Earl Atat: “Being part of something greater than myself.”
Earl Atat, Graduate Surveyor at 51ÂŇÂ×, shares how his family’s move from Nigeria, and his mother’s move into property development, sparked his passion for real estate and why access to opportunity continues to drive him.
17 October 2025
Much like his occupation, Earl’s journey has been built from the ground up. He was eight when his family left Nigeria for the UK in search of new opportunities. 
“It was for a different way of life,” he recalls. “My parents had to look for jobs and basically start over again.” 
They settled in Milton Keynes, a place that shaped his outlook early on. “I was very fortunate,” Earl says. “I was in a good environment, somewhere you could raise a family and develop freely without any kind of external pressures.” 
It also broadened his worldview. “I was able to learn about myself, about different people, and see a new culture.” 
It was at home, however, that Earl first saw what ambition looked like in practice. 
Inspired by example
A defining moment came when he was 15 and watched his mother make a brave decision. “She took the leap to go into property development,” he says. “And she’s been doing that ever since; she just jumped in with both feet.” 
Her courage and passion left a lasting mark. “Anything she did, I’d try to get involved in. It was her passion and mine coming together.” 
That influence guided his path. Earl went on to earn a degree in architectural engineering and design management before joining 51ÂŇÂ× as an intern. In 2023, he secured a place on the Commercial Graduate Scheme, rotating across the Investment, Advisory, and Capital Markets teams. 
The best way to allow people to thrive is to create an open environment where voices can be heard.
Shaped by experience 
Growing up in a new environment gave Earl early lessons in awareness and adaptability. “My lived experiences have helped shape me,” he says. “They’ve made me stronger and more resilient.” 
That perspective stayed with him. “It’s allowed me to learn more about myself, but also to understand what these experiences mean and how I can use them.” 
It’s also informed his belief that people perform best when they feel seen. “The best way to allow people to thrive is to create an open environment where voices can be heard.”   
Creating connection and equity 
That conviction led Earl to play an active role in RISE, 51ÂŇÂ×’s Social Mobility Network. “The team creates events that educate people about the different backgrounds and upbringings we all have,” he explains. 
For him, that’s where real connection begins. “In our workplace, that helps us come together, to understand and appreciate each other.” 
For Earl, inclusion isn’t passive, it takes both awareness and action. “Allyship is when someone advocates for you, whether you’re in the room or not,” he says. “It’s someone who will stand up for you, sing your praises in the right places, and have real conversations that offer honest insight and advice.” 
That, to him, is what belonging, and equity look like in practice. “Equity means being in a place that isn’t just about the bottom line. It’s about being part of something greater than myself,” Earl says. 
“It’s about being in a place where I feel valued and respected. 
