Kelly Davies |Women In Real Estate 2022 | Exeleon Magazine

CONTENTS

KELLY DAVIES

TORI ATWELL

JENNIFER MYERS28

Realtor, The Kelly Davies Homes Team

Kelly Davies

A Role Model for Women in the Real Estate Industry

Entrepreneurship. A journey of discovering ideas, innovations, inventions, new paths, and unexplored opportunities.

In recent times, entrepreneurship has experienced a wave across the globe. It has disrupted the traditional methods of the business ecosystem and is here to stay for long.

The entrepreneurial spirit of turning dreams into realities and building empires has created history.

Today, in the realm of entrepreneurship, leading from the forefront are the new-age women entrepreneurs, who have predominantly marked their unique presence in the business world.

The tales of many inspiring women entrepreneurs who have shattered the age-old narratives are grabbing eyeballs.

As an entrepreneur, everything starts with 'I have an idea' and ends with 'let's make it happen'. And the

Ebehind-the-scenes of this long journey is a run-and-chase between struggle and success.

Meet, one such fearless women entrepreneur, Kelly Davies, Owner and Team Leader of the Kelly Davies Homes Team , who has risen against all odds to turn her passion for homes and design into a successful real estate career.

GETTING STARTED

In the cut-throat real estate industry, where male counterparts dominate and evaluate the market space, Kelly has stood her ground to establish her business around the clock.

Ever since she was a teenager, she enjoyed looking at homes and doing design work. As she grew older, the idea and freedom of owning and running her real estate business dawned on her.

Intrigued by her growing passion, she earned her business degree from Roosevelt University in

Chicago went ahead to obtain her Real Property Administrator (RPA) designation from Building Owners and Managers Institute International.

After pursuing her education, Kelly started working as an independent agent.

She was toiling for long hours at work alongside fulilling her responsibilities as a mother. Juggling back and forth with work and her two young kids, she soon hit rock bottom, realizing she needed help.

LAYING A ROBUST FOUNDATION

Dreading her reality, Kelly got to a point where she no longer could be an independent agent. Hence, four years ago, she decided to hire an assistant and a Buyer's Agent.

Fast-forward to the present, she is a proud owner of The Kelly Davies Homes Team with 15 highly skilled real estate professionals.

Being the team leader, Kelly oversees all daily operations, everything from talking with new potential clients to providing market analysis reports, and reviewing all paperwork and offers.

The driving force for Kelly and her team is serving their clients with utmost offerings and building a long-standing fruitful association. She fondly calls her team members rock stars as they perform to their maximum potential, yield successful outcomes, and put everything into action.

Kelly adds, "We are very structured and have multiple systems in place to ensure our clients get the same

amazing experience regardless of who they are working with."

DREAM TEAM FOR THE WIN

A leader who truly understands the value of a team has hit the bull's eye. A trustworthy team to rely on helps diversify the workload and brings out the best experience for the customer.

The team at Kelly Davies Homes are passionate about their work, taking matters into their hands for their respective clients and achieving excellence.

Their weekly meetings are a measure to help team members upscale their performance and boost their skills to keep up with the constantly changing market.

"We actively motivate each other to

‘‘

The Kelly Davies Homes Team currently consists of 15 people, each of which are rock stars held to high standards.

reach our goals. This individual and team structure pushes everyone to help more families every year while constantly improving the client experience," concludes Kelly.

SURPASSING THE BIASES

Kelly's primary focus has been residential real estate.

She loves the freedom that comes along with real estate and its ability to provide exceptional service to many people throughout her community.

However, as a woman in real estate, she does face some gender discrimination when potential clients are interviewing multiple people and deciding whom to choose.

Keeping her cool, she gracefully responds to such situations and applies the philosophy of "ignorance is bliss."

On the lip side, she focuses on personal safety by taking precautionary measures and creating a safe environment for her powerful team of women.

NO MORE ROADBLOCKS

The start of every journey accounts for many dificulties.

For Kelly, her initial days were the biggest roadblocks. With little to no information, she steered her wheel in all the wrong directions possibly.

Be it spending money without a real plan in place or not having enough funds to run the business, Kelly's reality was chaos.

However, she refused to give up and continued to work hard.

A POWER-PACKED ADVICE

Kelly pens heartfelt advice for budding women entrepreneursandleaders.

She irmly states, "be the one who has control over your career." Take responsibility into your hands, make decisions, and be willing to try new ideastoadvance.

In an industry like real estate, women leaders should become each other's backbone. Come along to grow a network, inspire each other to moveforward,andstayself-motivated.

With the changing demographics of the market, the leaders need to work together on how they need to adjust their business and practice to competeatthehighestlevel.

Also, continuing to stay active or become more involved in their respective community is crucial to be seen as a trusted local individual and companyintheirneighborhood.

Lastly, Kelly afirms, “carrying yourself as a business leader no matter what environment you are in as you are a constant relection of your brand.”

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

We are very structured and have multiple systems in place to ensure our clients get the same amazing experience regardless of who they are working with.

‘‘

“

Investing a major chunk of her income back into her business, Kelly was able to bounce back and hit new milestones.

Now, with profound knowledge and hands-on experience, Kelly leads her business with much clarity and conidence.

EXISTING SCENARIO OF THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY

The real estate industry is constantly evolving, hence adapting to meet the expectations of the present market is a must.

Moreover, the pandemic had an impact on the standard operating procedure while experiencing a new shift in recent years.

Initially, the industry had to tailor some adjustments to their routines.

For example, we could not directly visit potential clients or have open houses. However, with emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) already becoming very popular- the pandemic helped push this to the forefront. So we now invest in 3D tours for 100% of our listings, " states Kelly.

As everyone is now connected to the online world, the use of top-

notch software utilization has become integral for assisting everyone in these new conditions.

Separately, as everyone started working from home, it played a role in the increase in Buyer demand. People required more space and wanted to build an ofice at home.

Additionally, a large number of investors created new opportunities by selling their

rentals which pushed many renters into the buying market as well.

TALKING BUSINESS

Kelly's approach to her business has been pragmatic and feasible. Keeps everything crisp and clear and implements real-time solutions.

When working with a Buyer or Seller on a particular project, she entails a clear step-by-step for everyone. This ensures all parties have expectations set and stay on track to meet that common goal.

Kelly prepares a detailed plan before meeting her client. She believes that staying on the same page with the client will enable a smoother sailing process.

Spearheading a successful business

is a result of excellent communication.

Hence, constantly communicating with clients ensures their needs are being met and wants are being heard.

"We should build each other up and do whatever we can to ensure that we are happy, and successful, growing towards the person we want to be, and creating the business we are proud of providing to our community," concludes Kelly.

‘‘

We should build each other up and do whatever we can to ensure that we are happy, and successful, growing towards the person we want to be, and creating the business we are proud of providing to our community.

We Embrace Excellence!

Exeleon Magazine features some of the leading players in business and shares their journey of excellence to inspire aspiring leaders across the globe.

E XH I B I TI NG A RI C H LEGACY OF 35 Y EARS

Iare our irst and our best teachers. They are the ones who teach us to talk, walk, behave, and nurture us before we are ready to face the real world. And most of the time, our parents show us the very thing that will go on to deine who we are; becoming the very reason behind our existence.

t is widely believed that our parents

Business Administration Degree in the 80s.

While initially she worked in the banking industry, she turned to real estate after starting her own family.

For Tori Atwell, it was her father's persistent efforts of taking her to Real Estate seminars as a teenager and young adult that went on to deine her entire life.

Today, Tori stands tall amongst the most renowned real estate brokers to have served in Silicon Valley since 1986. With over three decades of industry-wide experience, Tori Atwell has been navigating the industry through her arduous work and her mission of delivering a human touch through her services.

A HUMBLE BEGINNING

Tori was born in Redwood City and raised in the Bay area, where she obtained her

She remembered how his father used to take her to real estate seminars and always encouraged her to work hard. “Real Estate is the one constant in everyone's life: We all need a place to live. For those lucky enough to be able to invest, Real Estate is the way to go as part of a healthy portfolio,” mentions Tori.

Listening to her father and perceiving real estate as the foundation, Tori commenced her professional journey in Palo Alto and then later moved her business to the Mountain View, Los Altos area.

A WIDE BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE

Working in the real estate sector for over 35 years, Tori has seen her fair share of transformation and changes in the industry. She still remembers the simpler times when demands and work were less,

and the entire process ran with people patiently trusting each other.

“No cell phones, a receptionist who rarely took a message correctly, short contracts and minimal paperwork, no computers. Our basic tools were minimal, but with those minimal tools, folks were less demanding.”

She further highlights how people had more patience and did not have a constant need for immediate gratiication.

Tori notes that markets and the economy may have come and gone, but the evolution of innovative technology has signiicantly impacted the industry. “35 years ago, we did not write brochures, no one used a professional photographer, stagers were not even a thing. Today, you can do it all without any hassles.”

However, amongst all the developments, the one thing that stands out for Tori is the human touch which can never be removed entirely from the industry.

Even after witnessing so much change over the years, she believes that hard work and being kind to others is what makes you a powerful leader.

While some may think that being tough and stern are the right way to lead, she takes the opposite approach of exhibiting kindness and respect. “Folks know I mean business but working together for mutual goals and admiration goes

much further. It is often harder to be kind in a poor situation rather than hurtful and aggressive.”

This is primarily the reason why Tori prefers to still have one-onone communication directly with all her clients in order to deliver a satisfactory experience. According to her, real estate agents are often busy chasing one deal after another and ignoring the clients they already have.

Instead, she mentions, it is imperative for them to understand that when someone hires an agent, the person trusts you with the most crucial decision of their life. Thereby, they deserve the best of attention and be informed on all levels of the transaction.

Fulilling individuals' needs for these many years and sustaining the human essence have brought much success to Tori. She pays

t’s a Continuous Journey

It's been over three decades since Tori has been helping individuals and families sell and move into new homes. Her attention to detail, providing one-on-one consultation, and adding a personal touch to real estate have led her to attain the unmatched success and a hard-earned reputation within the community.

For the future, Tori would like to continue to serve thousands of families selling or moving into their dream homes.

“We have a saying in real estate; realtors don't really retire, we just slow down as our age goes up,” she concludes.

EVOLVING WITH PARENTHOOD

Amidst the hustle and bustle in her profession, Tori raised two beautiful kids. She recalls how after school time, they would often go look at a house, meet an inspection, and drive-by properties. “My son, Kyle, at age 5, could look at a house/property and tell if it would sell or not,” recalls Tori.

And when Tori is not with her clients or working, she could be found enjoying quality time with her six dogs, four cats, and two mini-pigs.

GET THE BEST TEACHER

Tori feels grateful to have the best teacher in the form of her father who paved the way for her interest and subsequently her successful career.

gratitude to the industry she has served. “I have been blessed enough to start in the business when you had to do everything yourself, including qualifying buyers before they began looking at property. My business roots and experiences are constant sources of inside knowledge and understanding of the industry.”

With her kids growing up, a lot has changed in terms of her lifestyle and approach to real estate. She now practices a new lifestyle, paying undivided one-on-one attention to her clients and going out with clients or co-workers on her off time. “Real Estate is different from most industries; it's not just a job, it is an entire social structure that facilitates getting to know a wide array of people from many different cultures and walks of life.”

Taking a cue from her own life, she advises new young and aspiring entrepreneurs in the real estate space to ind a good realtor. She mentions, “Trust and respect and shadow their every move. If you spend some free time learning from the best, you will get an invaluable education and foundation for a successful career.”

TN GE RG AA D SR OC HT OA OE R LC

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EXELEON

THE POWER OF BEING YOU JenniferMyers

or Jennifer Myers, a powerful woman is willing to admit

F what they really want their life to look like and is willing to go the distance to achieve it.

A prime example of a powerful woman herself, Jennifer Myers started out on her entrepreneurial journey with a similar mindset.

Once she realized the residential real estate market was the container for her to do just that, she was determined to make her own name within that space while subsequently aiming to impact the lives of others in a positive way.

Today, Jennifer Myers is one of the most inluential names in the industry and the founder of Agent Grad School, the online business school for real estate agents who want to make six igures per year while also making a positive impact in their communities.

EXTRA THINGS

As a child, Jennifer was always fascinated by the idea of having something extra. She recalls that although her family was really

fortunate and inancially stable, they didn't spend on the “extra” things in life.

“We always had what we needed and I feel very grateful for that, but we weren't the type to splurge on any of the “extras,” especially after my parents got divorced and we had two households instead of one.”

This instilled within her the idea of being a business owner as that would enable her to work harder for those 'extra things' that she always wanted.

Following her graduation in Finance and Marketing, Jennifer stumbled across Rich Dad, Poor Dad, the international bestseller written by Robert Kiyosaki.

She mentions, “I don't agree with everything in that book, but growing up the daughter of two government workers, I was fascinated by the fact that the “Poor Dad” was a government worker and the “Rich Dad” was an entrepreneur and real estate investor.”

And without realizing, this book suddenly became the catalyst behind her entrepreneurial journey.

“A lip switched for me, and I couldn't stop thinking that real estate and being an entrepreneur was the path to wealth and being able to have the extra time, money, and freedom that I desired.”

A few months later, she bought her irst home. In her own words, it

wasn't her dream home, but it was a step forward in the right direction.”

It was that experience that launched her real estate career in 2003.

THE SURPRISE

However, starting a career in real estate was not at all what Jennifer thought it would be.

“I thought I'd have clients coming to me, and make more than I had in my 9-5 while working less or at least have more control over my days. The exact opposite happened.”

She says, “I struggled for years not having any clients, doing everything I saw every other agent doing and had to take a job bartending just to pay my mortgage.”

THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CHANGED

Two years after becoming a fulltime real estate agent and not selling even one house, she realized that if she kept doing what she was doing, she'd never have the life she dreamed of having when she became a real estate agent.

So, she decided to make the best investment she could ever make. She invested in herself.

“I decided to stop doing what everyone else was doing and ind my own voice. But I needed help iguring out how do to that. I

reinanced my house, opened another credit card and took every last penny I had and even pennies I didn't have, and I signed up for as many classes, courses and coaches I could.”

The investment paid off.

GRABBING OPPORTUNITIES

Following the 2008 market crash, the real estate market was at its worst. Unsurprisingly, between the period of 2008-2010, many agents started getting out of business. Ironically, for Jennifer, business was lourishing.

“I had so many clients and even more coming in; wanting to work with me.” she remembers.

She won every top proper award there was both locally and nationally. Even becoming named one of the top 50 agents in the U.S. and featured in the Wall Street Journal.

This prompted Jennifer to start her own brokerage irm - Dwell Residential Brokerage. It was one of the irst women-owned brokerages in Washington, DC and more notably, she was one of the youngest – among men or women – to do so.

This garnered her notable attention, and “agents quite literally came knocking on my door asking me if I would tell them what I was doing to be so successful.” She would respond saying, “Sure, join my brokerage and I'll teach you everything I learned that worked for me.”

“I’VE FAILED MORE TIMES THAN I’VE SUCCEEDED AND I’M WILLING TO GET BACK UP, DUST MYSELF OFF, TAKE A TIME OUT IF I NEED IT, AND KEEP GOING.”

BE WILLING TO BE YOU

That was the moment Agent Grad School was born.

AGENT GRAD SCHOOL

“I took what worked for me and developed a very speciic, very unique step-by-step process to carve out your own unique slice of your local real estate market.”

Looking at her journey, Jennifer mentions she would have been much more discerning about who she asked and took advice from.

“I wasted a ton of time, energy, and money listening to people who didn't have the life or business I wanted. I wasted a lot of time doing things I thought I “should” be doing and not trusting my own inner wisdom and instincts. I wasted a lot of time trying to be like everyone else,” she mentions passionately.

“Don't look around and do what everyone else is doing. Be willing to be different. Be willing to stand out. Be willing to show us who YOU are. Be proud of the uniqueness YOU bring to this industry and shine THAT brightly for us all to see—us agents and your potential clients.”

For Jennifer, her journey hasn't been a smooth sailing; it hasn't been easy. However, she says she wouldn't trade any of it.

“I ' ve failed more times than I ' ve succeeded but I ' m willing to get back up, dust myself off, take a time out if I need it, and keep going.”

Following this, she taught the agents at her brokerage how to apply this strategy in ways that no other agents were doing. These irst students became top producers too.

She now teaches this same process to agents throughout the US and Canada so they too can use her process as the roadmap to earn six or even seven igures per year, while having time for a life outside the business too, and without needing to manage a big team of agents to do it all.

“Selling more houses for the sake of selling more houses isn't the end goal, but if we can create the real estate business that supports the life we want outside of our businesses, whatever that looks like for each of us—THAT is the goal.”

CORRY DEALE

REALTOR RE/MAX, LLC

A JOURNEY OF GROWTH AND LEARNING

ne of the most

O underrated qualities of a leader is their ability to learn from the experiences of others.

These learnings shape their identity, perspective, and direction in life. These learnings facilitate such leaders to embrace their own experiences and make the most out of every situation.

For Corry Deale, these learnings came from her family, especially from her mother. Her mother was an independent and successful woman who instilled values of leadership and sellessness on to Corry.

She mentions, “My mom was the most selless, independent, and professionally dressed woman I have ever met! Yet, she was the most kind, gentle, helpful, and giving person as well.”

Exeleon looks into the story of Corry Deale, a second-generation real estate agent from Maryland who is dedicated to offer utmost client satisfaction through her services.

'REAL ESTATE IS IN MY BLOOD'

Corry Deale grew up in an environment that revolved around the real estate industry. “I was raised in a home with Mom, Dad, and Brother being a Realtor®.”

Her dad, eventually, became a builder, while her brother became a land developer/builder. However, her mother continued to stay in the real estate industry.

Corry's mother was a respected Realtor® and the former President of the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors (SMAR). She loved her agents and was always going out of her

ways to guide them.

She recalls, “When I would go to work with my mom, she would have me sit down with a paper stapled together to make my own book. She would then have me go through the magazines and design houses with pictures that I liked. I'd then paste or tape them into my handmade paper book.”

Unknowingly enough, her mother groomed Corry for her imminent journey into the real estate industry and in life.

'I WAS A WRECK'

According to Corry, her journey has been a wonderful ride, illed with learnings, challenges, and a lot of hard work.

“I was married, had my son (Eric), and bought a house at the early age of 18 years old. My son

was less than 2 years old when my ex-husband and I split up. From there on, it was basically only Eric and me.”

As Corry took her college classes at night, her mother was the one watching over Eric. At times, in order to make ends meet, she juggled between 3 jobs. “My mom & Eric spent lots of time together and were extremely close!”

For two years, Corry worked alongside her mother in the real estate industry. However, she went back to college and became a Radiologic Technologist & MRI Technologist. She remembers, “I excelled in college and made the Dean's List.”

Corry specialized and worked for an Orthopedic Surgeon's ofice as the Lead Tech. “At this point, my son was in high school, so I started working a 2nd job to save for his college. I then proceeded to earn my bachelor's degree as well.”

Things took a drastic turn in Corry's life with her mother's demise after she battled with two types of cancer for over 13 years. The impact of her loss was devastating for Corry. She mentions, “I was a wreck.”

Eventually, after a long hard look at things brought Corry back into the real estate industry; to continue the legacy of her mother and her family.

“Through real estate, I still get to see and talk to people who knew my mom. I even get to see her

picture on the wall with all the former SMAR presidents. I live each day to make my mom proud!”

'GOD HAS A PLAN'

Looking back at her journey, Corry mentions that she would have liked to listen more and learn more. “I was a little hardheaded when I was younger,” she remembers smilingly.

However, at the same time, Corry irmly believes that she is exactly where she is supposed to be in life. She might have gone through absolute low points and dificult times, but she doesn't undermine the journey.

“How do you ever learn or learn to appreciate things if you don't work for it. God is good and God has a plan,” she explains.

Today, through her real estate endeavors, Corry makes sure to always do what is best for her clients. She is always trying to come up with new and more innovative ways to help her clients and appreciate them.

“My clients are forefront of my mind and I want to help them achieve their dreams of home ownership or inding the house of their dreams.”

'IF YOU WANT IT, GO FOR IT.'

According to Corry, a powerful woman is someone who knows her own mind, her own thoughts, and her own opinions. But also, someone, who is willing to listen

to others.

A powerful woman is someone who stands for something that they believe in. “Just because you have your own thoughts doesn't mean you must be rude or dictate or rule; you must listen to others and help others.”

She integrates the same thoughts into her leadership and advises emerging women realtors to follow the same path.

Moreover, she recommends developing your process and procedures irst before moving on to selling in real estate. “Be prepared to work hard and work

a lot! Don't let what others say hurt your feelings or make you feel that you can't do this. If you want it, then go for it.”

In the coming years, Corry will continue her journey of learning and growing in the professional capacity. Whereas personally, she wants to travel more with her

husband and explore different adventures together. “We are both Master Scuba Divers and love it.”

WALKING THE MILE REALTOR

hen Michelle Oates-Duda

WALKING THE EXTRA MILE WALKING THE EXTRA MILE↘

Wbegan The Extra Mile Realtors, it wasn't a fancy marketing ploy or brand positioning strategy.

Rather, it was an indication of the commitment that she was willing to offer; a commitment to go beyond one's expectations.

A powerful woman in every right, Michelle has built a name and reputation in the real estate industry that echoes success. Today, she is one of North Central West Virginia's top real estate producers.

A POWERFUL WOMAN

For Michelle, powerful women come in all shapes, sizes, and ideals. She mentions, “One's power comes from within. It's how you feel about yourself and your connection to the world. Powerful women possess numerous attributes that allow them to be successful leaders.”

Moreover, a powerful woman is one who is committed to never giving up and standing up for what they believe to be right. Irrespective of the obstacle, a powerful woman keeps grinding and ighting.

These beliefs and thoughts are central to Michelle's moral compass,

much of which can be attributed to her growing up years.

“I was raised in a very stable and loving home where I watched my father work hard and become a successful businessman. My mother was a wonderful stay at home mom who was always there for my brothers and me,” Michelle recalls.

From a young age, Michelle's parents encouraged her to pursue leadership roles and ind her voice to be an independent and hard-working woman.

They were both hard workers themselves and inculcated an actionable attitude within the entire

household. “They taught and displayed an admirable value system which I see in myself to this day.”

REAL ESTATE

A lifetime learner and explorer of new things, Michelle started out her career in the banking and accounting space. Following this, she spread her wings across different industries. However, with the real estate industry, she found her true calling.

“The real estate industry is everevolving and sparked my interest in exploring a different career,” she mentions.

Moreover, real estate gave her the opportunity to be her own boss and build relationships with people in her community and beyond.

Within the irst two years of her entering the industry, Michelle generated an enormous interest and demand for her services. She realized she needed help and Zack Pell was her answer.

“Zack started with me as an assistant while attending college. He said he knew right away he wanted to get his real estate license and continue the career full time after graduation.”

Both Zack and Michelle have a similar desire of working hard and continually evolving, thus making for an effective duo that also provides support to each other. “Although there is a signiicant age difference between us, we have found this allows for a sharing of ideas and knowledge from different perspectives,” she further points out.

It was her constant discussion with Zack about pushing the boundaries

and going the “extra mile” for their clients that established the name of their team – The Extra Mile Realtors.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

For Michelle, communication is of utmost importance to ensure optimal client satisfaction. “My goal when working with my clients is to be available to them 24/7. To provide them with excellent communication, honest discussions, and going the “extra mile” to ensure their needs are met.”

Michelle realizes that dealing with transactions related to real estate can be extremely stressful. She guides her clients through these processes in the most stress-free manner possible.

“If I need to take items off their plate to assist in making their life easier, I do it. I feel that listening to their concerns and talking them through the process helps to alleviate some stress from their lives.”

Furthermore, Michelle believes in providing irst-class service to all of her clients, in every step of the way. Through all these efforts, transparency, and communication, Michelle establishes a trusting relationship with her clients, one that goes a long way in ensuring client satisfaction.

However, amidst this hustle and bustle, Michelle admits that she has some improvements to make with her work-life balance.

She asserts, “I am working on more self-care and making more time for family and friends. Since starting this new career later in life, after many years of the most important job as a

stay-at-home mom, I found I was ready to devote myself to creating a successful business.”

Owing to this, Michelle is proud of the journey she has had thus far and insists that she would not change anything. She claims both the good as well as the bad parts of her journey has positioned her to be where she is today.

“I believe that in order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.”

GIVING BACK

Working in her native hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia has given Michelle so many opportunities and beneits, hence it is beitting and essential in her eyes to give back to her community.

“I try to participate in as many fundraisers, events, and community activities that my schedule allows. I have a soft spot for our local West Virginia University Children's Hospital as both my sons were born there and dealt with some health issues,” she mentions.

Moreover, Michelle enjoys providing community tours of her hometown to those looking to move in and sharing the best the town has got to offer.

For Michelle, any cause where she recognizes a need or beneit, she would go the “extra mile” to support that.

CREATE YOUR OWN PATH

Similar to how she has carved her own unique journey, Michelle advises aspiring women leaders in the industry to create their own path, in their own unique manner. “Don't follow in someone else's footsteps or emulate their ideas but ind your own way.”

She continues saying, “That was my goal when starting in a business ripe with seasoned agents. I found my own path.”

According to her, powerful women are courageous, independent, and know who they are to their core.

However, it took years for Michelle to

“ind the core of me, personally and professionally, it's a journey.”

She is quick to point out that the real estate business can seem a bit easy, but it's not the case. One needs to be a self-starter and motivated individual in order to succeed at this level.

NATASHA SIMONI N T E R VI E W WITH

WWith the simple intention of keeping God irst and believing in herself, Natasha Simon has been able to carve a successful path for herself.

The Houston-based Realtor has been making a mark in her market by being persistent and methodical with her steps. Her calculated and eficient approach has helped hundreds of people.

In this Exclusive Interview, Natasha Simon talks about her journey, approach, and more.

What according to you makes for a powerful women? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

Integrity and drive to be the best and always treating others as I expect to be treated.

I make sure I exhibit integrity in my everyday life with my family, friends, and customers. I believe in planting good seeds. If I plant good seeds, I reap a good harvest. Most people try to mimic the things that I do, but they don't ever mimic that and my faith in God which is critical to

my success and leadership.

What is your earliest memory as a leader / entrepreneur that you can remember?

My earliest memory was 9 years old where I created a carnival. I asked all of the neighbors in our townhome apartments not to park their cars on our row from the hours between 4 to 8 so that I could do my festival.

I created games such as coloring page contest, knock down the can with rocks etc. I created tickets from where I traced out chuck-e-cheese tickets and charged the kids for the games and depending on how many tickets I had bought some toys from the dollar store. To advertise I had my aunt who worked at a copy center copy me in neon colors lyers that I put on every door of the neighborhood October fest.

My turnout was huge. So much so I had to send my mom to the store to get hotdogs, nachos to sell. We sold out of everything and made a lot of money. Can you imagine these kids spending about 20 bucks to play games and win a prize that cost a

dollar? I had assigned people to run the games etc. It was bananas.

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the real estate space?

Interest was that my husband was a loan oficer, and I was always so picky to make sure the home was something I would buy. Then seeing that I had the gift of turning so many NOs into yes's I soon knew it was one of my callings and I was in my ministry.

What is the approach followed by you in order to ensure optimal client satisfaction?

I am always persistent and very methodical by trade I have a Master's degree in Computer Science so everything is as deep as a deep calculus problem. I always say I can outthink most people in this industry because I am left brained, and most are right brained. I am concise and to the point and highly eficient. Yes, the home is beautiful but what does it take to get you in it. That is where I thrive.

What does a day in the life of Natasha Simon look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

As my team says they feel true pressure as if they work for Beyonce (whom I love).

First of all, I wake up at about 6am relax in bed until about 6:30- 7. Roll over with laptop at that time start sending emails and yelling at everyone on my team, lol. Walk with my husband in the neighborhood and chat. Get kiddos ready for school. Meetings and checking on iles consistently answering new leads since 85% of my business is referrals. Help kids with

homework and then take to their games with huby. Then cook dinner. I LOVE to cook. Get kiddos ready for bed around 7 when they don't have a game. I'm in the bed around 8:30. Sleep by 9:30-10

Looking at your journey, what would you have done differently if you were to start again?

I would have started earlier and been able to help even more people. I went all the way through a Master's program and had no clue that this was one of my purposes. Since 2012 I have been able to close almost 1000 homes. I only went full time in Oct 2018. From June 2012 to Oct 2018, I was part time. The 2016-2018 I was closing over 50 homes per year part time.

What would be your advice for aspiring and emerging women in the real estate industry?

Always keep God irst and you cannot go wrong. HE is truly why I am such a success today. Most people forget that.

Finally, what does the future look like for you, both professionally and personally?

Professionally, I plan to have different branches of The Money Team like a franchise. Personally, I plan to make sure I am at most of my kid's important activities and continue to enjoy my amazing husband and just continue to be happy and blessed. Those things are what is most important to me.

SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE OF SUCCESS IN REAL ESTATE

What is the point of having knowledge if you do not share it? Knowledge without actions is just plain white noise. And in today's contemporary evolving world, having knowledge itself is no longer a power. Instead, it is about practicing a collective effort that drives innovation and engagement. It is the ability to pull together multiple sources of knowledge into something meaningful or add value by sharing knowledge.

For Jennie Lok, CEO of Zen Coast University, the primary purpose of having knowledge is to empower others. She irmly believes in sharing knowledge and envisions to unlock the potential of individuals to realize a dream life they could not have dreamt of.

FORAY INTO REAL ESTATE

Jennie's entrepreneurial mentality emerged early in her life. At the age of only 12, she realized that 'sales' was in her blood. This prompted Jennie to start early. She made her irst-ever engagements by selling sneakers in a creative way. "My irst ever sales gig was selling sneakers. I would buy sneakers from eBay and different websites, clean them up and resell them," she recalls.

Moreover, she made money by putting up events for friends. "In

high school, I would put on events for friends, such as after-prom or going to the Bahamas and would collect extra funds and go to those events for free." After moving to California, Jennie continued her practice by selling football tickets and life insurance during the summer.

From a career standpoint, Jennie always wanted to be a teacher. And the thought of becoming a real estate agent was almost nonexistent. However, listening to her father's advice, Jennie began her career in Technology Sales in the San Francisco Bay Area. "It was a valuable experience, but I didn't fully understand what I was selling," she states.

It was also during this time that she pledged to buy a house by the time she reaches the age of 28. And to do so, she studied by attending seminars, and reading books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad written by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. She also underwent coaching lessons on Real Estate.

Her hard work soon paid off, and she bought her own house by the age of only 23. Jennie worked her sales-oriented mind again and rented out rooms, which paid for all the mortgages. That moment was nothing short of an epiphany for her. It was the moment she realized she wanted to be in the real estate industry. "It snowballed into me wanting to be in Real Estate and teach others that if they set a goal for themselves, they can do it quicker through creative ways."

EARNING THE BADGE OF A REAL ESTATE AGENT

While achieving the goal of owning a house was a single milestone, other challenges awaited Jennie to overcome. Her initial plan of winning over people was to build a rapport among them and show them open houses. As such, she commenced her real estate journey by going door to door in her neighborhood.

Her idea did not work as she had hoped; it was not easy and certainly did not happen overnight. "I've had people slam doors at me and say, No," shares Jennie.

Regardless of whether people showed her interest or not, Jennie was adamant about helping others and sharing her story. And soon, she triumphed again and became a household name in the community. “Now, I lead a team of amazing women and have been able to help 26 families in the irst quarter of the year. We are working towards helping more," states Jennie.

Besides handling the initial hustle of building rapport, managing people's expectations was her biggest roadblock. However, she takes it in a positive stride and shares that it helped her serve different people.

"I learned that people have differences, and to really acknowledge the differences, it's okay to let go and separate, and continue on our own journey because sometimes, the people holding you back are the biggest roadblocks.”

WINNING PEOPLE'S HEARTS

Jennie's winning formula entails learning about the clients' personalities, visions, and future goals. "It helps us understand more about what they want to achieve and how we can it into helping them reach those goals," explains Jennie. This is also where she practices irst Buyer Consultation and lays out the current market information and buying options. She states, "Paying close attention to their stories and feedback during the home search process also creates a more comfortable environment for clients to communicate, which ensures that we are giving what they really want. At the end of it all, providing added value is important to give the best service to our clients.”

At the same time, Jennie shares her vision with clients by answering 'Why.' For Jennie, her 'why' is to get her immigrant parents to retire sooner. She shares her why factor with the clients, builds trust, lets them know that she is sincere, and

that it is a two-way street.

Zen Coast University as a Coaching and Mentorship Community has become the stepping stone for Jennie to empower others. It is a community built for growthminded individuals seeking passive income and a portfolio from real estate. As the leader at the helm, Jennie guides students to make sound decisions towards inancial freedom. She also empowers amazing women to succeed and take charge of their lives.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING PLAYERS

Jennie's corporate journey has taken her to many places. Starting from her little entrepreneurial adventures to transitioning into real estate, Jennie has collected much learning and experience. Hence, she advises young aspirants to learn as much as possible. Jennie gives a perfect metaphor of becoming a sponge and soaking as much as one can. Her advice extends to looking after yourself and looking within to understand

what you truly want, and what your goals and gifts are.

A FUTURE OF EMPOWERMENT

For Zen Coast University, Jennie envisions a future where the community delivers education to diverse corporations, companies, and organizations. She wants to empower many people who do not have easy access or understanding of the beneits of Real Estate investing and passive income.

On the personal end, Jennie wants to create a large student base to teach people worldwide. She wants to empower people into envisioning something they have not been able to in the past and be excited about that journey. "I see my future building a legacy that I can truly pass on because this is really what it's all about," concludes Jennie.

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