Spearheading real estate  

Talisa asserts that there is a general imbalance within the real estate industry. “This is not accurate at MRE,” she continues. Its staffing ratio is 70% women, with most of its heads of departments being female. She thinks in real estate there is an expectation to always be readily available to your clients, no matter what time or day it is. “If you are choosing to also become a mother, this is an impossible task,” she shares. At MRE, women, including Talisa, have been heavily supported while transitioning into motherhood, with a maternity leave program that includes keeping-in-touch days. Her team worked closely with her when returning to work to see how they could best accommodate her so that she was able to be a fantastic mother to her son. She also achieved the results that she wanted for herself and became the salesperson she is today.

Becoming a mother made her realise promptly how hard it is to do both. “It was the most amazing but hardest time in my life,” Talisa adds. She states that she went through a huge transformation as a person, ultimately becoming stronger, more resilient, compassionate, and more relatable than ever before, which assisted her in her professional life as a real estate executive. Although having a career and being a mother is challenging, the constant battle of guilt, the sick days, the list goes on. She does believe that it is doable, and in return, it is so rewarding. She feels so grateful to work for a company like MRE that helped her come back to work so effortlessly. She adds that more companies need to employ more female sales agents. Women need to understand how much of an advantage it is for them that this industry is dominated by men. “Once individuals and business owners realise how powerful they are to not only a team but their business, it will be a no-brainer,” she asserts.

In addition to that, Talisa thinks that it is imperative to acknowledge gender inequality and educate others on the subject. She states that women typically exhibit greater levels of compassion and care when interacting with clients than men, and clients value these efforts more. “We care about them and their needs—not just looking for the next sale,” Talisa asserts. Women do not tend to convey the ego that is mostly associated with a lot of male real estate agents. Women are approachable and easier to talk to, not only for the owner of the property but also for their buyers.

Some advice to look upon

Talisa has gained her success through sheer determination and hard work. In her professional life, she has come across various individuals who have taught her effective life lessons that have helped her flourish. She is aware that dealing with certain situations might be challenging for a leader. At such moments, she advises them to believe in themselves, as the business requires belief to convert leads into clients. She advises budding leaders to build a team around them swiftly, especially in real estate, to be at a high level and give great service, one needs a strong team. They must learn from more experienced agents as a PA or buyer’s associate. One must soak in every required piece of information like a sponge. And see, “as a PA or buyer associate, take the things you like, bin the things you hate, and become your own elite agent from this,” she suggests. Lastly, she asks these leaders to set goals with timeframes—daily, monthly, and yearly.

Currently, she works from home for most of her working days, with MRE having employed Buyer and Client Managers who help the sales executives deliver the same high-quality level of customer service. This initiative by MRE has enabled her to focus on the aspects of the job that require her daily attention. “I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s so worth it,” concludes Talisa.