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From curiosity to career clarity: How mentorship changed Isabella Anello’s path

June 30, 2025

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Isabella Anello didn’t expect industrial to win her over. But now, it’s all she can think about. 

As the first participant in the 2025 WIN x UTS mentorship program, Isabella has just finished placements with our partners CBRE, Knight Frank and Cushman & Wakefield. 

She shares how the experience changed her view of the industrial sector. And helped her land her first part-time, undergraduate job. 

The step that set things in motion

Isabella (Bella) Anello had never dreamt of a career in industrial. Instead, she had her sights set on capital markets and research.

But while studying for her Bachelor of Property Economics at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), she came across WIN’s new mentorship program – launched in partnership with UTS – and saw an opportunity worth exploring. One that offered:

  • Hands-on experience in leasing, research, marketing and client engagement
  • Rotating work placements across leading industrial firms
  • A $5,000 grant to support her studies

Bella decided to go for it – and was accepted. That step sparked a turning point in her ambitions. 

‘It’s changed my whole perspective,’ Bella says. ‘Not just on industrial, but on how important it is to see more women in this space.’

And she credits the time spent inside three of Australia’s top industrial real estate firms as the key driver behind her shift in mindset and motivation.

Starting strong at CBRE

Bella’s first placement was with CBRE. And from the moment she stepped foot into the global commercial real estate firm, she felt at home.

As one of the biggest players in the industrial space, CBRE delivers everything from leasing services to investment strategy. It could have been overwhelming, but for Bella, it felt surprisingly grounding. 

‘It was a great starting point,’ she shares. ‘I didn’t expect a company that big to feel so personal.’

While assigned to the Central West Industrial team, Bella was encouraged to connect with people across all aspects of the business, including tenant reps, valuers and asset managers.

‘I gained a really broad view of the sector,’ she recalls. ‘I loved seeing how it all fit together, and it made the industry feel so much more dynamic than I expected.’

Bella was also grateful for her mentor, CBRE’s Industrial & Logistics Manager Caris Kinsella, who played a key role in shaping the experience.

‘Caris really cared, and every interaction felt intentional. She genuinely wanted me to learn, ask questions and meet the right people,’ Bella says.

It was the perfect launchpad for what came next.

The turning point at Knight Frank

After two weeks at CBRE, it was time for Bella to move to Knight Frank. 

There, she received what few students ever get: direct access to the people shaping the future of global real estate. Leaders like Alice Crowley, Director of International Capital, who flew in from Singapore just to meet her. 

‘The fact that Alice made the effort to connect with me, face to face… that meant a lot,’ Bella says. 

From day one at Knight Frank, Bella was immersed in the business.

She sat in on the company’s quarterly wrap-up of performance, strategy and vision, and even scored a one-on-one conversation with CEO James Patterson.

The rest of her time at Knight Frank was packed with candid career chats, lunches with senior leaders and visits to the CBD, North and Western Sydney offices.

Bella also walked away with one piece of advice that revolutionised her mindset. 

‘One of the agents told me that it’s not just about a property – it’s about solving a business problem,’ Bella recalls. ‘That really challenged the way I saw industrial agency, because it’s not just about leasing a space. It’s about finding the right solution for a client to help them achieve their next level of success.’

That understanding completely reframed how she saw the industry – and her place in it.

Clarity and connections at Cushman & Wakefield 

Bella’s final stop was Cushman & Wakefield – a global firm known for industrial leasing, capital markets and tenant representation.

By this point, she had found her footing. But this rotation added something new: a front-row seat to how deals are made.

On her very first day, Bella joined an agent’s function in Moorebank, surrounded by professionals from CBRE, Knight Frank and Cushman & Wakefield. 

‘It was kind of wild,’ she says. ‘But really fantastic to see how these firms interact, even as competitors.’

What else did Bella do at this placement? Attended a WIN network lunch, toured Sydney’s west and sat in on client meetings with David Hall, Cushman’s National Head of Industrial.

‘I loved being a fly on the wall,’ she admits. ‘It was fascinating to watch how each professional communicated and built trust.’

All these observations further changed Bella’s perception of the sector. 

‘I didn’t realise how niche the industrial market is,’ Bella says. ‘It’s often seen as a sector of unglamorous dark sheds – but the women I’ve met in industrial are thriving. And it made me realise how important it is to have more of us participating in it.’

One program, three firms, and a whole new direction

Looking back, Bella says the experience gave her everything a quality mentorship should: exposure, connections and above all – confidence.

It also helped her pinpoint what truly drives her: client-facing work, outcome-driven projects and building strong relationships. 

Before the program, industrial agency wasn’t even on Bella’s radar. Now? She’s stepping into a brand-new role at an Australian infill logistics development and fund management firm, Hale – thanks to the connections made during the mentorship. 

Her advice to students considering the mentorship program?

‘Do it,’ she says. ‘You won’t just shadow – you’ll be supported and taken seriously. 

‘I’d do it all again in a heartbeat!’

Keen to start your career in industrial? Follow WIN on LinkedIn to hear about upcoming mentorship and work placement opportunities.

  • 151 Property
  • CBRE
  • Charter Hall
  • Frasers Property Industrial
  • Goodman
  • The GPT Group
  • TMX
  • Vaughan Constructions
  • Realterm
  • ESR
  • Cushman Wakefield
  • Frank Knight
  • ISPT
  • Greystar