The Blueprint x Lillie Cripps
Lillie was a part of the cohort of property students who began their career in the middle of the pandemic. Having her laptop delivered so she could begin working remotely was a unique start to her career. Like many students graduating during the pandemic period her first internship with Beca kicked off during a lockdown. Despite beginning her internship from home Lillie was able to really develop her skills and loved the culture of continuous learning and the people first approach she experienced at Beca. Her first role in Beca’s Project Strategy and Delivery team evolved into part-time work in the valuations team while she completed her studies. “That was a great opportunity. Beca were flexible with my schedule, and it gave me hands-on exposure.”
Following her graduation, she pivoted into project management - and she says she has never looked back. One of the elements Lillie enjoys most about her role is the variety - “I’ve been working across several projects over my time at Beca— in Education, Defence and commercial office sectors,” she says. Each project, client and team bring something different.” Lillie first learnt about Beca at the annual Coffee Mate Speed Networking Event where she met Matt Wheeler (A Director at Beca). Lillie was involved in numerous activities but two that stood out were her role with the AUPSS events team creating the annual Women in Property Event and her team competing in the Cornell Real Estate Competition in New York. Lillie competed in New York after placing in the Auckland regional rounds “It was a whirlwind few days pulling the submission together, but I loved the teamwork and energy. It definitely shaped how I work now.” Having competed in the same competition last year I completely agree that the hectic nature can teach you many valuable lessons about time management, teamwork and tight deadlines.
During University Lillie also became a founder of an organisation called Ambition Amplified while taking a women in entrepreneurship course. She and her co-founder Holly Mace worked with their lecturer, Chris Woods to pair students and with mentors to help bridge the gap between graduation and starting their careers “We wanted to support women through that ‘what’s next?’ moment. It ended up being a really rewarding experience.” She has incorporated her passion for mentorship in her role at Beca creating an internal mentoring programme – which is improving connection within the team. “We ran a pilot, hosted a panel session, and the feedback showed how valuable those connections were. It was really cool to see it take shape inside the workplace too.” The response was overwhelmingly positive, and she emphasised how supportive the team was of her starting the new initiative. Since moving into their new offices, Lillie sees the value of connection and culture come to life every day. “It’s a motivating space with collaborative zones that make it easier to run into people, outside your team. It definitely helps build relationships.” One of the unique features is that it has been designed by the team that uses it. From the internal staircase custom designed by Beca engineer, James Burley to the heart spaces at the core of the building acting as a nexus to bringing the team members together. “You’ll bump into people you wouldn’t normally work with,” Lillie says. “And that sparks so many great conversations.”
As we concluded our tour and discussion, I was curious what advice Lillie would give to young students looking to start their career in property. Her advice was refreshing and grounded “Be curious. Have a good attitude. Grades are important, but being open to learning will take you further.” She also highlights the importance of balance. “There’s always the temptation to prove yourself, to say yes to everything—but burnout doesn’t help anyone. Knowing your limits is just as important as pushing them.”
From sports events and case comps to mentorship and project milestones, Lillie Cripps’ career so far is a reminder that the property industry rewards those who show up, lean in, and give back.
