Ayo Ajayi
This October, in honour of Black History Month, we’re celebrating 31 Black professionals in property. Today we’re celebrating Ayo Ajayi.
Ayo, the co-founder of Genesis Property Network, Governor at the University of Westminster, Member of the Regional Advisory Board for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for RICS, and Chair of the Advisory Board at The Land Collective CIC. Ayo also served on the Infrastructure Advisory Panel for the Mayor of London. As a Cost Consultant, he oversees the management of construction projects from inception to completion. Leading the cost consultancy team, ensuring projects meet budget and quality standards, and collaborating with stakeholders, including clients, architects, engineers, and contractors.
Ayo's roles involves:
Strategic Leadership and Oversight
Budget Management and Cost Planning
Risk Management and Mitigation
Contract Management
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication.
Quality Assurance and Value Engineering
Mentorship and Team Development
Ayo found immense value in the book "The Trusted Advisor" by David Maister, which delves into building trust in client relationships. Maister's insights on effective communication, handling challenging conversations, and maintaining integrity under pressure are principles Ayo often returns to.
One person who significantly helped Ayo was his former boss, Brian Cato, from his first job at Martin Associates. While completing his second degree and working, Brian believed in Ayo’s potential and encouraged him to take on challenges he initially thought were beyond his reach. This guidance provided practical skills and instilled confidence in Ayo.
Ayo’s interest in the property industry was sparked by his fascination with how spaces shape our lives and communities. Inspired by real estate entrepreneurs who transformed neglected areas into thriving neighbourhoods, he realised the power of property development in creating positive change. Drawn to the strategic aspects of the industry, he loves analysing market trends, understanding investment opportunities, and navigating complex transactions.
Ayo uses his platform to raise issues on diversity and inclusion. He believes lack of representation holds back the industry's success and advocates for diversity to challenge norms and ideas positively. His story inspires the incredible heights he has achieved in his career, showing opportunities for our community in this industry, both in the UK and internationally. He also promotes collaboration in the Black community through initiatives like Genesis Property Network. Mentoring junior team members, sharing industry insights, and cultivating a high-performing team environment.
We look forward to seeing how Ayo’s career continues to flourish and how he reshapes the industry.
