Spending a day with Lynnette Sacchetto, the Director of Data & Digital Transformation for Allsopp & Allsopp Group - an inspiring female in MENA real estate.
Asking Lynnette about her career, life in Dubai and the launch of CityscapeWIRE.
Interviewer: Hey Lynnette, looking fabulous today!
Lynnette: Thank you, good morning!
Interviewer: Thanks, for coming by. How are you doing?
Lynnette: Very well, how are you?
Interviewer: I'm great thank you for asking.
Lynnette: Hi Neil, the usual, please.
Interviewer: Okay, let's get straight to it. What got you out of bed this morning?
Lynnette: The beautiful weather.
Interviewer: What’s something that you do every morning without fail?
Lynnette: Go for a walk in JBR and Blue Waters.
Interviewer: What's the one thing everyone should do at least once in the UAE?
Lynnette: A desert safari.
Interviewer: What's your favourite thing to do in Dubai
Lynnette: Go for walks, enjoy the weather, food, entertainment..
Interviewer: What's your favourite restaurant
Lynnette: I love brunches, all of them - Hey guys, how are you? Anything holding you back today? All right, great job. Thanks!
Interviewer: Lynette, how'd you like to unwind on your days off?
Lynnette: I love walks, as I said earlier. I love to enjoy the weather and just hang out with my friends and family.
Interviewer: Controversial one, downtown or marina?
Lynnette: Marina, specifically JBR – Hey, good morning! I'll have the Mexican omelette as usual.
Interviewer: So Lynnette, in 10 years from now, where do you see yourself?
Lynnette: Somewhere retired, teaching and mentoring, for sure.
Interviewer: What do you want to be known for?
Lynnette: For bringing data transparency to the real estate market here in Dubai.
Interviewer: If you can cast your mind back, what was your first ever job?
Lynnette: Oh I was 13 years old! It was the mayor’s daily summer program in Chicago and I worked in the IT department at the Department of Education.
Interviewer: I love it! If you can be anything but Director of Data and Digital Transformation, what would you be?
Lynnette: I’d be the Director of Data and Digital Transformation!
Interviewer: What is it that attracted you to real estate?
Lynnette: Hey Bobby! How are you? Did that data help you? Great! Hope you're fine, amazing.
Interviewer: I'll ask again, what is it that attracted you to real estate?
Lynnette: My mother owned an apartment building when I was young and since I remember I was collecting rent, helping with the tenants, maintenance, everything. It was like my own little Monopoly game, so I fell in love with real estate since I can remember.
Interviewer: What's your favourite thing or project that you've ever worked on?
Lynnette: I would have to say MOSHER and the open data, API.
Interviewer: What is a quality you most cherished in a colleague?
Lynnette: Transparency and honesty.
Interviewer: What advice would you give to somebody intimidated by the real industry?
Lynnette: Don't be! It's an amazing career, enjoy it, embrace it!
Interviewer: Do you feel pressure as a woman in the real estate industry?
Lynnette: Nope, not once ever! – Thank you.
Interviewer: By the way, what is your coffee order?
Lynnette: It's a flat white.
Interviewer: Oh look Carl Allsopp’s here, Carl do you have a question for Lynette?
Carl: Ah data queen, how are you? When’s our new Allsopp & Allsopp data report coming out?
Lynnette: We’re testing tomorrow on Friday and it’s launching next week.
Carl: Exciting!
Interviewer: Lynnette, what's the coolest thing you've learned from a mentor?
Lynnette: I never take no for an answer.
Interviewer: What is the number one thing you hope people will learn from you?
Lynnette: Determination, don't give up.
Interviewer: What's your favourite thing about the office?
Lynnette: The people, for sure.
Interviewer: And your most surprising moment in your career?
Lynnette: When I learned that I can combine Real Estate and Technology together into Proptech.
Interviewer: Can you describe yourself in 3 words?
Lynnette: Hustler, confident and determined.
Interviewer: What are you most excited about with CityscapeWIRE?
Lynnette: Wow, I mean the Real Estate industry over the last 2 years during COVID has just exploded. So, I'm really interested to see how Cityscape is going to turn out this year, everyone's talking about it and specifically with CityscapeWIRE and launching women in real estate, it's such an exciting time!
Interviewer: What are you hoping to get out of CItyscapeWIRE?
Lynnette: I'm really interested to see what the developers are going to bring, how they're going to step up their game this year. I'm also very interested to see how the agents are doing and the talks and all the panels. From my understanding, there's going to be some really good panels at the event this year.
Interviewer: Okay Lynnette, now I know you're a busy lady but do you have time for some quick-fire questions?
Lynnette: Sure
Interviewer: Sweet or savoury?
Lynnette: Sweet.
Interviewer: Pool or beach?
Lynnette: Pool.
Interviewer: What makes you smile the most?
Lynnette: My husband.
Interviewer: If you could switch lives with one person for the day, who would it be?
Lynnette: My husband.
Interviewer: And finally, what makes you feel accomplished?
Lynnette: My work.
Interviewer: Lynette, thank you! It's been a pleasure, have a great day and see you later!
Lynnette: Thank you!
