IWD 2026 - Interview with Tanya Travers

Our CORE International Women’s Day Interview Series brings to light leaders who demonstrate how giving time, knowledge, and opportunity creates lasting impact.

We are here interviewing Tanya Travers - FCCA MRICS, VP - Global Real Estate at Harbour Energy

Could you share a brief overview of yourself, your career journey and how it has brought you to your current role?

In 1998 I left Ireland after high school and came to London to train as a nurse at St Georges Hospital in Tooting. 

I only ever wanted to be a nurse growing up, but after 3 years of training placements and shift work across London Hospitals I decided that it wasn’t the life I wanted for myself, and so I left and retrained to become an accountant. I took a job as a Purchase Ledger clerk in a small event management business, signed up to do an accounting technician course with AAT, went on to do a BA in Accounting & Finance at London South Bank University and then completed my professional exams with ACCA to become a Chartered Accountant.  During this time, I worked full time in various roles in accounting & corporate tax while studying evenings and weekends. 

Post-qualification my career progressed from General Ledger accountant for a US software giant, to Finance Manager for a smaller software startup company, to Commercial Director for Engineering Services at JLL, to CFO for a Spanish listed care company and then to EMEA Director of Real Estate at Omnicom a NY listed advertising, media & PR company. 

It was my role at Omnicom that changed my career direction as I was primarily responsible for the real estate finance function, but also facilities management and lease transactions.

I was responsible for accounting, building operations and lease & contract centralisation for over 200 buildings across 32 countries. It was this role that shifted my interest to real estate and prompted me to become a Chartered Surveyor with RICS. 

Many people have asked why I decided to become a Chartered Surveyor, and my answer is because I didn’t want to be seen as the ‘finance girl’ who worked in real estate. I wanted the credentials that validated the work I was doing at Omnicom. It was this decision that enabled me to secure my current role as Vice President of Global Real Estate at Harbour Energy, an oil & gas company. 

What does the International Women's Day slogan "give to gain" mean for you personally, and how does it translate into your approach to leadership?

This year’s IWD slogan ‘give to gain’ resonates deeply with me. In my career I have been lucky to have had great mentors who supported my experience and learning development. Their support allowed me to progress in my career but also to cross into different industries. And I feel exceptionally proud to be able to support the next generation of young people coming into their careers. 

Through Career Ready and STEM I give my time to mentor and support young people in choosing their education and career paths.

Pleaser share a specific instance where you have given your time, resources, or influence to help other women advance in their career, and what you "gained" from that experience

Over my career I have always actively supported women in my teams to progress in their careers. I firmly believe that helping others to grow and succeed is one of the best things we can achieve in our careers, as it truly defines the type of leader you are.  

At Omnicom I hired a Regional Facility Manager based in Warsaw. She worked extensively with the facility managers across the buildings in every country. I saw huge potential for growth in her, so I actively brought her into the leadership level by coaching her to become the senior point of contact for agency leadership. Last year I supported her journey to obtain RICS accreditation, and she has subsequently secured a role as an Account Director with JLL.  What I gained from the experience is pride and satisfaction. I’m so proud that I was able to use my knowledge, experience and leadership skills to support and encourage her in reaching the next level in her career. 

Have you had mentors or role models who influenced your career? How did they help?

Yes, I’ve been lucky to have great mentors and role models. But the one that had the biggest impact on my career was Mike Friedl, the Managing Director for Engineering Services at JLL. As Commercial Director my role was finance based, but Mike took me under his wing and brought me into every aspect of operations. I developed a strong interest in technical engineering, building maintenance, operational management etc. He gave me the knowledge, confidence and tools to be part of something broader than just finance.  It was this that enabled me to take the EMEA Director of Real Estate job at Omnicom. 

What legacy do you hope to leave for the next generation of women leaders?

By building my career and working in predominately male dominated environments, I hope to have contributed to creating a more equitable, empathetic, and empowered professional landscape for the next generation of women leaders. 

What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self at the start of your career? 

Don’t stress it! You’re capable of far more than you know!

There isn’t one path to career success, it’s a journey, an evolution – if you’re open to change, embrace opportunities and be meaningful to the people around you will be successful wherever you go.