Creating Community and Cashflow: The Story Behind Girls in Property with Athena Dobson

2025-11-19

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Key Topics Covered:1. From Furlough to Property FreedomHow COVID and furlough ended Athena’s high‑performing travel career overnight.Using that pause to ask, “Is this the life I want for the next 5–10 years?”Buying her first flat in Bournemouth, getting the numbers wrong, and why she still calls it her “baby” and best teacher.2. Rent‑to‑Rent, Burnout and Pivoting StrategyMoving into rent‑to‑rent HMOs and serviced accommodation to generate cashflow.The reality of late‑night calls, gue...

Key Topics Covered:

1. From Furlough to Property Freedom

How COVID and furlough ended Athena’s high‑performing travel career overnight.
Using that pause to ask, “Is this the life I want for the next 5–10 years?”
Buying her first flat in Bournemouth, getting the numbers wrong, and why she still calls it her “baby” and best teacher.

2. Rent‑to‑Rent, Burnout and Pivoting Strategy

Moving into rent‑to‑rent HMOs and serviced accommodation to generate cashflow.
The reality of late‑night calls, guest issues and stress – including the Sunday night window incident.
Handing back all rent‑to‑rent properties and feeling as free returning the keys as when she first got them.
Pivoting to simpler, long‑term strategies: buy‑to‑lets and buy–refurbish–refinance, with flips and land development as future options.

3. Building Girls in Property: Community, Recurring Income and Support

Walking into a networking room of 45 people with only three women and thinking, “That’s a shame.”
Finding no UK‑based female property networks or podcasts, then launching Girls in Property in 2023.
Growing from a passion project that made no money for over a year into:

A sponsored weekly podcast.
A £30/month online membership (two live calls a month: “prosperity” and property strategy).
A national community hosted on Circle, plus summer/winter parties and an annual training event.

How Girls in Property now replaces and exceeds her old salary as a recurring revenue stream.

4. Education, Strategy Choice and Market Opportunities

“Don’t rush to buy a course”: only invest if you can implement from day one.
Use free education first (podcasts, YouTube, books) and do due diligence on paid training.
Choosing strategy based on four resources: knowledge, money, time, energy – plus personality and end goal.
Example of a mentee who came for rent‑to‑rent but was better suited to partnering with an investor on flips.
Why today’s market, with older landlords exiting, offers opportunities if you talk to people and build relationships with agents.

5. Health, Wealth and Your Own Version of Success

Athena’s view of financial freedom as choice – the ability to respond to life, travel and allocate time where it matters.
Burning out twice and realising “health is wealth” – long‑term wealth is pointless if you destroy yourself getting there.
Her guiding question: “What does your version of success look like – and who’s standing next to you on that hill?”
Current focus: simplifying businesses, building cashflow and wealth, and aiming to be retired by 50 with businesses that don’t rely on her daily presence.

Actionable Takeaways:

Assess your knowledge, money, time and energy before choosing a strategy.
Use free education first; only buy courses you’re ready to implement immediately.
Document your journey from day one to build trust with future investors and partners.
Avoid shiny penny syndrome – simplify down to strategies that fit you and your goals.
Protect your health and pace yourself; wealth building is a long‑term game.

Resources & Next Steps: