From Homeless at 16, to Speaking at Property Week’s Inspiring Diversity in Property Forum

Inspire New Homes Founder, Asha Agarwal, recently joined industry leaders at Property Week’s annual Inspiring Diversity in Property Forum to discuss how the property sector can create more inclusive workplaces and improve opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds.

The panel, titled “Fostering Inclusivity in Ethnicity”, was moderated by Nina Goswami FRSA, Head of Inclusion UK at Clifford Chance, and brought together senior professionals from across the property industry, including representatives from Knight Frank and Clarke Willmott.

For Asha, the invitation marked a significant milestone in a journey that began far from the boardrooms and conference stages of today’s property sector.

From Homeless at 16 to Industry Leader

Growing up on a council estate and experiencing homelessness at the age of 16, Asha never imagined she would one day be leading her own consultancy, judging industry awards and speaking on national property platforms.

Today, as Founder of Inspire New Homes, she works with local authorities, housing associations and developers across the UK, helping to deliver successful new homes and affordable housing programmes.

Speaking during the panel discussion, Asha reflected on the importance of representation and social mobility within the property industry.

“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t.”

She explained that while diversity initiatives have helped create greater visibility across the sector, there remains a need to focus on creating genuine opportunities for people from all backgrounds.

Why Sponsorship, Not Just Mentoring, Will Shape the Future of the Property Industry

One of the key themes discussed during the session was the difference between mentoring and sponsorship.

Asha shared her belief that sponsorship remains one of the most powerful tools available to leaders looking to create lasting change.

“A mentor gives advice. A sponsor uses their influence when you’re not in the room.”

Throughout her career, Asha credits many of her opportunities to individuals who opened doors, put her name forward and championed her potential.

“I wasn’t given a seat at the table. Someone chose to pull up a chair.”

The Future of Diversity in Property

Whilst recognising the progress made across the industry, the discussion highlighted the need for continued action to improve social mobility and create pathways into property careers.

The panel explored how organisations can attract talent from a broader range of backgrounds and ensure future leaders have access to the opportunities, networks and support systems needed to succeed.

Asha believes the sector has a responsibility to look beyond traditional routes into the profession.

“Somewhere right now there is a young person growing up on a council estate, or a single parent, or someone from an ethnic minority background, or someone without industry connections who could become the next CEO, Developer, Planner, Surveyor or Entrepreneur. The question is whether someone will open the door.”

Looking Ahead

At Inspire New Homes, creating opportunities for the next generation remains a core part of our mission.

This commitment is reflected in the upcoming launch of the Inspire Academy platform and also the Inspire Your Story podcast, both designed to help aspiring professionals access industry insights, networks, mentoring, sponsorship and career opportunities across the property sector.

The ambition is simple: to create a platform that helps people learn, connect, grow and build successful careers in real estate, regardless of their background or existing network.

Reflecting on the event, Asha left the audience with one final challenge:

“As leaders, our responsibility is not just to mentor talent, it is to sponsor it, to advocate for people when they’re not in the room. To create opportunities, not just conversations.”

As Inspire New Homes continues to develop initiatives focused on social mobility, sponsorship, diversity and inclusion, we are actively seeking to collaborate with organisations, industry leaders and partners who share this vision.

If your organisation is interested in supporting the next generation of property professionals through speaking opportunities, sponsorship, mentoring, events, training programmes or strategic partnerships, we would love to hear from you.

To explore collaboration opportunities, please contact Asha Agarwal at Inspire New Homes.