MY AMBITION IS TO...

Eimear Gourley Director of NI Property Girl

My name is Eimear Gourley, also known as NI Property Girl, and I want to be the face of property in Northern Ireland.

It isn’t an easy task, but I’m up for the challenge. My journey began a little over three years ago when I made the decision to start my own business.

Property was my chosen path, and I founded a company dedicated to helping clients become landlords by finding suitable buy-to-let properties for them.

As luck would have it, just as I was starting out, the first Covid lockdown hit. But I wasn’t going to let a global pandemic stand in my way. I did what I could to get my company up and running, all while juggling the responsibilities of being a new mother on maternity leave with my third child.

I quickly learned that in business, it’s all about people. It’s not just about who you know or what you know, but more importantly, it’s about who knows you. And at that point, nobody knew me. I considered myself an introvert, with my social media accounts set to private and rarely engaging with others’ content beyond obligatory birthday and Christmas posts.

But I knew things had to change. I began sharing written content on LinkedIn, which gradually progressed to photos and eventually videos. The response was incredible. Followers started recognising me on the street, saying hello and offering random acts of support and encouragement. It seemed I was finally becoming known. All the hours of effort and persistence over the course of the Covid pandemic were paying off.

At that juncture, I faced a significant decision. Should I stay in my safe government job as a civil engineer, working 9-5 and earning a steady salary, or should I take a leap of faith and go all in on my entrepreneurial ambitions? Well, the fact that I’m writing this article makes it clear –I chose to go for it.

It was a monumental decision, one that I will never regret. In fact, I would have regretted not making it. I committed to my business full time, and with each passing day, more clients started following my journey on social media and reaching out to me to find their perfect buy-to-let properties.

Before I knew it, my team grew from just me to five individuals. The growth was much faster than I ever anticipated. As a company, we’ve searched for, found, and facilitated the purchase of more properties than your average investor is likely to handle in ten lifetimes, with over 100 properties in our portfolio.

As my profile continues to grow, I’ve ventured into hosting events. Public speaking has become a passion of mine, and I’m committed to aggressively expanding this aspect of my personal development in the near future. In just three short years, I’ve worn many hats – a podcast host, a public speaker, an award-winning columnist, and I’ve been nominated for young businessperson of the year by several prestigious bodies, including the Belfast Telegraph and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

But my business journey is only just beginning. And as any entrepreneur knows, the learning curve is steep. That’s why we’ve recently entered the property education sector. We believe there’s a genuine need for it in Northern Ireland. Property investment is a significant financial commitment, and we want to ensure that people are spending their money wisely.

I am proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m excited about what lies ahead. With ambition as my driving force, I will continue to push boundaries, grow my business, and make a lasting impact on the property landscape of Northern Ireland.

In conclusion, the path to success is never easy, but with determination, persistence, and a strong sense of purpose, anything is possible.