Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Earlier

Reflections from International Women's Day 2026 

This year I had the privilege of speaking at not one but two International Women's Day events - a luncheon with the team at MAB, and a longer lunch with the women of RPM. Same room, two different companies, but the same energy: women at every stage of their careers, being honest with each other about what it really takes.

The theme this year was "Give to Gain." And that framing stuck with me, because most of what I shared came down to exactly that - the things I've learned by giving time, trust, and attention to the people and moments in front of me.

Here are the lessons I keep coming back to.

Build your personal sounding board

One thing I wish I'd had earlier in my career was someone I could go to and say: this happened in a meeting - tell me honestly, did I handle that well? 

Not someone who would agree with me. Someone who would say, "actually, here's another way you could have approached that."

Over time I realised you have to build this yourself. A couple of people you trust, who will tell you the truth. Because the people who help you grow the most aren't the ones who say you're right - they're the ones who help you see things differently.

Learn to think strategically

Early in my career I thought doing a great job meant working hard, being reliable, and delivering what was asked. And those things matter - they always will.

But at some point I noticed that the people influencing decisions weren't just focused on the task in front of them. They were asking why are we doing this? and what happens next?

Strategic thinking is really about stepping back to see the bigger picture - understanding the problem you're actually trying to solve, and how today's decisions shape tomorrow.

Be prepared - every time

It sounds basic. But preparation changes how you show up in a room.

When you've done the work before you walk in, you're not just ready to answer questions - you're ready to ask the right ones. And that's often what people remember.

Be generous with what you know

Early in your career it can feel like you need to hold onto what you know, because that's what makes you valuable. I understand that instinct.

But I've found the opposite to be true. The people who share what they've learned - the context, the mistakes, the lessons - are the people others trust and want to work with. Generosity with knowledge builds your reputation in ways that guarding it never will.

Know your worth - and be prepared to walk away

This is a harder one to talk about, but an important one. There will be moments in your career when you have to decide whether you're valued where you are, or whether it's time to go somewhere you will be.

Knowing your worth isn't arrogance. It's self-awareness. And having a financial buffer - even a modest one - means you can make that call from a position of choice rather than fear.

Focus on the people you're ultimately serving

Whatever your role, there are people at the end of your work - clients, customers, communities, colleagues. Keeping them in focus, rather than just the task or the metric, tends to lead you to better decisions.

It also tends to make the work more meaningful.

Speaking to the women at MAB and RPM this year reminded me why these conversations matter. Not because any of us has it figured out, but because we're all figuring it out - and we do that better together.

That's the whole point of "Give to Gain."

Judi Carr is Director of Property Republic and recipient of the 2026 UDIA Raymond J. Peck Award.