Embracing Excellence I N - F O C US
Nina Hudnik: Navigating Real Estate Through Collaboration and Excellence I N - F O C US
Debra Esparza: A Reigning Leader in Realty Business
Natasha Simon THE ANALYTICAL LEADER
www.exeleonmagazine.com
Real Estate in the Metaverse
Transformational L E A D E R S I N R E A L E S TAT E OF 2022
Embracing Excellence 600 N Broad St 5 Middletown, DE 19709, United States +1 (302) – 569 – 9387
Editor-in-Chief – Daryl Yeung (Story-Tailor) Art Director – Naomi Lam (Design Ninja) Managing Editor - Matt Reis (Wordster) Creative Director – Adam Waring (Grafista) Contributing Editors – Ian O'Shea, Matt Hale, & John Riggs (Three Musketeers) Content Curator – Cathy G. (Explorer)
Sales Project Manager – Josh Wilder (Cultivator) Marketing Manager – Mike Jackson (Marketeer) Senior BDM – Katherine Price (Sustainer) BDM – Richard Dann (Facilitator)
For any advertising related information, please contact info@exeleonmagazine.com. Submissions as well as contributions to the magazine are welcome.
Take a moment and let us know about our magazine; whether it be about the design or a possible mistake, we would appreciate any feedback from your end. You can reach out to daryl@exeleonmagazine.com.
Copyright © Exeleon Media LLC. All rights reserved. The design, images, and content in this issue should not be reproduced in any manner or by any means, i.e. mechanical, electronic, recording, photocopying, or otherwise, without any permission from Exeleon Media.
CONTENTS
12 NATASHA SIMON
CONTENTS
28 KATHLEEN BLACK
CONTENTS
40 NINA HUDNIK
C O V E R
S T O R Y
THE ANA LEA 12
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
C O V E R
S T O R Y
E ALYTICAL ADER NATASHA SIMON
REALTOR® | The Money Team
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
13
T
here is a shifting inclination towards datadriven, analytical leadership in the recent past. However, there is a visible gap among leaders when it comes to understanding the meaning of analytical leadership.
The orthodox viewpoint of being analytical narrows down to investigating something with rigor and objectivity. In reality, analysis has a de initive purpose, i.e. to
14
solve a question by breaking it down into smaller elements.
The analytical leader takes data disconnected and disjointed - and gives the data meaning and purpose to turn it into information. Following which, by using a mix of experience, values, and grounded insights, the leader turns that information into knowledge. This knowledge lays the
framework for analytical decisionmaking.
Natasha Simon is an example of a leader who understands the meaning of being analytical and leverages its power to drive unmatched results.
For over a decade, the pioneering realtor has made a name for herself with her concise, calculated, and logical thinking.
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
C O V E R
S T O R Y
‘‘
ALWAYS KEEP GOD FIRST AND YOU CANNOT GO WRONG. HE IS TRULY WHY I AM SUCH A SUCCESS TODAY. MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO FORGET THAT.
She recalls, “I asked all of the neighbors in our townhome apartments to not park their cars on our row between the hours of 4 to 8 so that I could run my festival.”
As the Cover of our Latest Transformational Real Estate Leader, we look into the story of Natasha Simon and what makes her an inspiring leader. ENTREPRENEURIAL CORE For Natasha, entrepreneurship and leadership has always been inevitable. At the age of 9, she created, managed, and ran her own carnival.
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
She created her very own tickets for the event by tracing out chucke-cheese tickets, and charged the kids for games like coloring page contests, knock the cans, etc. “Depending upon how many tickets they had, I bought some toys from the dollar store as prizes.”
To advertise the event across her neighborhood, she took the help from her aunt who worked at a copy center. Natasha instructed her to copy neon-colored lyers that she could place on every door of the neighborhood. In her own words, she created her very own “Octoberfest.” Surprisingly, the turnout to her
event was huge. “I had to send my mom to the store to get hotdogs and nachos to sell. We sold out of everything and made a lot of money,” she remembers.
From a very early age, Natasha was engaged with such entrepreneurial activities. This formed the core of her leadership journey, one that she still fondly reminisces about. REAL ESTATE CALLING
Natasha's exposure into the real estate scene can be attributed to her husband, who was a loan of icer.
Seeing the industry up-close, she recognized an opportunity; an opportunity to employ her deep analysis of the intricacies of transactions, while simultaneously following her passion of helping people.
15
C O V E R
S T O R Y
Having a Master's in Computer Science, Natasha has always had an analytical approach in her life. She realized this approach could be a key differentiator for her in the real estate industry.
She explains, “Exposure to high-pro ile account management and innovative uses of technology have enabled me to understand matters of real estate from a rare and valuable perspective.”
Moreover, she has a gift when it comes to turning NO's into YES's. All these have collectively guided Natasha to pursue real estate as her true calling. This calling further enabled her to build her very own team of agents, named as “The Real Estate Money Team”. The name of the team aptly highlights the mission of Natasha and her team – enabling clients to get the right amount of money for their homes.
Natasha worked in the industry in part-time capacity for 6 years, before she went full-time in October 2019. She was closing over 50 homes per year, between the period of 2016-2018, and is on track to close to 200 clients in 2022.
16
THE MONEY METHOD Thus far, Natasha has helped over 1000 people with her services. This amounts to over $200 million in real estate sales. Much of this can be attributed to Natasha's ability to understand unique transactions and successfully implement intricate inancing strategies to get the deal done.
She adds, “I thoroughly evaluate a range of matters from new home construction processes to changes in mortgage inancing to ensure that my clients are well-informed about their investments.”
Persistent and methodical by trade, Natasha visualizes each of her business steps as a deep calculus problem. She relishes the dif iculty while taking a calculated approach in simplifying the entire problem and then solving the equation.
“I always say I can outthink most people in this industry because I am left-brained, while most are right brained,” she asserts. She is a skilled negotiator and an expert facilitator, who oversees each need and requirement with utmost precision to ensure optimal client satisfaction.
Amidst the cut-throat competition of the market, around 85% of Natasha's business are based upon repeat and referral clients. The Money Team is committed to helping its clients along the journey with a clear path. They differentiate themselves from the crowd with the connections they make and create along this journey.
Her proven track-record allows builders to have the requisite con idence to list their newly constructed homes with Natasha. She leverages the power of digital platforms to offer marketing solutions that bridges the gap between the buyer and seller to minimal time necessary.
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
‘‘
I BELIEVE IN PLANTING GOOD
SEEDS. IF I PLANT GOOD SEEDS, I AM ASSURED OF REAPING A GOOD HARVEST.
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
17
C O V E R
S T O R Y
PLANTING GOOD SEEDS For Natasha, integrity and the drive to be the best at all times has played a key role in her career trajectory. Moreover, her willingness to treat others the same way she expects herself to be treated has helped her stay grounded and grateful.
She exhibits integrity in her everyday life whether it be with her family, friends, or her customers. Furthermore, her faith in God has played an essential role in her successful journey. She advices others, “Always keep God irst and you cannot go wrong. HE is truly why I am such a success today. Most people seem to forget that.” Based in Houston, Texas, Natasha also believes in the act of giving back and caring about her community. She and her team engage in mentoring for opportunities in the real estate industry. She also runs an annual gala, wherein clients can donate to a charity of their choice.
According to her, “I believe in planting good seeds. If I plant good seeds, I am assured of reaping a good harvest.” The Road Ahead
Talking about the future, Natasha is excited for what's in store for the team in the coming years. She plans to have different branches of The Money Team, like a franchise, to further build the brand and its geographical reach.
On a personal note, Natasha plans to be there for her kids and her husband. A family person in every right, Natasha is blessed for her family and is dedicated to prioritizing them in her life wherever necessary.
18
‘‘
EXPOSURE TO HIGH-PROFILE ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATIVE USES OF TECHNOLOGY
HAVE ENABLED ME TO UNDERSTAND MATTERS OF REAL ESTATE FROM A RARE AND VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE.
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
C O V E R
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
S T O R Y
19
We Embrace Excellence! Exeleon Magazine features some of the leading players in business and shares their journey of excellence to inspire aspiring leaders across the globe.
SUBSCRIBE
www.exeleonmagazine.com
A DUO ECHOING EXCELLENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM
22
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
I N - F O C U S
Many people ind themselves spending years and years wondering if they should start a business or venture on their own. Should they quit their jobs and set up their own organization? Is this really an option for them? Could they really do it? Lots of questions come to mind, and the answers ain't always easy to ind.
agency's clients. However, Advertising and Marketing being a lot of theory-based practice, did not match Ryan's resultoriented personality. Sales, on the other, was different altogether and motivated Ryan to achieve goals by being targetoriented. Hence, he shifted to the role of sales when his manager at Kimberly-Clark asked him to join sales. Since then, Ryan has never looked back.
Over the next decade and a half, Ryan Waller held diverse, progressive management roles at Kimberly-Clark and Nestle. These roles had some entrepreneurial degree attached to them, which helped him become the Realtor he is today.
The answer to this question came into the life of Ryan Waller, Realtor at Home Group Realty Inc., when he bought a rental house in 2009. None of his friends could understand why or how he was doing it. To them, it seemed like an absurd notion. But for Ryan, the move proved to be the stepping stone for his entrepreneurial venture with minimal risks. He listened to the real estate call and obtained a license in 2015, and subsequently transitioned out of the corporate world in 2017.
During the same time, Ryan's wife Beth held the role of a skilled salesperson in the publishing and dental industries. Embracing motherhood to the core, she took a sabbatical from work and chose to stay at home to raise their three daughters. Later, Beth teamed up with Ryan in 2018, one which was a natural it and seemed right given her expertise at sales. Together, both these dynamic personalities offered two unique perspectives to prospects, which has had a tremendously positive effect on their business outcomes.
After his education, Ryan's creative mind led him to be a part of an advertising agency. Eventually, his role evolved at the agency, and soon he got into a marketing role with Chapters Bookstores, which was one of the
According to Ryan, an inspiring leader empowers people surrounding him for the greater good and creates new opportunities through creativity and innovation. And he considers himself lucky to have worked
THE CALL OF THE REAL ESTATE
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
A FORWARD-MOVING, VISIONARY LEADER
with talented people who emphasized these leadership skills that he uses in his real estate business. However, Ryan had to overcome the challenges associated with his work-based freedom to reach where he is today.
Ryan recalls when he was in the corporate world, the creative differences within the working pipeline would hamper his creative process. "The biggest roadblock for me was my struggle with the red tape and processes," says Ryan. The required extensive approval to practice any new initiative took a toll on him and sti led his creativity. Hence, when he moved into real estate, he was surprised by how much he wanted to operate without any restrictions.
With freedom as the central point, Ryan's words for young aspirants re lect the same, and he wants them to enjoy what they love to do. He says that new Realtors are often con ined with all the rules and perceptions of what other realtors do. "So many new Realtors just toe the line of 'this is what you're supposed to do,' and it's really not. Think about who you want to be, why and how you want to be different, and have a plan," explains Ryan.
Ryan asks budding real estate entrepreneurs to have a short memory for not losing themselves in the process. He says, on a frequent basis, leaders face challenges about trust, feeling betrayed, their ideas being challenged, or even having a bad year. "You have to let it go and move forward because there
23
I N - F O C U S
will always be more opportunities out there," he asserts.
COMMITMENT-BASED SERVICES Home Group Realty is a boutique brokerage real estate irm that emphasizes on the commitment to understanding the local market. Thus, the business operates with the tagline 'Fiercely Local' and makes sure to frequently participate and support local events and initiatives.
Realtors such as Ryan & Beth serve the industry and people by being on the same page. Everything they do revolves around the clients, irrespective of whether it is more insights, more marketing, service, communication, or results. However, Ryan understands that it is always bene icial to be able to differentiate one's service from others. He elaborates, "Without 24
differentiation, you don't offer a compelling value or reason for someone to work with you. Our clients realize that these differences in services are worth more, both in the transaction and their end result.”
Even in the early stages of the global coronavirus pandemic, many feared the market would crash, resulting in the hoarding of panicked buyers, sellers, and realtors. However, the market did not crash; it just came to a halt. The irm understood this and tightened its roots in the ground and differentiated it from others by eliminating public open houses from the process; the only change they made was the way the business operated.
very strong year as we were still advertising and being present at the hardest of times, which led to a lot of new clients,” he mentions. THE ROAD AHEAD
Moving forward, Ryan and Beth have got their eyes set on establishing a strong, pro itable business. Talking about the future and their plans, Ryan mentions, “We like that when people call us, it's us who shows up to the house - not another team member. But with that, it requires us to be strategic in how we grow our business, because we only have so much time and we want a family life, too. Eventually, we would like to grow a team of like minded individuals.”
Once the initial restrictions got off, the need for homes to be sold skyrocketed. “Personally, we had a
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
I N - F O C U S
PERSEVERING TOWARDS SUCCESS
O
ften underrated, perseverance is the hallmark of a successful entrepreneur. It enables one to steer past adversities, overcome obstacles, and translate ideas into reality. Kathleen Black is no stranger to the word 'perseverance'. Throughout her life, she has persevered past challenges and created a pathway of excellence.
From having a tumultuous childhood to being an independent mother, from being among the top 1% in real estate to becoming one of the leading coaches in the industry, Kathleen's journey has been nothing but inspiring.
Kathleen Black
WHAT ACCORDING TO YOU MAKES FOR A POWERFUL WOMAN?
CEO | Founder | Performance Strategy Kathleen Black Coaching & Consulting
In this interview, she shares about her journey, about the real estate industry, and much more.
Powerful women are willing to make big picture choices based on the future, while staying humble and vulnerable to the needs of the present. HOW DO YOU INTEGRATE THE SAME THOUGHT INTO YOUR LEADERSHIP? By empowering my team and giving them the room to ful ill their objectives independently while making myself available for guidance at every point on their path. I am proud to be leading a team who are very entrepreneurial and take ownership over what needs to happen. It's very collaborative, and without a director style delegation, everyone owns their portion of the business. That is how we thrive. 28
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
n
y g Inc.
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
29
I N - F O C U S
TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR GROWING UP YEARS. I have never done things the easy way. I had a tumultuous childhood that culminated with me leaving my home while still in high school. I then self-funded my university education and completed it as a new mother. Some people are born entrepreneurs, and I would say I it into that.
There are always early signs: the proverbial lemonade-stand, an innate youthful rebelliousness, a way of seeing things differently, and an early discovery of the power to manifest. I knew as an 8th grader that I could manifest whatever I envisioned. Every milestone I reach comes from an inspired low state – a practice of inner work I leverage now, as one of North America's leading Real Estate Coaches, delivering my proven success techniques to Agents and Teams.
WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST AND SUBSEQUENTLY YOUR FORAY INTO THE REAL ESTATE SPACE?
An unexpected separation made real estate a fork in the road moment for me. I chose to take a risk for long term security and gain which could better provide for my children. It worked! The ultimate achievement is reaching the Top 1% in production. In my irst year, I accomplished that within North America's top Real Estate Board. I also saw that while this was a female-dominated industry, it wasn't an industry dominated by female voices, and that was something I wanted to learn more about and see if I could break through for myself and lead other 30
women do it as well.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE APPROACH FOLLOWED BY YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO ENSURE OPTIMAL BUYING AND SELLING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CLIENTS? The Consultant's Approach and here's what I mean: a consultant seeks to establish a need and educate a client. This sets us apart from the public perception of a “pushy salesperson” who pushes a client in the direction that will lead to the salesperson's bene it vs. the client's bene it. We believe in helping the client achieve their desired outcomes, and as a result, the salesperson will also win but it is the client's best interest that should be considered at all times. At Kathleen Black Coaching & Consulting (KBCC), every top team or agent we have ever worked with, who multiplied their business, have all worked with this speci ic approach in order to get the ultimate results. HOW ARE YOU HELPING EMPOWER ASPIRING LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY REACH THE HEIGHTS OF SUCCESS? By bringing an inspiring and holistic mindset to a systematic and process-driven approach to our leadership training. This builds agile teams, and our ability to empower aspiring leaders is due to the fact that we build strong businesses by helping their teams reach their potential. Through our training tools, presentations, and summits, we have been instrumental in guiding iconic brands and high net worth professionals through our unique approach of empowered leadership
and expert mindset-training to add billions of additional sales volume annually to their bottom lines. WHAT DOES A DAY IN THE LIFE OF KATHLEEN BLACK LOOK LIKE?
My day always starts the night and week before by scheduling my top priorities with calendar updates. I review this monthly, weekly, and always the night before. This allows me to be ahead of big projects, which we break down into microsteps. More importantly, this also allows me to pause and get clear around my intentions and the energy I wish to bring to my day. I also like to start or end my day with yoga, a long walk, or running. I listen to guided meditation several times a week and commit to visualization around all important endeavors. HOW DO YOU ENSURE WORKLIFE BALANCE?
I don't believe in a balance but rather having on and off seasons for high performers. We all have a unique blend of wants and needs and we can harmonize them based on our unique needs. I have tried to build and maintain a life of more time and money while being surrounded by people I can rely on. This has helped me act in alignment with the many leaders I have admired who already did it, with the exact blueprint, recipe, and values unique to my own path. LOOKING AT YOUR JOURNEY, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IF YOU WERE TO START AGAIN? I'm not sure I would do anything E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
differently, but I would have done a few things sooner, like writing my books and the development of my training tools and leadership platform. Getting into real estate was the right career path for me, and now, being able to share my selling success techniques with others is very rewarding. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR EMERGING WOMEN LEADERS IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET?
Be optimistic. You must stand strong in a storm and rise out of lots of little ires, so they won't engulf you. To be a top woman leader in this industry you need to be unapologetic in order to be capable of carving out an ef icient business. On your way to the top, you will either hit ceilings or plant seeds, you cannot do both. If as a woman, you're looking at your restrictions and the reasons why you might fail, those are not going to propel you further. If you look at those things and create for the future, you can plant seeds and nurture them to create things that aren't even in existence yet – how exciting!
FINALLY, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR YOU, BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY?
I am always actively planning my future and that means growth. We are expanding our services globally, by building systematically, we're offering teams 16% higher pro it margins than a typical team model would. Having agents on the top teams using our models sell 10 to 20 times the average transactions on most of their local Real Estate W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
boards. Additionally, we're aiding them in converting at up to 7 times higher when they get to our advanced conversion systems. We are committed to helping our agents build the most ef icient, productive, and pro itable teams in the world.
As for my personal life, I just climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and it reinforced values I have always held dear like being vulnerable, compassionate, and empathetic across all of our relationships.
Reaching the summit was a metaphor for my professional success because every step took an open heart, passion, determination, focus and purpose – all the qualities that I have applied in my business for my success and in helping others!
31
I N - F O C U S
A Reigning Leader in Realty Business
Debra Esparza
REALTOR
T
here are some people who are at ease with the way things work, and then there are the visionaries. The changemakers. The modern trendsetters. They challenge the status quo boldly and pave way into a new territory. Debra Esparza is one such exceptional leader where her drive, empathy and enthusiasm gives her an edge in the realty business. She believes powerful women are incredibly openminded and have a remarkable vision. “They are determined, positive and productive to ind resolutions rather than excuses, and they build for the long-term. Nothing is ordinary for them,” she says.
Debra embraces the same thought into her leadership style where she constantly builds herself up to a better and stronger version. She also believes that these traits are inherited and cannot be taught to people.
34
SHAPING HER POTENTIAL Born in the 1960s, Debra's parents were fairly young and came from humble beginnings. With limited means, her parents managed to get their high school education and eventually earned their technical degrees.
Later, her mom started her career as a hairdresser and opened up her own Salon & Spa. On the other hand, her dad earned his license in Commercial Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Refrigeration, Back low in the Restaurant industry.
All of 17, Debra borrowed her attitude to be self-suf icient from her parents — who later went on to spearhead their respective careers into rewarding and successful businesses. Later in her early twenties, she was mentored by some of the very best CEO's and business owners which truly transformed her career trajectory.
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
35
I N - F O C U S
FINDING HER ENTREPRENEURIAL EDGE It is often said that success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration and Debra held her own. From 2010 to 2014, she was working everyday for over 12 hours at an Oil & Gas Law Firm and helped grow the irm substantially.
Since she held a superior position in the irm, it was not easy for her to hit pause from work. This led her to be mentally and physically burnt out and rethink her career decisions.
This was the moment when Debra decided to be in control of her own life and “stepped out in faith” to venture out on her own. She realized that “If I have the drive, motivation, courage, tenacity, determination and ability to make someone else successful and wealthy, then I have the ability to do the same for myself.”
She knew that exploring the real estate industry could be very rewarding, but like anything else, she had to learn and master it in order to bene it from it. Later, she decided to resign from her position with the law irm and signed up for her real estate classes and never looked back. DELIVERING FLAWLESS CLIENT EXPERIENCE
Of all things, Debra perceives client satisfaction to be the core foundation of her business and will always remain her priority.
“It's very important and it's who and what my brand stands for. With every interaction, it's essential that my clients see the real side of a 36
genuine, humble and honest person that is working for their best interest, helping them navigate through the process and educating them along the way,” she adds con idently. Debra understands that real estate is complicated as it has many moving parts. Sharing the information clearly can be challenging and if not communicated in a timely manner, it could feed into clients' feelings of distrust.
To ensure those instances don't happen, Debra follows a meticulous process that includes regular and timely follow-ups, always being accessible and inally seeing the process close in a satisfactory way for all her clients. She also emphasizes on transparency as it is absolutely integral for her brand, company and most importantly, her clients. BALANCING HER CHALLENGES
Providing great service for your clients means setting them up for success as a whole, even when it involves areas outside your expertise. For that, you need a reliable network of other experts to ill the gaps.
Last year, Debra started a “staging company” where many homes were staged to get the best offers for her clients. She says, “I started building my inventory and housing that inventory around my of ice and home.” Then, word of mouth helped other realtors reach out to her to use her services. She was establishing a different identity from her competitors and built a niche around it.
Later, she began consultation services for “Flippers” where she picked all the looring, paint colors, back splash, light ixtures and more. Her earnest approach enabled her to build strong relationships with contractors and general contractors which gave her an opportunity to understand the process of lipping houses better. FINDING YOUR NORTH STAR
Real estate is diverse and serves many purposes in a person's life. Though it is a demanding business at times, it's also an impactful one. When you stay persistent and persevere, you create something extraordinary — and that's well worth the effort.
To set your clients up for success, Debra highly recommends asking yourself fundamental questions to understand your purpose. She also believes in doing this with integrity, honesty, and transparency. Debra shares, “In this industry, there's just too many ambulance chasers in real estate, set yourself apart, be the unexpected difference in this industry and whatever that looks like for you, just do it, but do it with all the right intentions and everything else will fall into place.” CASTING A BEAUTIFUL VISION
Each facet of real estate —whether it is buying, selling, or building— comes with its own set of expectations and Debra has conquered many challenges by becoming one of the most powerful and trusted advisors in realty business. Professionally, she doesn't seem to be slowing down. Although the
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
industry has shifted due to in lation and rising interest rates, she considers this uncertainty as the regular cycle of real estate. She remains optimistic and patient that her real estate businesses will adapt and will continue to do what her team does best— serve their clients with the best service platform and commit to doing what's right.
Personally, her greatest hope is to witness the presence of her grandchildren.
“My son and daughter are in their thirties now and while they are my greatest love and passion, they don't have any near future plans of having children for now. But, if this Mama can create a vision, then eventually it will be on the horizon!” she concludes. W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
WINNING THE LONG GAME Debra has always paid attention to maximize her potential and make the right decisions at the right time. She believes that everything we go through including the journey we traverse through in our lives teaches us so much along the way. She also believes that God's perfect timing played an instrumental role in her success so far. “I learned so much from some of the very best CEO's, business owners, and community leaders. Everything I learned and gained experience from has all been applied to my own businesses in real estate,” she says.
Balancing her professional and personal life is tough, but it is also essential. Debra understands that while work takes precedence over everything else in her life, it is crucial to look after her well-being. She also plans to unplug from her work by taking vacation time and planning more trips with her family to relax and rejuvenate.
Debra's life motto hinges on “knowing your worth” as she realizes the importance of being self-driven, self-suf icient and working with likeminded people — from Loan Of icers, Appraisers, Inspectors, Escrow Of icers, Surveyors, Contractors, the other realtors and undoubtedly, her clients. 37
I N - F O C U S
40
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
I N - F O C U S
Nina Hudnik Director | Roni nepremičnine
N A V I G A T I N G R E A L E S TA T E T H R O U G H COLLABORATION AND EXCELLENCE
P
lanning symbolizes a signi icant meaning in business. It represents something big that encompasses all our mission, values, strategies, goals, and outcomes.
At the same time, it is also true that no matter how much we plan, things don't always go our way. There is something that can always go wrong. As is rightfully said, 'no plan survives the irst shot', it is the responsibility of the leader at such times to be prepared for the unprecedented circumstances. No matter how the initial challenges shake up the plan, the leader must hold the ground until he can make things right and reach the set goal.
The fall of the global market in 2008 sealed a similar fate for Nina Hudnik, CEO of Roni Nepremič nine. However, despite being unprepared for unexpected situations, she was the leader who stood her ground, adapted to the situation, and gave new roots to her business. The crisis did not break her. W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
Instead, it gave her the willpower to develop new solutions and improve her company. Exeleon proudly looks into the story of this inspiring personality. RISE LIKE A PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES
The headlines of the papers in 2008 were nothing short of a government bailout credit crisis, bank collapses, and mortgage crisis. During this period, the major inancial markets lost over 30% of their value. It was also the time when Nina had just commenced operations of her brainchild — Roni Nepremič nine. However, the crisis brought challenges that were never seen before and ushered a new era in the real estate market.
Nina recalls, "During that time it was no longer enough to list and pray — to publish an advertisement in the newspaper and wait for a call. The construction sector had collapsed, payment indiscipline appeared in a much more serious form. We were a small
41
I N - F O C U S
company that was willing to persevere, and as such, we were able to adapt."
Nina and her husband, Rok, were forced to adapt to the given environment and managed to secure a place in the relentless market. They both were accompanied by Maja, a core member of the company to this day. The lesson Nina learned from the circumstances is to be always prepared for unexpected situations.
She took on the challenges by not surrendering to the crisis, instead she expanded her team, relocated, and adapted to the new trends and legislation. The culmination of challenges, having a reliable colleague, and the valuable lesson led her to instill the same belief of being prepared in her day-to-day business plans today. LIKE PEAS IN A POD
Nina states that working with people drives her excitement and ful illment and complements the real estate industry. According to her, the daily challenges in the industry are diverse in nature but are always valuable. It is the same reason as to why Nina and Rok started the business in the irst place and have been expanding and improving it over the years. For Nina, working with her partners and clients always opens new doors of personal as well as professional growth. The said 'personal' approach even extends to the way Rino Nepremič nine does business. Just like peas in a pond, the staff at 42
the company works collectively to ensure optimal customer satisfaction. This synergy is what makes the business stand out among other agencies. With the help of a professionally skilled team, Nina and her business operates ef iciently on a broader scale and provides all-in-one service through long-term business partners.
Talking about what makes the business stand out from the crowd, Nina explains "Our personal approach to every client and a very connected team of agents and support. Our team represents experienced and quali ied agents with previous knowledge from various professional ields. Each of us has his own base of clients, and when we work together, we always ind a faster and better solution. It also feels better to work in a team where you know others are always there for you."
Besides her own business, Nina's drive to work with diverse leaders and partners led her to participate in the Global Chamber of Business Leaders and represent Slovenia. There she connected with business partners in various ields and expertise from across the world. She asserts, "It broadens my horizons and presents new experiences and opportunities. I have already made amazing new connections and new partners on various projects, and I am very much looking forward to the GCBL Summit in Washington in November. We as a team are looking forward to presenting fresh business opportunities in the Slovenian economy.”
SPILLING THE BEANS
The 2008 crisis led Nina to the understanding of a leader who believes in set goals, even when the situations get tough. A leader who must always look for solutions, be lexible, be good with employees, and always looks after overcoming challenges and broadening the horizons. And in order to achieve excellent growth, connect with different individuals who complement each other and form a success story.
Nina extends the qualities mentioned above to aspiring and emerging players in the real estate industry. Her guidance covers being abreast of the competition, prepared for uncalled events, and open to personal and business growth. For the long-term, she says to always put the clients' needs irst and introduce your work and outline the story you stand for. Otherwise, it will get lost in the crowd.
And for being a leader in the real estate space, Nina's gift to youngsters is to have a vision and develop communication skills. She elaborates, "You have to be empathic to understand how your clients feel and how to help them. Communication skills are necessary as you deal with so many buyers, sellers, agencies, and other parties on a daily basis. And inally, you cannot achieve success without a vision. It is something you have to constantly work on, but it is more than worth it.” E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
I N - F O C U S
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
43
I N - F O C U S
A WHITE CANVAS TO BE PAINTED Being a forward-moving personality, Nina expects the future to be bright. She believes in her motivated and persistent individuals and the young colleagues standing up to the occasions. On the business end, Roni Nepremič nine is expanding into the ield of new constructions and preparing several interesting projects in cooperation with top architectural of ices. Nina also envisions uniting her business with the best in Slovenia and beyond.
44
On the personal side of things, Nina will continue to lead the team and achieve outstanding results collectively. She also looks forward to collaborating on exceptional and innovative international projects with her colleagues from the Global Chamber of Business Leaders.
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
48
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
E X E L E O N E X C L U S I V E
W
ho would have thought the day would come when the average person could own land next to their favorite celebrity with just a few clicks of a button from the comfort of their own home? The metaverse has made that a reality. UNDERSTANDING THE METAVERSE The metaverse refers to a broad range of technologies that operate together in the digital realm. Technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), social commerce, and artificial intelligence are all coming together to combine the physical and digital worlds. While in the metaverse, you can be able to travel to a virtual
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
49
E X E L E O N E X C L U S I V E
store, talk to virtual sales staff, check a product, and make a purchase. You can even buy virtual property in the metaverse, but in this article, we'll explore how the metaverse is changing the real-world real estate industry. You can also create digital twins — virtual models designed to accurately reflect physical objects — to see how they might work in real life. For example, if you're a real estate agent, you can offer threedimensional walkthroughs to let prospective home buyers get a feel for a house without visiting the location. HOW DOES THE METAVERSE REVOLUTIONIZE THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY? Here's a look at how the metaverse is transforming real estate: STOPS THE BIG HASSLE OF HOUSE HUNTING Imagine taking the hassle out of house hunting. No more driving around, spending a lot of time looking at houses that aren't a good fit or reviewing confusing floor plans. This is possible in the metaverse, as you can explore properties from the comfort of your home and make buying decisions. Virtual tours can help create a deeper emotional connection compared to looking at photos or floor plans. They can also help you gain a deeper understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of a particular property.
50
SAVES REALTOR'S EFFORT AND TIME Meeting potential buyers, staging and showing homes, and accompanying clients to closings are time-consuming and require a lot of effort. With a virtual tour, clients can see the property on their smartphones or laptops. Those who are interested in the property will call and ask for more information. If you're a realtor, this can free up your time, as you'll be able to focus on other essential aspects of your business. ALLOWS REAL ESTATE AGENTS TO EFFICIENTLY COMMUNICATE WITH CLIENTS AR-enabled mobile applications can help in bringing efficient communication with clients. With just a few taps, clients can view a 360-degree AR model of a particular apartment, house, or property of their interest virtually. They can browse, compare, and analyze different properties, Meanwhile, real estate agents can easily augment the virtual instruction of every property detail in much greater detail. Although metaverse properties are all the rage, they're highly speculative assets. The metaverse market could plummet at any time, leaving you with worthless virtual real estate. Please invest responsibly. Originally Published on Medium.
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
51
w w w. e x e l e o n m a g a z i n e . c o m
