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Over the past six years, NAWRB Magazine has conducted interviews with some of the most powerful women in the housing ecosystem, and we’ve received incredible advice for women working in the industry today. In honor of the last day of Women’s History Month, we have compiled a few excerpts from these exceptional conversations.
Sandra Cope, Vice President, Escrow, Inwest Title Services, Vol. 2 Issue 4
“I believe in giving the best training, tools and encouragement that I can possibly give them [employees] and then allowing them to blossom in their careers. This provides me with the time I need to further my career, create time for family, friends and worthwhile causes. If I were to give advice to other women starting out in the industry, I would say learn all you can, ask questions and don’t be intimidated.”
Amy Brandt-Schumacher, President, Originations & Corporate Technology, New Penn Financial, Vol. 2 Issue 5
“As a woman you have to be willing to lean in and deliver, and over deliver. I think the key differentiator in creating success is who wants it most … Realize your strengths, review what you need to change and do what it takes to get yourself to the next level.”
Margaret Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, RE/MAX (retired 2015), Vol. 3 Issue 3
“Real estate agents should remember that if you take away all the marketing, technology, Facebook, Twitter and everything, the core of homeownership has not changed. As long as you focus on what your business should be, a trusted and knowledgeable professional who is there to help the buyer and seller navigate, all the other things will fall into place appropriately. Don’t forget the core of your business.”
Barbara Corcoran, Real Estate Mogul and Business Consultant, Vol. 3 Issue 6
“Technology is your partner or your enemy; take your choice. You can use Twitter or Instagram to build followers to give information … If you are not using the Internet to make friends, which I think is what it’s intended for, to give data that’s useful, to share amazing pictures, to present things differently than anyone else has, then you’re out of your mind because it’s there for the taking. And so, does it play that role in building your identity? Yes. The other thing it does is give the power to the buyer and business owner.”
Sharron P.A. Levine, OMWI Director at the FHFA, Vol. 4 Issue 3
“Most people need help in developing self-awareness. Some people never develop in this regard and the consequences for themselves and those with whom they come into contact are usually neither positive nor productive. I would strongly advise women to embark on a journey of discovering who they really are, understanding their potential to be effective leaders, and how to take their careers to the next level.”
Dottie Herman, President and CEO of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Vol. 4 Issue 6
“I’m somebody who always has to go to the next level and it’s really been a journey. Although it’s cliché, my stationery says, ‘Life is a journey, not a final destination.’ Most people are capable of more than they imagine—if you’re passionate and love something, go for it.”
Helen Hanna Casey, President & Chief Executive Officer of Real Estate Brokerage, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Vol. 5 Issue 1
“Number one: don’t think of yourself as a woman entrepreneur, think of yourself as an entrepreneur. Take advantage of the opportunities for women, but don’t limit yourself by believing that’s all that you are. Always believe that you are equal to anybody you’re competing with. I think we as women sometimes diminish that, with all of the award platforms that are out there for women, because we don’t think we have equal opportunity. I believe entrepreneurs–women entrepreneurs especially–have the opportunity to prove to people that we are equal to everything because our destiny is in our hands.”
Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, Vol. 5 Issue 3
“I’ve said this before in my first book Expect to Win, perception is the copilot to reality. That was the biggest aha moment because I did not realize that you could teach people how to think about you, or that it was important to understand the perception about you in the marketplace. I was very green, I just came in thinking that I would work hard and that would be enough. But as I said at the beginning of this conversation, if you’re working in a way that is inconsistent with the way they’re thinking about success, you’re not going to maximize your success. So there you are working as hard as you possibly can, but again, you’re offering that which is not valued so you don’t get the return for your efforts. Biggest lesson, that’s my biggest lesson.”
Rebecca Steele, Chief Executive Officer & President, Sigma Associates, LLC, Vol. 5 Issue 4
“I would say be true to yourself. Challenge and surround yourself with people you trust. If you don’t have a couple of people with whom you can really discuss challenges and opportunities, honestly it’s really hard to change, adapt and grow. You really have to open up with people. You must be honest with yourself first and then you must be able to open up to some confidants that you can really trust.”
Marcia Davies, Chief Operating Officer, Mortgage Bankers Association, Vol. 6 Issue 1
“Sometimes it’s good to get out of your comfort zone and take a risk. From that I learned being a good leader means really understanding the skills—the how, not the what—that make your workers good leaders and applying their talents to other areas that could really use them. Being a leader is looking for skills and experiences to provide growth opportunities and fresh perspectives in areas. I would encourage more women and leaders to not only take those risks but also think about being comfortable managing things you may not have technically done before.”