The last 13 years in real estate (RE), I have dabbled in residential, commercial, industrial, and special-use real estate. When I lived in Austin, Texas I worked with a national commercial RE firm that specialized in tenant leasing and management for office and industrial buildings. When I eventually moved to Portland in 2011 I began working for a firm dedicated to distressed property acquisition. Finally in 2012, I transitioned to residential real estate and dove into local philanthropy, working with a few Latinx and women’s organizations, which shaped me as an agent and PDX community member.

The time has come to reflect on the past year and prepare for business in 2022. Annual planning is one of my favorite ways to get excited about the coming year! I always appreciate the chance to sit down and reflect on what worked for my business, what didn’t, and what opportunities I have to make next year even better. Since we are traveling to Mexico this month, it feels good to get ahead of the game and prep now!.

As a full-time business woman, full-time mom, and working with post-COVID-lockdown limitations, time management is everything. There are only so many hours in the day and BOY do they fly by, especially when you have a little one running around.

While my career in real estate has been fun and exciting, there have been hurdles nonetheless! I’ve learned from experience, the more you put into your work, the more you receive from it. Through it all, I have found the majority of my success comes down to authenticity, communication, and transparency.

Put your business and personal brand on the map through networking! As businesswomen — as women, truly — we encounter stereotypes left and right. The stereotypical female business moguls are stern and extroverted, often because these traits mimic the “cutthroat businessman”. It’s time to step away from these assumptions, embrace our unique traits, and bring them into our professional lives.

Over a decade in real estate has afforded me my fair share of insights. That time has reinforced my passion for supporting like-minded women in business above all else. I am lucky for the support system fostered by my agency and for the support I’ve found in the professional organizations I’ve joined.