Female leadership and inclusive design drive a new revolution in the real estate sector
Female leadership and inclusive design drive a new revolution in the real estate sector
For decades, the real estate industry—from portfolio management to project development and interior design—has faced criticism for the lack of diversity and its traditionalist vision. However, in recent years a phenomenon is gaining momentum: the rise of female leadership and the commitment to inclusive design. These two vectors, far from being a passing trend, are generating a profound, more profitable, and innovative transformation for agents, architects, designers, consultants, and owners.
A transforming environment: why does female leadership matter?
The real estate sector, historically led by men, is witnessing significant evolution following the entry of women into key decision-making roles. The figures support this trend: globally, female representation in executive positions has grown by 29% in the last decade, and leading firms recognize that organizations with greater gender diversity outperform their less diverse peers in profitability and resilience.
The growth of women entrepreneurs, architects, and leaders of large developers also correlates with the innovation and cultural openness that the sector demands. According to Grant Thornton, the implementation of measures such as flexibility, work-life balance, and the development of professional support networks boosts the rise of female talent and improves business results.
Female leadership promotes a more collaborative and inclusive management style, facilitating better business decisions and connecting with the true needs of clients.
- Companies with greater gender diversity have a 21% higher chance of outperforming the profitability average (McKinsey study, 2023).
- 57% of women leaders in real estate consider that their leadership style facilitates more flexible and innovative management (Source: Grant Thornton).
- Real estate projects led by women tend to prioritize user experience, safety, inclusion, and sustainability (Harvard Business Review, 2024).
This is not only a matter of equity; it is a business strategy to compete and stand out in an increasingly demanding global market.
Inclusive design: the new frontier of real estate innovation
Inclusive design refers to a philosophy and methodology aimed at creating spaces, products, and services that can be used by the greatest number of people possible, regardless of their age, gender, physical abilities, or sociocultural context. This goes far beyond facilitating access or adapting bathrooms: it involves thinking about every detail, from circulation to lighting, visual communication, safety, and flexibility.
In the real estate field, inclusive design is also a powerful commercial argument: it broadens the market of potential clients and increases the perceived value of properties. Real estate projects that include these strategies experience less vacancy, lower turnover, and higher satisfaction among residents and users.
As shown in this FasterCapital report, several global companies focused on inclusive design have achieved not only social recognition but also superior commercial results.
Why inclusive design is profitable and connects with new clients
- It increases the range of potential users and occupants.
- It generates fewer barriers for selling or renting properties.
- It allows a more ethical, responsible brand communication aligned with today’s society.
In mature markets, the demand for diversity solutions is growing rapidly and inclusion-focused projects achieve better retention and recommendation rates.
Real success cases: when inclusion translates into leadership and market advantage
Contrary to what might seem, incorporating a strategic gender and inclusion perspective from the genesis of real estate projects not only generates a positive social impact—it also translates into concrete results.
"An urban design with a gender approach implies the creation of safer, accessible, and inclusive environments. This means considering adequate lighting, universal accessibility, and safe circulation at all times." (Portafolio Inmobiliario, 2024)
Some examples from the sector demonstrate how companies and studios led by women have revolutionized the user experience, integrate new dimensions of empathy, and turn inclusion into a growth axis.
- Redesign of urban spaces considering the safe transit of women and elderly people: actions such as improving public lighting, designing well-signposted access routes, and accessible resting points have reduced incidents by more than 30% in pilot cities (Source: UN Women, 2024).
- Adjustments in residential projects to ensure intuitive access, safe common areas and inclusive public spaces—which improves satisfaction and perception of real estate value by up to 18%.
- The promotion of development policies with an equity vision by firms like Portafolio Inmobiliario, which promote gender equity and urban safety from the design stage [see reference].
It’s not just about complying with regulations: it is a creative and strategic process where economic return and brand reputation visibly improve.
Practical strategies: how to integrate female leadership and an inclusive perspective in your real estate business
Making the inclusive vision tangible is a challenge for many real estate agencies, design firms and independent agents. However, there are concrete steps to build a culture of diversity that impacts from product to market strategy:
- Include women leaders and diverse profiles in decision-making positions, especially in product development and sales teams.
- Promote continuous training on gender perspective, equity, and accessibility for technical and commercial teams.
- Design participatory processes that gather direct experience from users of different profiles, genders, and contexts.
- Establish alliances with collectives and associations of professional women, architects, and designers.
- Apply universal and inclusive design methodologies not only in corporate projects but also in home staging, office remodeling, property presentations, and visual marketing.
Digital tools like those offered by Deptho can be allies to democratize access to visual and creative resources that reflect inclusion and diversity at every stage of the process.
The female perspective in photography, home staging, and design: inspiring examples
In the visual presentation of properties and spaces, the integration of women as decision-makers and protagonists has generated more sensitive photographic proposals, visual narratives that prioritize everyday experience, and aesthetically empathetic settings.
The trend, as reported by La Voz, points to a less hierarchical and more collaborative management, aimed at understanding the daily life of users and clients beyond the technical aspects of the space.
"Female leadership in the real estate sector promotes a more collaborative and inclusive management style. Women in leadership roles tend to prioritize the experience and well-being of the people who will inhabit or traverse a space." (La Voz, 2024)
Keys to successfully communicating and marketing your inclusive offer
It’s not enough to have an inclusive approach in product development or project design; it is essential to communicate those values and differentials strategically across all channels. Best practices include:
- Diverse visual narratives in photography, renders, and virtual tours.
- Stories of real cases in blogs, webinars, or newsletters.
- Testimonials from women leaders, residents, and users of inclusive projects.
- Publish initiatives supporting equity and alliances with professional collectives.
This approach not only elevates brand reputation but also impacts conversion rates and loyalty.
The immediate future: what trends will continue driving equity and inclusion?
Beyond legal or regulatory compliance, major innovations will be associated with organizations and studios that take gender integration and inclusion as essential functions, not as accessory tasks. The pace of demographic and social change, accompanied by digitalization and the rise of AI applied to the design and marketing of spaces, will favor those who invest in new perspectives.
- 63% of new real estate startups in Europe and Latin America have included specific gender equity policies (CB Insights, 2024).
- Real estate investment funds demanding evidence of inclusive practices as financing conditions are growing (Knight Frank, 2024).
- Proptech and AI tools enable inclusive design scenarios and real-time validation of proposals.
Final actions and advice for leaders and real estate teams
Whether you are an agent, owner, architect, or entrepreneur, the invitation is clear: lead the transformation within your sphere of influence. Ask yourself how you can integrate new perspectives, add female talent, rethink processes and products from inclusion, and leverage technological resources to tell more empathetic and authentic stories.
- Adopt mentoring and networking practices among women and diverse teams.
- Actively participate in forums and fairs where inclusive design and innovation are discussed.
- Periodically evaluate the diversity and gender approach in your teams and projects.
- Bet on new technologies and visual solutions, such as those of Deptho, to prototype or validate proposals that reach diverse audiences.
Remember that female leadership and inclusive design are not only flags of ethics or social responsibility: they are the essence of more profitable, resilient models prepared for the future of real estate and interior design. If you seek inspiration on how to communicate and embody these values in images, presentations, and digital tours, you can explore innovative tools in our current repertoire:
- Redesign of spaces to test more diverse environments
- Fill Room and Snap Shopping for proposals to different audiences
- Adtive, to adapt real estate ads to different profiles
We invite you to keep exploring our blog to access more guides, trends, and innovation cases in design, technology, and the real estate market.
References and recommended readings:
