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Almost 200 corporate staff from Ray White and Loan Market descended on Toowoomba recently from all over Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia for the network’s annual planning conference called Crows Nest 2018.
Ray White might now be one of Australasia’s largest property groups, but it can pinpoint its very humble beginnings to a tin shed at Crows Nest, some 45 kilometres west of Toowoomba.
Joint chairman Brian White said that the shed at Crows Nest is probably the most valuable real estate that the family actually owns.
“The Shed has, over time, become the iconic reference to the culture of the entire Ray White organisation,” Mr White said.
“It reflects our history, continued family ownership and the humble start in what has led to now be a significant group. Very few companies have a birthplace.”
The theme of the four-day conference was: “If you want to go faster, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.”
Director Dan White said that there was “no doubt” the business had grown to more than 1,000 offices by attracting ambitious and effective leaders.
“But a big company is not just a big version of a small company,” the director said.
“There is now much more complexity in our industry and our business. The magic happens when we move as a unit but avoid unhelpful bureaucracy.”
Mr White said that Ray White and Loan Market saw a 30 per cent rise in corporate staff in the last year to a workforce of almost 500 employees.
He added that they are “mostly” specialists who have helped propel market share growth in both businesses.
“We hope that the culture that started in Crows Nest all those years ago is still alive.
“We talk a lot about personal leadership and humility, and retaining the underdog mentality despite our market-leading position.”
Mr White also said that combined revenue for the White family businesses has recorded “an enviable” 18 years of consecutive growth.
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