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Few of us have a career that looks identical to what we envisioned for ourselves when we were first starting out. And this can happen for any number of reasons. Sometimes you realize that the job you thought you’d love just isn’t quite right for you, or you discover a whole different side of your industry that perfectly aligns with your values. Such was the case for today’s guest, Andrea Viganò, who pivoted early in his career after realizing that he could not continue his trajectory as an investment banker. Since then Andrea has thrived in his field. For most of his career, he was a key player in building Black Rock Italy into what it is today. After two decades at the company, he has departed and transitioned into a new phase of his career as an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor. In our conversation, Andrea describes why making a positive impact on the world and being part of an ethical company was so important to him, how Black Rock’s dedication to corporate culture and embodying their values set the company apart, and what he enjoys most about this latest phase of his career. We also discuss Andrea’s perspective on innovation as an investor, and how his leadership skills have grown, before moving on to questions from our audience. Andrea has had a fascinating career and it was an honor having him on the show. To learn more about Andrea and his key insights and takeaways, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing today’s guest, Andrea Viganò.
• The 20 years Andrea spent building Black Rock Italy.
• Andrea’s experience as a member of the Global Human Capital Committee.
• Andrea’s admiration for Black Rock’s dedication to corporate culture.
• The competitive advantage you gain when you embody your values as a corporate culture.
• How the requirements for corporations have shifted over the past two decades.
• The link between the purpose of an organization and the culture that drives behavior.
• How Andrea’s focus shifted during the latter half of his career at Black Rock.
• The pivot Andrea made early in his career and his decision to pursue his Master’s.
• How Andrea realized he needed to be doing ethical work that made a positive impact.
• Andrea’s leadership journey and why he wouldn’t describe himself as a natural leader.
• Hear about Andrea’s transition to becoming an Investor, Entrepreneur, and Advisor.
• How innovation has informed Andrea’s outlook.
• The role that innovation plays in Andrea’s life as an entrepreneur.
• Andrea’s enthusiasm for the upcoming generations and their entrepreneurial ventures.
• The industries that interest Andrea most and his passion for ethical companies and charities.
• Andrea’s thoughts on disruption in the real estate industry.
• How Andrea spends his downtime and his love of cooking.
• Andrea’s answers to questions from our audience, like how to stay motivated, who inspires him, and the time of day he finds most productive.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Andrea Viganò on LinkedIn

BlackRock

Kelly Minds her Manors 

Kelly Minds her Manors on Instagram

Kelly Minds her Manors on Tiktok

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Kelly Robinson / Compass

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When seeking independence after going through a divorce, Jessica Sigmund decided to turn her lifelong passion for real estate into her career. And it’s been up and up for her since then! During this episode, Kelly and Jessica talk about the joy that they experience as a result of the work that they do, the unfair stigma that surrounds the real estate profession, their approach to dealing with inappropriate clients, and more! Jessica has built her own team from the ground up and has a lot of valuable advice to share about how to stand out as a realtor and build a successful career in the industry. So, tune in today to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Jessica shares what drew her to real estate.
• How Jessica’s real estate career has evolved over time.
• Why Jessica prefers working with buyers than sellers.
• Jessica’s motivation for building a team.
• Some of the most valuable lessons that Jessica has learned as a realtor.
• Inappropriate client behavior that we have been faced with, and how we deal with it.
• The stigma that surrounds real estate agents. 
• Joy that Jessica finds in her work.
• Factors that make it appealing to be part of a team.
• The two most important decisions you will make in your life. 
• The ease with which someone can acquire a real estate license, and why this is problematic.
• How to stand out as a real estate agent.
• Kelly shares how she grew her social media presence.
• Jessica’s dreams for the future. 
• Some memorable stories from Jessica’s time as a realtor.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jessica Sigmund on Instagram

Jessica Sigmund on LinkedIn

Jessica Sigmund on Compass

Kelly Minds her Manors 

Kelly Minds her Manors on Instagram

Kelly Minds her Manors on TikTok

The Kelly Robinson Team / Compass    

Kelly Robinson / Compass

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Economics is considered a rather dry and uninteresting topic by many, but self-proclaimed nerd Logan Mohtashami is on a mission to change that! As a Lead Analyst for HousingWire, Logan’s lively and engaging commentary on the U.S. housing market is backed by an astute analysis of economic data and years of direct lending experience, presenting a unique, informed, and unbiased perspective that is anything but boring. Today, Logan offers some insight into the housing bubble debate, the current buyer-seller standoff, and the markets he has been keeping an eye on since COVID hit. We also touch on what Logan calls the ‘savagely unhealthy’ housing market, what he predicts for 2023 and ‘24, his six recession red flag model, and so much more. Not only do Logan and Kelly “talk nerdy,” but you’ll get to know Logan a little more personally at the end of the episode in Kelly’s not-so-fast-five segment. Will he answer all five questions, or does he take his two passes? Tune in today to find out!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The circumstances that led Logan to become a data analyst in the housing market.
• Why he strives to make economics as fun and engaging as possible.
• How he came up with the term “forbearance crash bros.”
• What Logan means when he says that the housing bubble is led by speculators.
• A look at the standoff that is taking place between buyers and sellers in the U.S.
• Which markets have been the most interesting to watch since 2020.
• Why inventory in America is bottoming out later than usual after COVID.
• What happened in the housing market during COVID that people aren’t talking about!
• Logistic issues that come with converting commercial buildings into housing units.
• Where Logan sees the U.S. housing market going in 2023 and 2024.
• The not-so-fast-five segment: Logan on his unique values, introverted nature, and more!
• Why Logan can’t answer the question of whether or not you should buy a home.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Logan Mohtashami

HousingWire

‘5 indicators that will show when the housing market is rebounding from COVID-19’

‘After a decade of bad predictions, here are 6 recession red flags to look for’

Logan Mohtashami on Twitter

Logan Mohtashami on LinkedIn

Logan Mohtashami on Instagram

Bruce Martin on Instagram

Bruce Martin on YouTube

Kelly Minds her Manors 

Kelly Minds her Manors on Instagram

Kelly Minds her Manors on TikTok

The Kelly Robinson Team / Compass    

Kelly Robinson / Compass

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Buying your first property at the age of 23 can seem like an impossible feat, especially when you are dealing with overwhelming debt, student loans, and a competitive job market. Despite all of these challenges, our guest today, Priscilla Facey, did just that. She took a risk, and by leveraging everything at her disposal, she was able to buy her first property during the pre-construction phase and save a full 5% before selling it and making enough of a profit to pay off her debts and set herself up for her next venture. Priscilla is the founder of Build Up Development Co. and is one of only a few female developers in an overwhelmingly male-dominated field. In today’s fascinating conversation, Priscilla tells us all about her real estate journey, why she became a developer, and the many lessons she’s learned along the way. Listeners will hear key insights from Priscilla, like the qualities she looks for when deciding on a development location and how her experience as a real estate agent has helped her be a better developer. She also goes on to answer several listener questions, including how she scales her projects and her advice on how to enter real estate when you’re feeling overwhelmed and intimidated. If you’re interested in building equity through real estate, but don’t know where to start, then this episode is for you! Tune in to hear first-hand how Priscilla broke into the industry, and learn how you can get started today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A warm welcome to today’s guest, Priscilla Facey, Founder of Build Up Development Co.
• What it has been like for Priscilla as a female developer in a male-dominated industry.
• What Priscilla did to save 5% on her first property at the age of 23.
• How Priscilla got into real estate and her experience as a real estate agent.
• Learn about Priscilla’s first solo development and why she chose Niagara Falls.
• The qualities that Priscilla looks for when choosing a development location.
• Why you should rent where you need to live and buy in a location you can afford.
• Priscilla’s advice for buying your first property and how to start building equity.
• What Priscilla has planned for her next project.
• The value of bringing in an agent during the design process.
• The confidence it inspires when a developer owns a unit in their own development.
• Our thoughts on open kitchens and the supposed trend of closed-off kitchens.
• How Priscilla scales her development projects and her advice for anyone scared to start a similar career.
• Priscilla’s love of meditation and why her biggest challenge is being prepared for new opportunities.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Priscilla Facey on LinkedIn

Priscilla Facey on Instagram

Build Up Development Co.

Kelly Minds her Manors 

Kelly Minds her Manors on Instagram

Kelly Minds her Manors on TikTok

The Kelly Robinson Team / Compass    

Kelly Robinson / Compass

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Rich Cohen is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, including Monsters, Tough Jews, and Sweet and Low. He is also the son of Herbie “World’s Greatest Negotiator” Cohen, the dealmaker, risk taker, raconteur, adviser to presidents and corporations, hostage and arms negotiator, and justice seeker whom Rich simply refers to as dad. In today’s episode, Rich shares some anecdotes from his book, The Adventures of Herbie Cohen: World's Greatest Negotiator, which follows his father’s journey from his youth in Brooklyn to his years as a freelance guru traveling across the country to give lectures, settle disputes, and hone the art of success while finding meaning in this strange, funny world. Tuning in, you’ll hear some of Herbie’s greatest insights and guiding principles, particularly when it comes to negotiation, the important role that empathy plays in lasting deals, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this fascinating (and hilarious) conversation!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How his father’s belief that “dissatisfaction breeds progress” impacted Rich’s drive in life.
• Why Rich believes that writers are born storytellers.
• What he learned about negotiation from his father.
• The importance of empathy and “win-win" when it comes to creating lasting deals.
• Why you’ll be better off if you learn to live with ambiguity.
• The story of how Rich’s father ended up buying two houses at the same time!
• Quotes from his father that help Rich remember to focus on the big picture.
• What Herbie meant when he said that negotiations are everywhere
• How Rich became involved as a co-created in the HBO series, Vinyl.
• The surprising advice Rich got from his father for handling rejection.
• Why Rich is always most proud of the work he has just done.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Rich Cohen

The Adventures of Herbie Cohen

Monsters

Sweet and Low

Tough Jews

Rich Cohen on LinkedIn

Rich Cohen on Twitter

Rich Cohen on Instagram

Kelly Minds Her Manors 

Kelly Minds Her Manors on Instagram

Kelly Minds Her Manors on Tiktok

The Kelly Robinson Team / Compass    

Kelly Robinson / Compass

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Today’s guest’s goal is to start up one new company every four months. As we dive into the topics of real estate and entrepreneurship (with a twist), we are joined by Paul English, the serial entrepreneur and tech guru behind Kayak, Lola, Moonbeam, and others. Not only is he an amazing success, but he's also an incredibly compassionate person who has founded and is involved in numerous non-profits. In this episode, Paul shares his story of how he started out as a programmer and came to be such a successful entrepreneur, as well as some of the out-of-the-box things he did in the founding of his companies. Tuning in, Paul shares his thoughts on real estate, what he believes is the most disruptive tech in this industry, how he foresees it changing, and whether or not he thinks that AI is likely to replace the broker in a real estate transaction. For some insight into what Paul is working on next and why he’s so excited about AI, as well as some helpful advice from a profoundly inspirational person, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to today’s guest, Paul English, and how he became a serial entrepreneur. 
• Why Paul believes that recruitment is the most important aspect of building a great team.
• A hack for interviewing potential employees.
• Paul’s experience as a designer and his role as a product manager when founding Kayak.
• Examples of some of the out-of-the-box things he did in the founding of his companies. 
• Information about his latest project: Moonbeam. 
• What our guest believes is the most disruptive tech in real estate and how he sees the industry changing.
• Whether or not Paul thinks that AI is likely to replace the broker in a real estate transaction.
• The non-profits that he has started and what makes him so passionate about helping people. 
• His advice to anyone struggling with a mental disorder. 
• In response to an audience question, Paul shares what motivates him to start companies. 
• His advice for building a great company culture.
• What excites Paul the most about emerging technology and why he’s so interested in AI.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Paul English 

Kayak

Lola

Moonbeam

Embrace Boston 

Summits Education 

Winter Walk  

Bipolar Social Club 

Kelly Minds her Manors 

Kelly Minds her Manors on Instagram

Kelly Minds her Manors on TikTok

The Kelly Robinson Team / Compass    

Kelly Robinson / Compass