Voices in Property - Leal Ignatius

Welcome to our quick-fire spotlight on industry leaders and entrepreneurs in Property.

In this edition, Leal Ignatius, Director of International at Hamptons shares personal insights and experiences with anyone who may be currently working in or aspiring to join the London property industry.

What are you most proud of in your career?

Always striving for progression even through difficult times. Being challenged motivates me to work harder, and I’m proud to have navigated obstacles whilst continuing to grow throughout my career.

I believe there is always an opportunity to approach things from a new perspective, and I’ve enjoyed using creativity to drive progress and make things happen.

First property job and how you got it?

In 2004 I was working in the film industry. I was on location at 7am and home at 11pm (including most weekends) and never resting! 

After 2 years and just finished filming BBC’s Bleak House I wanted a “normal job” for a few weeks, intent on going back to film “Hustle” which started shooting the following month. 

Like many of my now peers in property, I took a role as a Foxtons negotiator 2 minutes from home in the Richmond Office. I never took the job on Hustle – but somewhere along the way, I think I became a hustler.

3 years and many promotions later, I was still at Foxtons, opening a new office in Surrey. I thrived on transforming perceptions of the industry, stepping into people’s homes, sitting with them, and turning scepticism about our estate agency into genuine understanding and trust.

What motivates you?

The excitement of building something huge! When I can visualise an idea clearly, hard work turns it into reality - and I’m motivated to shape it until it becomes exactly what I envisioned.

Best advice for preparing for an interview?

Over prepare to give yourself confidence but let the passion do the talking. If you are genuinely interested in a job this will shine through. Consider what the interviewer is aiming to achieve in these conversations, step into their shoes momentarily and this will take the pressure of yourself in your own head.

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Double down on what you are good at, the skills needed to fly in life are not always taught in the classroom. You may not always feel like you shine at school, but you have every chance to thrive in the real world.

Which leader, entrepreneur, founder, or CEO inspires you?

Rory Sutherland, Marketing executive and Vice Chairman of advertising agency, Ogilvy and Mather. He is simply fascinating and his podcasts nearly always trigger a lightbulb moment in my head.

Your best deal?

Purely because of the difficulty, it has to be selling £43m worth of Mayfair property in a week with two broken wrists. It amounted to £430,000 worth of fees for the branch at the time - all accomplished in two pink casts and unable to use my hands. I think the buyers felt sorry for me!

What’s your favourite restaurant?

Taking my two young daughters to Yo Sushi, because they love the conveyor belt and they actually sit still and eat a load of healthy food!

Apple or Android?

Apple! I’m not too stubborn to admit it’s one of the best brands of the last 100 years. It makes my life so easy, especially as a Mac user.

Find out more about Hamptons here and connect with Leal Ignatius here.

Collins Property Recruitment is a business with a purpose: to enable talent and businesses to meet and do great things together. We make this happen through an unrivalled network, a values-led, consultative approach and a hard-earned reputation as the go-to recruiter in property.

Should you have any enquiries, email us at info@collinspropertyrecruitment.com or give us a call on 020 7435 0309.