This December marks 18 years of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty—a journey defined by resilience, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. To celebrate this milestone, our Chief Executive Officer Colleen Barry and President Nicole Rideout Hartwick sat down to reflect on nearly two decades of unmatched experience, transformative growth, and an unwavering spirit of collaboration that has enabled our agents to better serve their clients.
This December, we celebrate our company’s 18th anniversary. What word comes to mind when you think about that?
Colleen: For me, it’s pride. I remember the day we launched the company as a Sotheby’s International Realty® franchise with Larry Rideout and Paul McGann. I think what was so special about it was, this was a room full of people I already knew, but we were taking our firm to the next level with a new brand and new leadership. I could not have possibly imagined what would happen over the next 18 years. Now that we are sitting here, I’m so proud of everybody for staying together and supporting one another. It has been an amazing time so far.
Nicole: For me, it’s legacy. I’m dating myself, but the company has been in my life longer than it hasn’t. I was sixteen when we did the opening, so for me, it’s a lifetime.
What aspect of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty’s future are you most passionate about?
Colleen: The people. Every time I’m around our agents and our staff, I’m inspired. Sometimes it’s a new idea that somebody has, but sometimes it’s just a discussion about what’s going on in their lives or in the world. When we band together and collaborate, we are able to get over some incredible obstacles. Our leadership team is so proud of what we have accomplished, but we are also inspired by what is possible.
Nicole: I’m excited to continue moving forward as the steady hand. What I see in our future is good people doing a tremendous job. We keep our heads down and gain a lot of momentum in moments of uncertainty. I think we will pull ahead a lot further than the pack with the natural way we do business.
Can you talk about the value of having those legacy agents still with the company since 2006?
Nicole: Those people brought me here. When Larry and Paul opened the company, they put their entire livelihoods into it, and what followed was the economic recession. This group banded together and helped us move through that moment which I think propelled us to where we are now. Anytime I’m feeling down, thinking about them and working with them lifts me up.
Colleen: The original group from 2006 helped us build a culture of collaboration. That was how they operated. It was clear that was something that we all valued and it could be a starting point for a lasting legacy.
Do you have a favorite memory that stands out?
Colleen: When I think back to moments that stand out, it’s moments when an agent or employee accomplished something that they had not done before. To see the pride in their eyes—the newfound confidence—is something that fills me with joy.
Nicole: When we hosted the Boston Networking Event. It was a compilation of our local growth as well as within the Sotheby’s International Realty® network. Those almost felt like to separate things at the time, and this event married them. We were able to show our team what we had worked towards and the power of the global brand, but we also showed the brand how powerful our team is on a local level.
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