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Stepping into our International Women's Day spotlight next is a transformative force in our New Zealand leadership team for the past six years - Treena Drinnan.
With an extensive career spanning major Australasian real estate franchises, Treena not only holds the role of chief agency officer at Ray White New Zealand, but also regional director to the REINZ Board.
The embodiment of calm confidence, she's masterfully shaped crucial industry conversations while guiding our NZ network through regulatory shifts and the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.
Treena, the floor is yours!
What piece of advice would you tell your younger self or someone just starting out?
Back yourself. Leadership is constantly evolving, and success comes to those who are willing to learn, adapt, and put in the work. No one has all the answers, but confidence, curiosity, and resilience will take you far. Be ready to step up to the challenge or be identified for your potential. Seize opportunities that present themselves. Build strong relationships, seek out mentors, and trust that your efforts will pay off.
Over your six years here, what moments or achievements have made you most proud to be part of this organisation? There have been so many, but what stands out most is seeing the growth of our people and businesses. Being part of an organisation that invests in world-class training, leadership development, and innovation is incredibly rewarding. Personally, leading our network through significant changes from regulatory shifts to navigating Covid-19 has been both challenging and fulfilling. More recently, playing a role in shaping industry conversations and ensuring our members are well-supported in compliance and legislative matters has been a privilege.
What’s the number one challenge you’ve faced, as a woman, in your exceptional career?
Early in my career, earning credibility in leadership roles where female representation was limited was a challenge. I was not only young but Māori, and at times, I felt I had to work harder to prove my expertise. Over time, I learned that knowledge, consistency, and results speak louder than anything else. You need resilience and determination, but it's worth it. Now, I focus on leading by example showing what’s possible while inspiring other women to step into leadership with confidence, knowing they belong at the table.
This International Women's Day, what message would you like to share with other women about building a long-term career they love?
Your career is yours to shape, so own it. Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you. Keep learning, keep evolving, and don’t be afraid to take up space in rooms where decisions are made. And most importantly, remember that success isn’t just about what you achieve it’s about the impact you make along the way.
In their words... Treena has an undeniable passion for helping people get where they want to go. When the road ahead appears difficult to navigate, she is a calming light that gives people confidence, direction, and a sense that it will be okay. So often, Treena is the quiet voice assisting people in navigating potential risks within our industry that require positive and assertive decision-making. She is knowledgeable and ensures that the advice she gives comes from her deep understanding of the industry and its operations from the perspective of the various stakeholders. She has the ability to constantly read the play and bring her innate understanding to the forefront of each potential situation for a better outcome.
- Carey Smith, executive chairman New Zealand
Treena has incredible knowledge across our industry, of people, places, companies and legislation. Because of this, she carries out her work with a high degree of confidence in her own decision making. That empowers our network and our other corporate team members. Over and above this, she has a strong belief in doing the right thing, which means that when dealing with challenges, the outcome is always the best, fairest way forward for the collective betterment of our group.
- Daniel Coulson, CEO New Zealand
About the series...
In recognition of International Women's Day on Saturday 8 March 2025, we are spotlighting women in our (corporate) business who are setting an example of determination, growth and success for all of us.
In this exclusive interview series throughout March, we will be learning directly from our female leaders about their journeys, advice and secrets for success in their careers and in real estate, as well as a behind-the-curtain take from those that know them best.
