SJSC "State Real Estate" (SRE) in cooperation with Riga Technical University (RTU), Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (VA), New Construction School, and Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) is organising a mentoring programme for women that will take place from 21 March to 19 June 2025. We invite female students to get acquainted with female SRE mentors and apply for the programme by March 13 by filling in the questionnaire: HERE.
The aim of the programme is to encourage young women to enter careers in construction and property management and to raise the profile of the field and the profession. Mentoring is an opportunity for professional and personal competence development between a mentor (a member of the profession) and a mentee (a student). During the programme, joint meetings are organised for all female students and mentors, educational visits to SRE construction and managed sites, career sessions, as well as mutual meetings between mentors and students once a month or more frequently by mutual agreement.
For female students, it is an opportunity to receive support in identifying career goals and opportunities, stepping into the shoes of different industry roles. A chance to broaden their horizons and understanding of the profession, as well as to gain new knowledge and professional training. The programme builds self-assessment that can help them achieve more, including networking with experts, learning what is happening in the sector and making new contacts through networking.
The launch event of the mentoring programme will take place on March 21 at the SRE office, 1 Talejas Street. It will include a first meeting of students and mentors, where they will learn more about each other, the mentoring programme and its objectives, and hear inspiring stories. After registering for the programme, a SRE representative will contact the students to inform them about the launch event, arrival procedure and binding information.
In case female students wish to apply after March 21, it is still possible to do so and to join the other events and meetings planned together.
This is a great opportunity to learn new skills, ask questions and learn from professionals in the construction and property management fields. SRE experts are ready to provide support, advice and insight into the daily working life:
Ms Alise Banga (Head of Real Estate)
Alise has been working in the real estate industry for more than 10 years. She has completed her studies at Riga Business School, studying the professional MBA programme. Alise believes that students and young professionals are a very important and necessary part of Latvia's future, so others who already have experience in the sector should support them and help them achieve their goals. Alise is able to provide expertise in relationship management with strategic clients and in real estate management, including financial management and the preparation of development plans.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alise-banga/
Ms Aija Ikstena (Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability Department)
Aija Ikstena has more than fifteen years of experience in corporate communications and is actively working on integrating sustainability into the company's operations. Her sustainability experience is rooted in environmental, social and economic sustainability. Aija actively participates in the implementation of sustainability principles in SRE's communication, creating and implementing strategies that meet today's requirements for responsible business and sustainable development. She helps you understand how to successfully integrate sustainability principles into your day-to-day operations, and ensures effective communication that raises public awareness of the importance of sustainability and social responsibility, creating long-term value for both society and business. Finding your path takes time and work, which is why Aija believes that quality mentoring can help you let go of excesses faster and focus your future professional's attention on purposeful growth. Aija is able to provide students with an understanding of internal, external communication and sustainability in a company.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aija-ikstena-a0a79916/
Ms Anna Vilsone (Head of Real Estate)
Anna Vilsone has several higher education qualifications, including a Master's degree in Economics and a newly-acquired Professional Master's degree in Construction and Real Estate Management. She has worked in real estate administration for four years, working with both commercial and public sector clients. Having previously worked in other fields and sectors, such as internal communications, Anna is the right person to encourage you to learn and start something new; to "try your hand" in different fields and professions. Currently, the day-to-day work involves property regularisation (in cooperation with building managers), contractual regularisation (in cooperation with lawyers) and strategic property development. Anna excels at her job thanks to the qualities of responsibility, planning and collaboration that she strongly emphasises. These are also the competences she wants to pass on to her students. Anna would like to encourage young people to get involved and help them feel confident that there are supportive and professional people working in the sector, and to remind them that there are solutions to all problems.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-vilsone-ex-zelenska-93149053/
Ms Edīte Kalniņa (Head of Human Resources Department)
Edīte is in her sixth year in the construction and real estate industry, having previously worked in IT, pharmaceuticals and retail. She has been working in HR management for more than 10 years. She has also studied abroad, obtaining her PhD from New York University in the US Fulbright programme. She graduated from the psychology programme at the University of Latvia. Edīte is knowledgeable, competent and inspiring. She is participating in a mentoring programme to attract and support more young women in construction and real estate management (currently only 6-8% of women are in construction and real estate in Latvia). Edīte is ready to provide career advice, share her experience and professional network.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edite-kalnina/
Ms Santa Melne (Real Estate Development Project Manager)
Santa has been working in the construction and real estate industry for almost 20 years. Thinking back to when she first started working, Santa was always grateful to those colleagues who selflessly shared their experience and knowledge, as this was one of the keys to success. So now Santa is ready and willing to share her experience to help students set and achieve their future goals. Santa wants to give students the skills to communicate positively with stakeholders and to find solutions to things that do not go according to plan.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santa-melne-47a82464/
Ms Alīna Skobeļeva (Senior Real Estate Development Project Manager)
Alīna has higher education and a Master's degree in engineering. She gained her first experience in the sector during her internship at SRE in 2015, working as an assistant construction supervisor on nationally important projects. After her internship, she continued her work at SRE and today works on large-scale projects. She has proven to be a strong development project manager with the ability to understand the process to the finest detail. Alīna believes that there are no stupid questions, but that it is stupid not to ask them. She is therefore ready to share the knowledge and experience she has gained, to show the specificities of working outside academia and to answer questions or seek answers together.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/al%C4%ABna-skobe%C4%BCeva-98b969137/
Ms Aija Mortukāne (Senior Occupational Health Specialist)
Aija has more than 15 years of experience in occupational health and safety in various companies. At SRE, she is responsible for establishing and maintaining occupational health and safety systems, including the implementation of ISO54001. She visits construction sites to monitor safety, provide training and instructions to ensure that everyone returns home safe and sound, which is particularly important in the construction and real estate sectors, citing accident and risk statistics. She holds a professional master's degree in occupational health and safety and a professional master's degree in quality management. Aija is convinced that education and competence development do not end when you leave school. She will share her knowledge on process management, occupational protection administration and work organisation, without which the sector is unthinkable.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aija-mortukane-438525b8/
Ms Rūta Baķe (BIM Project Manager)
Rūta holds a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Technology and Construction Management from Copenhagen Business Academy (KEA). She started her professional career as an architect and later turned to the implementation and development of BIM technologies in various design and construction companies. She is currently the BIM Project Manager at SRE, working on major projects in both historic buildings and technically complex new constructions. She wants to share her experiences as part of the mentoring programme because she knows how important it is to get support at the start of the career. Rūta's competences include BIM processes and technologies, project management and effective communication in industry. She believes that the best way to grow is to ask questions and find solutions together.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/al%C4%ABna-skobe%C4%BCeva-98b969137/
Ms Kristiāna Kupče (Real Estate Manager)
Kristiāna has more than 15 years of experience in real estate valuation, as well as 5 years of experience in managing large real estate portfolios (500 buildings) and developing property strategies. She is ready to give students an insight into the sector, share key insights, give advice and insight into the needs of the chosen profession, the required competences, the specifics of the work, as well as share her own experience stories, which are as numerous as the buildings she has worked with.
Ms Viktorija Tunika (Real Estate Manager)
Viktorija holds a Master's degree in Construction Business and Real Estate Management. She has almost 10 years of experience in the real estate management sector, working in a variety of roles and managing special status properties. Viktorija has been involved in major projects related to the maintenance and development of these objects, gaining extensive knowledge of the day-to-day processes and challenges in the field. In the mentoring programme, she wants to introduce participants to the specifics of a manager's job and provide valuable insights into the daily life of the sector. Her professional strengths include facilities management, effective decision-making and successful communication with clients. Viktorija believes that good knowledge and a clear process help to achieve excellent results and she is ready to share her experience with the next generation of professionals.
