar called Strong Female Lead, focused on the real estate sector, attracting 140 attendees.
“It was supposed to be local, but we ended up with people from all over the world joining. We held our first in-person event in March ’23 which had 100 attendees and was focused on STEM more generally.“
“It was really powerful. When people are able to share their stories, it resonates with others.”
“We had students there from Solent and Southampton University as well as UTC Technical College, and it offered them a safe environment to ask questions around things like ‘What happens if I fall pregnant? What’s the glass ceiling like and how can I overcome it?’
“Satvir Kaur, the leader of Southampton City Council, was also there to share her story about being an Asian woman whose family has worked on the market stalls. It’s that kind of thing people can really relate to which makes it feel much more achievable.”
Legacy is something Nella carries over to Omega RE, too, with the company currently pending B Corp status.
“Being a new business, it’s been relatively easy to embed the values of a B Corp into the way we operate from the start.”
“It’s about planet over profit. We try to source everything sustainably, but it’s much more than that – it’s how your treat people, from those within the company to your clients and suppliers and the community.
“One of the projects we’ve masterminded that really stands out is The Bulb in Southampton, which is now the largest clean air mural in the UK.
“We’re all about pushing boundaries, which is one of the main reasons our clients come to us. The way we work aligns with their business objectives.”
Nella is currently working on her next big project Co Work Play, a child-friendly co-working facility which includes childcare capabilities.
“After having my second child, I went back to work after eight weeks, bringing in a playmat to the office and strapping Laila to my chest during meetings and Teams calls – luckily, they sleep a lot at that age!
“There are people out there for whom this isn’t possible, who also don’t have either the financial or family support for childcare.
“We’ve created an environment they can bring their kids too and work. On the ground level is a co-working area with soft play where working parents can work alongside other parents with their children, and there’s an adult’s only floor upstairs as well as childcare facilities.
“The advantage over somewhere like a nursery is there’s no allocated days, so it’s good for people like freelancers who might need childcare as and when, they can go away, work with no distractions, then come and pick up their child when they’re done. I really suffer with mum guilt and career guilt and Co Work Play provides a place where you don’t have to choose.
“There are similar facilities in the US and London, but this will be the first one in Hampshire.”
Co Work Play will launch in September. Nella is currently also working on season three of her Let’s Talk South Coast podcast and is looking for sponsors.
