From Gold Jhumkas to Global Strategy: Alisha Miah’s Story of Finding Her Route into the Built Environment

Each year, South Asian Heritage Month offers a moment to reflect, celebrate, and honour the rich tapestry of histories, cultures, and contributions of South Asian communities in the UK. This year’s theme, “Roots to Routes,” invites us to explore the journeys – both literal and metaphorical – that shape our identities and aspirations. It’s about tracing where we come from and how those origins influence the paths we forge.

At PREACH Inclusion®, we believe that these stories matter. They reveal the power of heritage in shaping ambition, and the importance of representation in every sector, including those where South Asian voices have historically been underrepresented.

In this spirit, we’re proud to spotlight one of our members, Alisha Miah, Graduate Surveyor at Savills, whose story embodies the essence of this year’s theme. From her father’s migration from Bangladesh to her own route into the built environment, Alisha’s journey is a powerful reflection of how cultural roots can inform bold, unexpected professional routes.

Grab a chai and dive in!

By Alisha Miah

Where It All Began

Alisha as a child with her father.

My path into real estate wasn’t planned – but it turned out to be everything I was looking for.

My story really begins in November 1980, just a few years after the Liberation War of 1971, when my father moved from Bangladesh to the UK with little more than ambition and determination. He built a life from scratch, eventually running his own restaurant – a story that echoes across many British-Bangladeshi households.

Like many families in our community, success was defined by three career paths: accountant, doctor, or lawyer. That was the blueprint for stability, and it’s what every parent hoped for their children – including mine.

A Change in Direction

I was firmly on that track. I had an offer from UBS and was set on a future in investment banking. But then the pandemic hit. My A-levels were cancelled, and everything I’d worked toward suddenly shifted.

I pivoted into an apprenticeship in Audit at Deloitte. It ticked all the right boxes – especially for my parents, who saw it as a sign that I’d ‘made it’.

But something didn’t feel quite right. While the role gave me a solid foundation, it also made me realise I wanted something different – something more people-focused and dynamic. That’s when I discovered surveying.

Finding My Space

I went on to earn a First-Class Honours degree in Real Estate Management from Kingston University. My final-year research explored Shariah-compliant investment in the US commercial property market, looking at how ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability intersect in Islamic finance. It was a way of intertwining my studies and career with my identity.

Today, I’m a Graduate Surveyor at Savills, rotating through different parts of the business. I’m currently in Global Occupier Services, working in the Strategic Advisory team, helping corporate clients make smarter, more strategic property decisions.

Before this, I gained experience through internships at Gerald Eve, Colliers, and Savills – covering everything from capital markets to lease advisory and valuation.

Alisha at an event at Colliers, she helped organise with students from Kingston University, in partnership with PREACH Inclusion (formerly BAME in Property).

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

My confidence didn’t come from a classroom. It came from real-life experience – clearing tables at my dad’s restaurant at 15, stacking shelves at Waitrose, working Red Bull events, and showing multi-million-pound homes on one of Surrey’s wealthiest hills.

These jobs taught me how to connect with people, adapt quickly, and hold my own in any room.

Recognition and Representation

Along the way, I’ve been recognised as a Regional Finalist in the Women in Property Student Awards, a Dean’s Prize winner, and now as the Women’s Lead for Muslims in Real Estate. In this role, I’m helping push for more diversity and inclusion in the industry – something I care deeply about.

Proud of My Roots, Clear on My Route

Alisha in traditional Bangladeshi clothing, with her father.

My identity as a British Muslim Bangladeshi is central to who I am. I’m proud of my roots and equally proud of the space I’m carving out in the professional world. Whether I’m celebrating Eid with my family or advising clients in the City, I don’t feel the need to choose between the two.

My story is one of intentional choices – shaped by opportunity, resilience, and a strong sense of self.

As South Asian Heritage Month celebrates the theme “Roots to Routes,” I hope my journey shows what that can look like: grounded in heritage, driven by purpose, and opening doors for others to follow.