COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS

COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS

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COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS episodes

  • Courageous Conversations: How Corissa Sorbello got up, showed up and created her best life

    [powerpress]

    Like a lot of women, Refurb to Invest Chief Executive Officer Corissa Sorbello goes by a few titles. She’s a mum, business owner, entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast, who concedes it’s a balancing act to fulfil all those roles well.

    But, contrary to the narrative she grew up with, Corissa firmly believes you can do it all and still enjoy the journey regardless of where it takes you.

    It just takes some planning, a healthy dose of time management, a little resilience and the ability to get up and show up no matter what’s happening around you.

    In this Courageous Conversation with Leanne Pilkington, Corissa shares an insight into navigating the work-life balance.

    She shares why she believes women can have it all and create the life they deserve on their own terms.

    As the only girl among five siblings, Corissa explains why she’s bent on changing the narrative of what women can achieve, and how she personally navigated the challenge of running a business during the breakdown of her marriage with two young sons, including a three-month old baby in tow.

    Corissa shares the thoughts and beliefs which drove her to get back up in the hard times, and how she went from questioning her life to finding focus and clarity.

    She reveals the important role fitness, gratitude and meditation play in her business success and personal life, and how they have helped her embrace creativity and be more present.

    In a podcast packed full of energy, a can-do attitude and drive, Corissa also discusses the recent turning point that saw her let go of fear, stop putting off the things she wanted to do and instead start growing her company.

    “What you put out is what you attract. I’ve learnt that through all my coaching years, that when you are in a ‘problem’ energy, you just keep attracting problems.” – Corissa Sorbello.

    Leanne and Corissa also discuss:
    • How Corissa manages her time and creates a work-life balance that includes a focus on family and growing her business.
    • Where Corissa finds her creativity and why she has a notebook on hand to ensure she translates those ideas into action.
    • Why she stopped saying ‘I’ll get to that sometime’ and instead decided to act now, and the difference that’s made to her business.
    • How Corissa structures her day to gain greater productivity and what she’s done to ensure she delegates at the right time.
    • Why, as the only female among five siblings, Corissa feels she has a lot to prove and how that’s translated to business success.
    • How Corissa is keen to change the narrative about the roles women play and why she’s become a lot more comfortable with herself and her ambition.

    And much more…

    Links and resources mentioned:
    • Refurb to Invest
    • Before you Renovate online workshops
    • Courageous Conversations – Episode 4

    Connect with Corissa

    • Website
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    The post Courageous Conversations: How Corissa Sorbello got up, showed up and created her best life appeared first on Elite Agent.

    22 min
  • Courageous Conversations: Charlotte Pascoe on saying yes to opportunity, parking the self-doubt, and the lessons she’s learned as CEO of Stockdale and Leggo

    [powerpress]

    Stockdale and Leggo CEO Charlotte Pascoe never imagined heading up a major real estate group. In fact, she says if you’d put that idea to her even a few years ago, she would have laughed at the prospect.

    But in 2020, that perspective changed when she stepped in to lead the group through the challenge of COVID-19 and became one of the very few female chief executives heading up a major franchise group in Australia.

    It’s a role she’s taken to naturally, tapping into two decades of real estate experience including a strong background in property management and business growth.

    But that’s not to say that transition into leadership came easily.

    Like many, she battled imposter syndrome and questioned her own skill. While well-supported by her own brand, she also faced occasional questioning from the wider industry about how she came to be in that role.

    In this Courageous Conversion with Leanne Pilkington, Charlotte shares her leadership journey, including how she overcame self-doubt, and why she believes leadership action always speaks louder than words.

    She talks about the challenges women can face within the industry, including some of the comments and experiences she has personally endured in the past 20 years.

    Charlotte also discusses why she felt compelled to share those experiences at a recent conference and the difference she hopes having that conversation will make.

    She looks at what she hopes will change in the future, including the conversations every business needs to have and the cultural shifts that need to be made.

    She also shares some of her leadership lessons so far, discussing why opportunity never arrives when you’re ready, and how the best leadership involves collaboration where you support the vision of your team.

    “Park the self-doubt. Just say yes if it feels like the right thing to do. If you say yes, then amazing things will happen. You never regret doing these things and giving yourself that push. There’s always great lessons to be learned, even if it doesn’t work.” – Charlotte Pascoe.

    Charlotte and Leanne also discuss:
    • How a comment from her mum saw Charlotte enter real estate and why property management became her sector of choice.
    • The challenges that came with stepping into a CEO position at the height of Covid, and how Charlotte overcame that through action rather than words.
    • Why she believes leadership is all about understanding the vision of your team and helping them achieve the success they desire.
    • What it’s like to be a young, female CEO and why the support of her brand helped Charlotte overcome her own imposter syndrome and self-doubt.
    • Why there’s no playbook when you’re a CEO and how it’s all about gaining confidence in a track record of success while collaborating with your team.
    • Why Charlotte believes in saying yes to opportunity, and the lessons it’s taught her in a 20-year career even when things haven’t gone to plan.
    • How Charlotte recently spoke up about the sexism and harassment she’s endured during her career and why she believes this is a conversation the industry has to have.
    • Why she personally messaged Brittany Higgins, and how the real estate industry can be part of a greater societal shift that ensures every woman feels safe and valued in the workplace.

    And much, much more…

    Links and resources mentioned
    • Stockdale and Leggo
    • Jason Pellegrino
    • RISE Initiative

    Connect with Charlotte

    • Website
    • LinkedIn

    Connect with Leanne

    • Courageous Conversations on Apple Podcasts
    • Laing + Simmons
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RWIRE 

    The post Courageous Conversations: Charlotte Pascoe on saying yes to opportunity, parking the self-doubt, and the lessons she’s learned as CEO of Stockdale and Leggo appeared first on Elite Agent.

    27 min
  • Courageous Conversations: The surprising story of Scott Bateman’s journey from high school dropout to Harvard alumni and Kolmeo CEO

    [powerpress]

    Kolmeo’s Scott Bateman could quite rightly be described as among the smartest minds in any real estate room. He’s Harvard educated, quick as a whip and a firm fan favourite when it comes to all things business and property management.

    What makes this all the more interesting is the fact Scott was a high school dropout.

    Kicked out of home and booted from school after falling in with the wrong crowd aged just 15, the success and renown he enjoys today certainly did not come easily.

    In fact, getting where he is involved realising some hard truths, actively seeking some new skills and engaging in some serious self-reflection.

    In this Courageous Conversation with Leanne Pilkington, Scott looks back on how he went from high-school dropout to chef then Kolmeo CEO.

    He shares an insight into his journey, including the pivotal moments that taught him to question who he was and what he wanted from life, and how he reached out for the help he needed to get where he is today.

    Real, reflective and very pragmatic, this episode is all about what’s involved in changing course and taking responsibility for your own destiny.

    It’s one part a cautionary tale for your teenage child, and another a lesson in personal re-invention. Oh and as it’s Scott, it’s very down to earth, totally relatable and leaves us all in awe that little more.

    From aspirations of becoming a fighter pilot, to the reality of being a hardworking chef, and then discovering an uncanny knack for sales and business, this is a story of reinvention and self-realisation.

    It’s also a lesson is being vulnerable, owning your weaknesses and reaching out for a helping hand when it’s required.

    “All too often we assume that we’re a burden to someone or we’re asking too much. It’s like, no, people actually do enjoy helping you, but you’ve got to be willing to ask and then put in the work. It’s as simple as that.” – Scott Bateman.

    Leanne and Scott also discuss
    • How Scott narrowly avoided going down the wrong path and carved out a successful career by finding his strengths and realising everyone occasionally needs a helping hand.
    • Why, despite dreams of becoming a fighter pilot, he initially became a chef and the lessons it taught him that continue to serve him today.
    • How Scott came to be in sales and the strategies he used to consistently improve and gain success.
    • Why further education was daunting, how he overcame his fears and why being vulnerable was the best decision he ever made.
    • How Scott found himself completing an MBA and then attending Harvard, and what that turnaround taught him.
    • Where property management is headed in the future, including the biggest challenges facing the sector.
    • Why taking risks and being prepared to fail is essential in the current business landscape.
    • Why Scott’s excited about the future of property management, and the lessons that can be learnt from the banking sector.
    • How technology accents but can never replace the human factor in real estate,and how to tread the fine line in business.

    And much, much more…

    Links and resources mentioned
    • Elite Retreat
    • Kolmeo

    Scott on Elite Agent

    • Scott Bateman: So, you think you’re a high performer?
    • Winning strategy: Scott Bateman on challenging your thinking, transforming your business, and why there is no best service
    • Scott Bateman: A new year, a new beginning
    • Want to be a great leader? Focus on the followers
    • Finding new revenue models in real estate: Scott Bateman and Brock Fisher

    Connect with Scott

    • Website
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • Facebook

    Connect with Leanne

    • Courageous Conversations on Apple Podcasts
    • Laing + Simmons
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RWIRE 

    The post Courageous Conversations: The surprising story of Scott Bateman’s journey from high school dropout to Harvard alumni and Kolmeo CEO appeared first on Elite Agent.

    27 min
  • Courageous Conversations: How Jen Baird tapped into feedback and tough conversations to shift careers to become an industry leader

    [powerpress]

    As the CEO of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, Jen Baird firmly believes in having tough conversations when they matter.

    It’s a philosophy that has stood her in good stead throughout her professional life, including leadership positions in both in the real estate industry and beyond.

    And that career trajectory has been pretty intriguing, including stints in China, Scotland, London and New Zealand in the fields of public relations, real estate and more recently a local government.

    Along the way she’s completed an international management and marketing degree in Shanghai, clocked up a decade at Barfoot & Thompson and secured a coveted, yet unexpected role, on Hamilton City Council before seizing the reins at REINZ last year.

    But it’s perhaps her role as the general manager of growth for Hamilton City Council that taught Jen the most critical leadership lessons of all.

    At the time, she readily admits she had none of the technical skills normally required for the position. What she did have in spades was strategic thinking, leadership training, and the ability to build great working relationships.

    In this Courageous Conversation, Jen shares her leadership insights, including why every leader should know what they need from their team and how they should equip them to provide it.

    She looks at the tough conversations she’s had in her career, and notes as a leader it’s your duty to provide and seek honest feedback, and accept it when it’s forthcoming.

    Jen also discusses her role at REINZ, including the institute’s current focus, the state of the New Zealand market, how the REINZ is giving data back to their 16,000 members, and why it’s a privilege to represent the real estate sector.

    “If you can’t see yourself for the truth of you and you’re not going to let anybody show you, then growth is off the agenda for you.” – Jen Baird.

    Leanne and Jen also discuss:
    • How Jen found herself in her dream role at Hamilton City Council, and the way she approached a very different interview process to overcome the hurdle of limited technical skills.
    • Why she’s a firm believer opportunities are everywhere, but you have to decide what you want before doors start to open.
    • How she empowers her team by asking herself what she needs from them, and then equipping them to fulfil that role.
    • Why providing honest feedback isn’t about courage, nor your own discomfort, but instead involves providing someone else with the opportunity to grow and improve.
    • What Jen loves about her role at REINZ, why she decided to take it on, and what the institute is focusing on at the present.
    • How one CEO changed Jen’s career trajectory through a commitment to creating leadership capability while empowering others and propelling them forward.
    • The weird and wonderful interview process Jen embarked on to make a career change, and the lessons she learned in the process.
    • Why confidence can be deceiving and doesn’t necessarily come naturally, instead requiring practice and a commitment to personal growth.
    • How innovation or a shift in direction involves testing the water one small step at a time, rather than stressing about the big picture.
    • Why knowing your goal and your purpose assists with clear decision making, and overcomes the fear of risk.

    And much, much more…

    Links and resources mentioned
    • Real Estate Institute of New Zealand
    • Barfoot & Thompson

    Connect with Jen

    • Website
    • LinkedIn

    Connect with Leanne

    • Courageous Conversations on Apple Podcasts
    • Laing + Simmons
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RWIRE 

    The post Courageous Conversations: How Jen Baird tapped into feedback and tough conversations to shift careers to become an industry leader appeared first on Elite Agent.

    24 min
  • Courageous Conversations: How Sadhana Smiles broke through real estate’s glass ceiling and why she’s encouraging the industry to change the workplace conversation

    [powerpress]

    As one of the industry’s first female CEOs, Sadhana Smiles vividly recalls a time when the real estate industry had a glass ceiling.

    Now the head of Real Estate Industry Partners and the Director of Harcourt’s Move, she notes a lot’s changed since, but there’s still ground to be made. She says this was particularly evident at a recent real estate conference where talk turned to the negative experiences many women have encountered in their real estate careers.

    In this Courageous Conversation with Leanne Pilkington, Sadhana shares her personal journey as a leader, including how the industry can pave the way for greater diversity and more positive experiences for women in real estate in the future.

    She stresses there’s never been a better time to address the issue and create safe and inviting workplace cultures, considering the property management sector has lost 25 per cent of its workforce in the past couple of years.

    Here, she offers her insight into how improved workplace culture can be achieved, including the ways the property management sector can attract and retain great talent, along with how women can be further encouraged into high-level real estate roles.

    She offers her perspective on the healthy conversations all real estate businesses need to have in the knowledge the behaviour you walk past is what you accept, and says now’s the time to draw a line in the sand to ensure the situations women found themselves in 30 years ago are not repeated in the future.

    “The worst thing you can do is when a woman comes up to you and says, ‘I’ve had this issue in the business’ and the director then turns around and says, ‘oh, but that person didn’t mean it’. We need to create a safe place for the women to actually have environments where they feel they can go and talk to someone, bring up an issue, and they’re going to be protected.” – Sadhana Smiles.

    Sadhana and Leanne also discuss:
    • How real estate businesses can attract and retain great talent, particularly in property management.
    • Why creating a great workplace and keeping good people is all about leaders asking themselves ‘do I have the right environment?’.
    • How to make your work environment more inviting and ensure the experience is worth more than the money staff might enjoy elsewhere.
    • Sadhana’s experience as one of the first female leaders in the real estate sector, and what she hopes has changed in the years since.
    • Why Sadhana believes there should not be women specific awards, and how she hopes women in the industry will be celebrated in the future.
    • How more women can break through the glass ceiling, and why leaders need to consider who they encourage into leadership roles.
    • The conversations real estate businesses and leaders need to have to create greater diversity and security in the industry.
    • How leaders can draw a line in the sand and hold people accountable for poor behaviour to change the industry in the future.

    And much, much more…

    Links and resources mentioned
    • Real Estate Industry Partners
    • Harcourts Move
    • RISE Initiative

    Connect with Sadhana

    • LinkedIn
    • Website

    Connect with Leanne

    • Courageous Conversations on Apple Podcasts
    • Laing + Simmons
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RWIRE 

    The post Courageous Conversations: How Sadhana Smiles broke through real estate’s glass ceiling and why she’s encouraging the industry to change the workplace conversation appeared first on Elite Agent.

    20 min
  • Courageous Conversations: How Harriet Saunders changed perspective, created a thriving career, and encouraged others to operate ‘above the line’

    [powerpress]

    There’s more than one way to look at any situation. Change can be seen as opportunity, or it can evoke fear.

    Failure might be viewed as the chance to learn and grow, or it can be something that defines you and holds you back.

    How you see any scenario depends on your perspective, says Laing+Simmons Head of Growth and Development Harriet Saunders and whether you choose to embrace it or excuse it depends on whether you operate ‘above the line’ or below it.

    Harriet explains ‘above the line’ people own their mistakes and see them as a chance to develop and improve, while those who find refuge below the line are fueled by excuses and the ‘buts’ that inhibit the chance to grow.

    In a highly successful real estate career both here and in England, Harriet’s had her share of professional and personal moments where perspective has mattered, including her experience at Purplebricks.

    In her 20s, she and her young family left the UK with just three suitcases and a dream of adventure.

    Now a single mum with a thriving career, she looks at the ways reframing the perspective has helped shape her success, along with the lessons it has helped her learn.

    She notes many of those key lessons came from her time working at disruptor Purplebricks when they made a foray into the Australian market.

    Harriet offers an insight into why she believes the model didn’t work here at that time, and how her ability to change perspective allowed her to view the experience as a positive one that shaped her belief sometimes you learn more when you fail than when you succeed.

    In this Courageous Conversation with Leanne Pilkington, Harriet looks at what it takes to be someone who embraces ‘above the line’ behaviour where each challenge presents opportunity.

    “An above the line mindset is somebody that takes ownership, accountability, and responsibility, which sounds really trite, but it’s actually quite important. It’s about looking at a scenario and saying, I understand that this may or may not be my ‘fault’, but what am I learning from this? What can we do better from this? And it comes down to that – being able to evolve.” – Harriet Saunders.

    Harriet and Leanne discuss:
    • What it is to be above the line or beneath it, and how this helps you grow in a real estate career.
    • Why perspective of any situation is key and how it helps you appreciate another person’s world view and their approach to the task at hand.
    • How Harriet became someone who was happy to have tough conversations and the benefits this transparency offers.
    • Why intention is the thing that matters most and how you can relay this in the conversations that count.
    • Harriet’s story of coming to Australia, including how she manages the work/life balance as a single mum with two children.
    • Why success in leadership and any role involves taking responsibility, and how this can help open a much more positive conversation.
    • Why where you are now is where you’ve chosen to be and how realising that liberates you to take ownership and accountability.
    • What Harriet learned from working with real estate disruptor Purple Bricks and why it’s something she would definitely do again.
    • Why feedback is always about offering a different perspective and how you can take it on, without feeling under threat.

    And much, much more…

    Links and resources mentioned
    • Laing+Simmons
    • Purple Bricks

    Connect with Harriet

    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn

    Connect with Leanne

    • Courageous Conversations on Apple Podcasts
    • Laing + Simmons
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RWIRE 

    The post Courageous Conversations: How Harriet Saunders changed perspective, created a thriving career, and encouraged others to operate ‘above the line’ appeared first on Elite Agent.

    28 min
  • Courageous Conversations: How Ellen Bathgate overcame a tenant assault, why it’s not a one-off and how the real estate industry should respond

    [powerpress]

    No property manager should feel threatened or in danger simply doing their job, but anecdotal evidence suggests some do.

    Rent Roll Starter founder Ellen Bathgate is among them. While working in Dubbo as a young property manager, she was physically assaulted by an irate former tenant.

    The incident saw Ellen punched in the face, and despite the support of her office staff, directors and the police, it was a frightening encounter which left a lasting impression.

    When she first publicly shared this story with the industry, it was also one that resonated, with other property managers coming forward to recount their own experiences of violence and abuse on the job.

    In this Courageous Conversation, Ellen discusses what happened, how it impacted her, why it’s a problem for the real estate industry, and what she feels needs to change.

    She looks at how de-escalation skills could be beneficial to property managers, especially at a time when the lingering effects of the pandemic have seen people’s stress levels at an all-time high and their tolerance at a new low.

    And despite what occurred, Ellen notes the incident did not affect her love of property management. It’s this enthusiasm for the sector that led to her starting her own successful business Rent Roll Starter where she helps others start and build their own property management businesses. 

    As a well-known figure in the industry, and a downright decent human being as well, Ellen provides a fascinating insight into some of the lesser-known experiences of the sector’s hardworking property managers. 

    She poses some interesting thoughts on why property managers are at the coalface of tough conversations, and offers suggestions about arming your staff with the right resources for when the unexpected occurs.

    “I think that there’s a lot of pressure on us as property managers to just grin and bear it. It’s just part of the job being verbally abused or abused on social media or threatened with violence or actually physically assaulted. I think it would be wise for us to ensure that the industry knows it shouldn’t be part of the job.” – Ellen Bathgate

    Leanne and Ellen also discuss:
    • How the pandemic increased people’s stress levels and altered their behaviour, applying additional pressure to property managers.
    • Why property managers find themselves in the firing line from irate tenants and landlords, and how to de-escalate that behaviour.
    • How Ellen initially brushed the incident off, why she didn’t press charges and the way in which she’d respond very differently now.
    • Why verbal and physical abuse is sometimes considered part of the job, and how the industry can change this perception.
    • How the industry responded to Ellen’s story and why it emerged violence and abuse towards property managers was more common than many believed.
    • Why even small things like rain on a tin roof can spark fear in the heart of a seasoned PM.
    • Why the incident never deterred Ellen from her love of property management and how she came to be her own boss at Rent Roll Starter.
    • The key skills and strategies Ellen uses to get other property management businesses off the ground with minimal resources.
    • Ellen’s top tips on using social media to build your rent roll quickly, with minimal outlay and maximum effect.

    And much, much more…

    Links and resources mentioned
    • Ellen’s assault story
    • Rent Roll Starter

    Ellen Bathgate on Elite Agent

    • The age of automation
    • What happens if you build it but no-one comes
    • Why failure teaches you more than success
    • The three best tech tools for growing your rent roll

    Connect with Ellen

    • Website
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn

    The post Courageous Conversations: How Ellen Bathgate overcame a tenant assault, why it’s not a one-off and how the real estate industry should respond appeared first on Elite Agent.

    21 min
  • Courageous Conversations: How Leona Watson parked the perfectionism; decided what to ‘do, be and have’; and built a successful business

    [powerpress]

    What do you need to ‘do, be and have’ to take the next step in life – whether that’s in your career, your business, or in your personal life?

    Speaker and business coach Leona Watson says those are the three areas you need to consider when it comes to making a major decision or change, but too often people focus on the to-do list and forget the rest.

    As a successful entrepreneur who has made her fair share of tough decisions. Leona reflects the ‘be’ and ‘have’ are ‘where the gold is’, allowing you to remove emotion and take action.

    And she should know.  In 2002, Leona founded events and team building company the Cheeky Food Events. She sold it a few months before before Covid hit.

    In hindsight, that might seem like a lucky break, with the events industry hit hard by Covid lockdowns and social distancing.

    But it was no easy decision to part with a company she had spent 17 years building from scratch.   

    In this Courageous Conversation, Leona offers an insight into the tough decision making and mindset that allowed her to create a highly successful business, sell it when the time was right, and forge a new career as a business coach.

    She discusses why business ownership is like any relationship, where there are moments when you couldn’t imagine being anywhere else and times where you ‘fall out of love’ with your business.

    Deciding whether to stay or go then comes back to knowing your why, and working out what you need to do, be and have to get to where you want to go.

    And in real estate, Leona says that’s particularly important in the present, where agents should be re-evaluating what they need to do, be and have to manage a market shift.

    Leona also discusses the tough conversations business owners and leaders need to have with themselves, noting there are moments when you need to dial up and down elements of your personality to be the leader people want at the helm.

    In a podcast that will resonate with business owners, leaders and real estate professionals at all stages of their career, Leona also discusses failure, the sweetness of success, and why agents need to build relationships with clients that customers will talk about with love.

    “The Rupert Murdochs, the Bransons, the Trumps – all those people – they also get stuff that goes wrong too. Often humiliatingly, in public. They have husbands or wives who might leave them, daughters who put nude photos up on the internet, their best friend gets cancer. They go through all those same things. Their businesses go up and down. They hurt just as much, but they have the ability to get back up quicker.” – Leona Watson

    Leona and Leanne also discuss:
    • How Leona built a highly successful business through networking, tenacity, and picking up the phone.
    • Why she knew the time was right to sell that business, how she came to the decision, and the lessons she learned along the way.
    • How Leona used the ‘what do I need to do, be and have?’ question to successfully negotiate that sale, and why that also applies to real estate.
    • Why, if you’re sacrificing kindness to yourself to be seen ‘doing, doing, doing’ to get a leadership role, then you need to reconsider, and how that involves a Courageous Conversation with yourself.
    • How to dial up and down the right personality traits at the right time, and why Jacinda Ahearn might just be a master in this space.
    • Why Leona disagrees with the current rhetoric around failure being the pathway to success and how it should be viewed through a different lens.
    • How to park the perfectionism, and why it’s important to learn to stop, enjoy a success, and then consider what could have been done better.
    • Leona’s personal advice for real estate agents when it comes to building great relationships that people remember, come back to, and speak about to their friends.

    And much, much, more…

    Links and resources mentioned:

    Connect with Leona

    • Linkt.ee
    • Website
    • LinkedIn

    Connect with Leanne

    • Courageous Conversations on Apple Podcasts
    • Laing + Simmons
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RWIRE 

    The post Courageous Conversations: How Leona Watson parked the perfectionism; decided what to ‘do, be and have’; and built a successful business appeared first on Elite Agent.

    33 min
  • Courageous Conversations: How Louise Barton created a successful real estate career in Sydney with mindset, self-belief, and a commitment to customer service

    [powerpress]

    Imagine moving halfway around the world to restart your real estate career from scratch.

    That’s exactly the position Louise Barton found herself in when she took the plunge and booked a ticket from Scotland to Sydney.

    Armed with a working visa and the belief Sydney was one of the best real estate markets in the world, Louise set out to forge a fresh career in a town where she knew no-one and had nothing but a suitcase worth of clothes.

    She would either make it or come home, tail between her legs…

    Five years later and Louise has built a readily recognisable brand as an agent with Richardson & Wrench North Sydney.

    But it wasn’t always easy or without its hurdles. There were temp jobs along the way and the temptation to shift careers totally.

    However, persistence has well and truly paid off for an agent who had an unshakable belief in her skillset and an unwavering faith she could make it in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the world.

    In this Courageous Conversation with Leanne Pilkington, Louise shares what drew her to Sydney, how and why she backed herself, and what changed the playing field to see her interviewing agencies, rather than vice versa.

    She offers an insight into the mindset that helped her attain success, along with how she’s used social media to build an established brand.

    Along the way, Louise talks about her approach to customer service, the skills that translate regardless of what market you’re operating in, and how she’s setting her team up for success in a Sydney market that’s quickly turning.

    “I’m up against people that have been born and bred here. They’ve done it for a very long time, but luckily I always believed in my ability and failing wasn’t an option. And I think if you’ve got that mindset, then you are going to make it. You’ve got to believe in yourself. And then everyone else around you will start believing in you.” – Louise Barton.

    Louise and Leanne also discuss:
    • How Louise went from Scottish standalone agent to a stint in recruitment then found her feet in Sydney real estate sales.
    • Why Louise felt Sydney was the place to be, and how she overcame the challenge of no local network and little market knowledge to build a successful Australian real estate career.
    • What Louise did to find an agency that aligned with her vision and how she used that to build her own social media brand.
    • Why Louise never lost sight of the fact she had the sales skillset required, and how she shifted the power balance to select the agency she wanted to work for.
    • What inspired Louise to take a major leap, and why she knew she was in need of a totally new challenge.
    • Why culture and vision emerged as the most critical agency attributes Louise was looking for and how she avoided falling into ‘the shark’s pit’.
    • How Louise re-started her sales career at the height of the pandemic, and why true real estate skill is all about shaking off property market hype.
    • How Louise is building a Sydney team that gets back to selling basics, regardless of what the property market is doing.
    • Why real estate skills are transferrable to any market, anywhere, and how Louise is using that knowledge to build her own brand.

    And much, much more…

    Links and resources mentioned
    • Louise Barton: Rising to the challenge
    • Richardson & Wrench North Sydney
    • Tom Panos

    Connect with Louise

    • Website
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook

    Connect with Leanne

    • Courageous Conversations on Apple Podcasts
    • Laing + Simmons
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RWIRE 

    The post Courageous Conversations: How Louise Barton created a successful real estate career in Sydney with mindset, self-belief, and a commitment to customer service appeared first on Elite Agent.

    26 min
  • Courageous Conversations: Emma Brown-Garrett on finding your niche, the power of a great mentor and why her career has only just begun

    [powerpress]

    Looking back on a 20-year real estate career, Sydney auctioneer Emma Brown-Garrett has two key pieces of advice: have the patience to find your niche and seek out someone who will mentor and believe in you.

    Emma notes it wasn’t until both these elements fell into place that she found her true calling as a highly successful female auctioneer.

    And it took her a lot of false starts, a whole host of perseverance and a near exit from the industry to get where she is today.

    Now two decades into a career that initially appealed for its glamour and excitement, Emma has truly found her feet as an auctioneer at Menck White who also thrives on the challenge of auction competitions.

    In this Courageous Conversation with Leanne Pilkington, Emma shares her real estate journey, including why she feels her real estate career has just begun, and how she persevered to get where she is today.

    She discusses what success looks like and why it’s deeply personal, the achievements she’s most proud of, and how she balances a career with family life.

    Emma also looks at the importance of finding a good mentor, and how her mentor took her career to the next level by identifying a skillset she never knew she had.

    She offers an insight into the relentless commitment to training which keeps her at the top of her game, shares some thoughts on female leadership in the industry, and offers some key tips for young agents starting out who may not yet know where their destiny lies.

    In the process, Emma discusses the work/life balance that comes with raising a family and why it’s okay to have goals and aspirations that extend beyond the role of motherhood.

    She also offers some sage advice on why success is something you find when you least expect it, and how it’s important to believe in yourself, back your ambition and have the patience to know if you work hard, train hard, and surround yourself with the right people, your time will come.

    “I’ve just started my career and this is something that I wish someone had told me when I was younger. If they’d said to me that at 44-years-old you’ll be starting your career. Everything else leading up to it is steps and they’re chapters in your book that lead you this amazing chapter. But I cannot believe that I’m now really embarking on my true career.” – Emma Brown-Garrett

    Emma and Leanne also discuss:
    • How Emma came into real estate, and why it took tenacity, perseverance and a jar of Keen’s Mustard to get a foot in the door of real estate sales.
    • Why her career faltered on numerous occasions, and included sales and property management before she realised auctioneering might just be her true calling.
    • How Emma’s previous experience as a sales agent is one of her greatest auctioneering strengths.
    • Why she almost exited the industry and how a chance phone call from someone who believed in her turned it all around.
    • How competitive auctioneering helps Emma hone her craft, and why she would love to see more women join her in the competition space.
    • Why getting into auctioneering proved a chicken and egg scenario where you need the experience to get the job and the job to get the experience, and how Emma overcame this.
    • How Emma juggles a career with a young family and why she believes it’s important her children see her ambition and success.
    • What Emma is most proud of in a lengthy real estate career and what she would tell her younger self about the definition of success.
    • Emma’s advice to younger agents starting out in the industry and why there’s a niche for everyone.
    • Why she now feels more connected to the real estate industry than ever before and how it revolved around the realisation she has finally found her place.

    And much, much more…

    Leanne Pilkington will be on hand at Elite Retreat from 31 July to 3 August, helping attendees create memorable mission statements and marketing that allow them to find their point of difference and stand out from the crowd.
    You can find out more about Elite Retreat and the lineup of speakers and experts attending here.
    Links and resources mentioned
    • Clarence White

    Connect with Emma

    • Menck White Auctioneers
    • LinkedIn 

    Connect with Leanne

    • Courageous Conversations on
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Laing + Simmons
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RWIRE 

    The post Courageous Conversations: Emma Brown-Garrett on finding your niche, the power of a great mentor and why her career has only just begun appeared first on Elite Agent.

    29 min

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