Kepka.
The campaign theme for Women’s History Month in 2021 is
#ChooseToChallenge
meaning we can and should choose to challenge and call out gender
bias and inequality and create a more inclusive world. What does
this mean for you in your professional life?
That’s a big question. For some reason, this comes to mind: a
few years ago, I bought a shirt that says “Empowered Women Empower
Women.” I was telling a colleague who I considered to be a very
wise woman leader, and she said, “The shirt is wrong; Empowered
Women Empower EVERYONE.” That has stayed with me. I think that
women leaders are keenly aware that the world is not ours to take
for ourselves; we need to be wise, thoughtful leaders who empower
those around us who want to contribute to a better company, a
better community, a better world. And in a world where gender is a
hot button topic, we shouldn’t be afraid of new perspectives or new
voices those are the very things that make us stronger and more
resilient.
Youve had a dynamic career path, having led both
marketing and productivity efforts at Gibson Sotheby’s
International Realty before your role as CEO, and even publishing a
book. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, tell us about how
youve found your way and made those transitions.
While my career path has looked unconventional to a lot of
people, I think the simplest explanation for how I ended up here is
that I have tried to be the best version of each role that I could
be. To me that means thinking about what the most basic purpose of
each role has been and to be devoted to that cause. A great example
is Director of Productivity that was a brand new role and a newly
created title. So, how do you do that well? I kept in mind what
Larry and Paul, our co-owners, asked me to do: help our agents grow
and reach their goals. My job became two-fold: learn how successful
people create their success, and learn how to coach. I interviewed
a lot of people, read a lot of books, wrote letters, took classes,
etc. And in the end, I wrote what was intended to be a primer for
agents to set and attain goals. That ended up becoming that little
book you mentioned.
Whats the most important piece of advice youd give to a
woman thinking of starting a career in real estate?
I think the advice I have for a woman entering any business is
to set clear goals for yourself. Then figure out what skills,
knowledge, and relationships you will need to get you there. By
“relationships” I mean that mentors are a big part of what it takes
to learn faster. They can give you another perspective to help you
overcome obstacles and to grow from each experience. I am so
grateful to have had really great mentors and I hope that I can be
a good one, as well.
What qualities make a great leader?
A great leader surrounds herself with smart, caring people and
empowers them to do their jobs. Then, she gets out of their way.
She does what she can to help others reach their goals. She strives
to make a positive impact on those around her. I know that, at
times, it can feel like the world’s problems are so big that one
person can’t even make a dent in them. But, if you focus on those
around you, you can create a sea change that can spread to
others.
What did you dream of doing when you were a
child?
I wanted to be a first responderI was always an EMT or police
officer or firefighter when I played as a child. I think I was
drawn to helping people. And then I grew up and I went to work. I
would read that everyone was following their calling. Everywhere I
turned, I heard, “follow your passion.” I am someone who has a lot
of interests, so it was hard to distill what I love into one thing.
Then I asked myself, “When have you felt most fulfilled in your
life or in your work?” And the answer was clear: it was when I
helped someone achieve something they wanted to accomplish. I
realized that my passion is helping others achieve their goals.
What woman inspires you and why?
There are a number of women who inspire me these days: My mom is
the biggest one. She raised two kids as a young, single mother and
worked very hard to give us a great life. She brought us to art
shows and poetry readings. We watched documentaries and old movies.
We listened to jazz and folk music. She gave us a really full
upbringing on a shoestring budget. Dolly Parton is someone I would
consider to be a national treasure she is one of the most decorated
and prolific songwriters to have ever lived. She has done so much
for children’s literacy, and she recently funded a COVID vaccine
that’s a hard one to top! She is a totally self-made woman. Jen
Richards is a writer, actress, and activist for trans rights. She
has made such eloquent arguments for why there needs to be better
and more positive trans representation in the media. I am so
grateful for her voice.