Carine Hayoz and Erika Ingold, co-presidents of wipswiss, the unique network of women in the Swiss real estate industry

Why do we need women's networks? And why do we need one specifically for the real estate industry?

Erika: Today, more than ever, there is more discussion about inclusion, diversity and equal opportunities than ever before. We are in need of more femininity in business, more visibility of women at all levels, and more equal opportunities. As long as this has not been achieved, networks are vehicles for networking even better; they also serve as sparring partners for companies to position themselves in a more equal-opportunity way and act as a source of inspiration and talent pool for the business community.

Many women experience the professional exchange between like-minded people as well as those from outside the field as particularly valuable. They receive ideas and inspiration for their personal development from great women and can initiate joint projects and collaborations from within the women's network.

Carine: Even 10 years ago, this spirit moved our female founders - because the real estate industry is male-dominated. Women are still heavily underrepresented, especially in the executive suite. A change is slowly taking place here and we see a clear positive trend. The buzzword diversity is currently on everyone's lips. wipswiss wants to set impulses and promote the further development of real estate women. And with our wonderful members, we also want to present role models to show the next generation what is possible.

The credo of wipswiss is "network, make visible and integrate". What do you mean by that?

Erika: wipswiss was founded in 2013 and already has over 300 members. This shows that the need for women in real estate to exchange ideas with each other and to be perceived by the public is tremendous. Through our association activities, we want to make women in the real estate industry visible and approachable as a group.

Carine: Having a large network at your disposal is very important, especially for women at management level, and for those just starting out in their careers it is a valuable point of contact that should not be underestimated. Personal contact is the basis for building trust on a business level. In the broadly diversified real estate industry, it is also useful to have contacts from all sectors. In addition, constant monitoring of developments in the real estate sector is essential. And last but not least, wipswiss brings together women in similar professional positions who can discuss with each other at eye level.

How has the platform changed since it was founded in 2013? You have been presiding in tandem since 2022 - why?

Carine: The message of networking and promoting real estate cadre ladies has been the credo since its birth. The wipswiss association has grown enormously and gained recognition in recent years. We take this as an opportunity to become even better, to offer even more exciting offers and to inspire even more ladies, especially younger women.

The workload on the board was certainly great in the early days. As in the professional environment, wipswiss requires quick action and precise work. We are well organized, each board member has his or her own area of responsibility and contributes input that we discuss in the board. With the co-presidency, continuity is better ensured, we complement each other well, replace each other when we are absent and have a broader network of contacts that we can bring i

What role does communication play in this?

Erika: A network thrives on stringent communication that is tailored to the target group. We use all kinds of channels for this purpose. We try out new things and find out what suits our members best. Creating physical and digital meeting zones where we can network and learn/profit from each other. That's our goal.

Carine: Both internal and external communication are essential for us. Because, of course, we want to give the opportunity to network, to exchange ideas in a confidential setting, to get to know new people, topics and perspectives through our events and, at best, to develop joint projects. But of course we also want to communicate externally, to increase the visibility of the network and that of our members and to make their expertise better known. Therefore, in addition to numerous events around real estate topics, we also offer our members other impulses and presentations on relevant topics and enable them to gain visibility in the media via expert contributions, interview opportunities, etc.. This contributes to more visibility for the entire industry, but of course also for each individual member. And we see that this is appreciated and in demand. Communication via social media has also changed and intensified in recent years - many of our members are very active here, and so are we!

... and what role does IRF play?

Erika: IRF has been accompanying and supporting the communication of wipswiss since its founding in 2013. A clear strategy to make a new network known in the market and among the target groups and then to proactively communicate with the various stakeholders internally and externally and create opportunities for more visibility and exposure has always been very important for us over the years.

Carine: We live in a time where everyone wants to be heard and seen - and can be. Visibility has become the holy grail in personal marketing and positioning. On the other hand, social media has also massively changed the way we perceive and assess leaders. IRF supports wipswiss with targeted communication and a broad network for a well-positioned and attractive media presence.

How will networks in general, and wipswiss in particular, change in the future to adapt and keep up with the new reality?

Erika: Personal contacts and thus good-quality networks are gaining in importance. The half-life of knowledge is becoming shorter and shorter, people more mobile, work locations more diverse, and personal time more valuable. We consciously decide who we meet, when and where, and what we expect from them. That's why we on the board are challenged to remain attractive and innovative. Working on the board is a great pleasure. We complement each other wonderfully, so: Challenge accepted!

Carine: In the future, it will continue to be about strengthening the visibility of the Ladies, the targeted and well-dosed use of social media will become even more important. With the wide range of live and online events, we want to bring together innovative and up-to-date expertise and smart networking at the subsequent aperitif. We regularly discuss this balancing act and clever placement in the board - the teamwork is extremely constructive and positive.