In
celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with
our Chief Strategy Officer,
Nicole Rideout Hartwick, to discuss the challenges, benefits,
and surprises that come with being a woman in real estate. From
juggling work-life balance to breaking down barriers, Nicole is no
stranger to the ups and downs that women in the industry face. As a
result, Nicole places great importance on empowering female
employees to engage in leadership roles—part of the reason
why today, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty’s
leadership team is distinctly woman-forward.
Read on
to discover how Nicole strategizes, prioritizes, and maximizes her
potential as a female leader in the industry, and how our talented
team of women support one another each day.
As a woman and leader in real estate, what are some unique
challenges you’ve faced? How have they shaped your leadership
style?
Finding your unique voice and building your strong foundation of
who you are both personally and professionally is something I am
working on every day. This is particularly challenging when you
want to be liked and are eager to do well by everyone. As time goes
by, it really does prove true that earning respect is more
important than being liked. This realization has shaped me as a
leader because I think people are more confident in your direction
when they know that you have your back, that you will not waver
from your core ethics, and that you are there to make the
best decisions for everyone – not always to just do
what will please people in the moment. Leaders have to make hard
decisions, but those decisions facilitate growth.
As a
woman, what barriers have you ever experienced in your career? How
did you handle these, and how has your strategy changed as
you’ve moved up the ladder?
There will always be people who underestimate you or don’t
respect you. My job is not to prove anything to them or try to
change that. I feel when you get caught up in that, you are letting
them affect you. I feel that when you achieve clarity about who you
are as a leader and where you want to take your organization, you
care more about your people and realize your actions every day
impact them. As a result, you stop paying attention to those you
can’t change.
What
lessons have you learned in balancing your career with
motherhood?
This is a big one and it lends itself to the last few questions and
answers. It’s been one of the biggest challenges for me in
motherhood. My work felt like my baby and when I had an actual
baby, I had to make choices. It has made me much more efficient at
prioritizing. It has made me waste a lot less energy on things I
can’t change, like the aforementioned negative opinions. It has
made me truly have to decide who I am and what I stand for, and
just wake up and drive at that every day. I also became a lot more
compassionate for people and what is going on in their life. It
made me less focused on myself which has been good for me. I still
tear up leaving almost every morning, but becoming a mother has
made me more balanced. I drive at what the big goal is and what is
most important. I don’t get as caught up in small things
– I don’t have time.
On your
weekly podcast, Real Tea, you’ve interviewed a number of
accomplished women from Gibson Sotheby’s International
Realty’s leadership team. In fact, GSIR’s leadership
team is nearly 75% women. What are some insights you’ve
gained from working with this incredible team of women? How have
they influenced the company’s direction?
I think first and foremost we are honest with each other and eager
to learn from one another. I learn something every time I talk to
one of our staff, and I think that is where our collaborative
culture really thrives. I’ve had so much fun showcasing our
brilliant team to the masses. My goal is that we are no longer the
best kept secret! We run deep with talent and I’m amazed by
it every day. I’m so proud to be on this team and to have
helped build it throughout the last decade.
What is
one piece of advice you would give to women looking to break into
the industry?
Relationships are everything, and being consistent in who you are
and how you do business builds your foundation. Seek out people who
are smarter than you. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.
Listen, soak it all in, and surround yourself with a team that will
have candor and help you grow. Real estate is a fast paced and
exciting industry. Your reputation will follow you, so if you
concentrate on maintaining an honest and hard working work ethic,
success will find you. Don’t try to please
everyone!
Nicole Rideout Hartwick is the Chief Strategy Officer at Gibson
Sotheby’s International Realty. Catch up with Nicole on her
weekly podcast, Real Tea, now streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Podcasts.