Alumna Profile: Courtney Travin ’13

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“I really had a great experience at Forman, I’m really grateful for it.”

Courtney Travin ’13 gained an appreciation for homes at an early age. Courtney’s mother is an interior designer and her parents flipped houses often bringing her along as they sought out their next project. Today, Courtney has found her own niche; she is among the youngest members of the Serhant Team, an NYC-based, bi-coastal real estate group that is consistently ranked the number one sales team in New York. Courtney was born and raised in New York with her early childhood taking place in New York City and later in Scarsdale, where she says “it was really nice to have a backyard.” When she was in high school, her family moved back to Manhattan, the place she still calls home. She attended middle school at Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, CT, an independent school for children with language-based learning differences. It was at the start of high school, however, when she faced challenges in the classroom. After Eagle Hill, Courtney went on to Edgemont High School, a public school in Scarsdale, but was quickly overwhelmed with its large class sizes. Realizing the need for a better environment for her learning difference, she visited Forman School, where several of her Eagle Hill classmates had been attending. After a tour of the School, she

Noel Robbins Congdon ’46

Courtney Travin ’13 with Ryan Serhant, real estate broker, author, and reality television actor.

“fell in love with Forman” and enrolled for the second half of her freshman year. “I definitely needed the small classes [and] the more hands-on approach to learning and Forman was all of that,” Courtney says. “They gave me the tools to work with my learning disability.” Forman’s approach to learning was a welcomed change for Courtney. “All of the teachers were great, the leadership was awesome, and the classes being so small really helped me grow

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and really learn and actually learn,” she adds. “[When I was at] public school, information went in one ear and out the other. At Forman, the information really stuck.” In particular, an English class with Mr. Poor became her favorite. “He chose amazing books to read and really explained the material and went over any questions and he really made sure I understood it,” she says. “He was a great mentor in that.” Courtney played tennis and soccer, and for a short time, ran on the cross country team. But it was the “community aspect of Forman” that made her time as a student memorable. When she was not in the classroom or on the court, she enjoyed spending time with friends on the Green and in the dorms and getting to know her teachers. “Everyone knew each other and cared what was going on in your life,” she says. “It really made a difference how small the community was.” Life after Forman was a journey for Courtney. She studied Sociology at the College of Charleston, SC, and explored different career paths before finding her current focus.

“There were definitely ups and downs in learning what works best for me,” Courtney says. “I tried [public relations] but with my learning disability I’m terrible at writing, so that didn’t work for me and then I shadowed someone in real estate and I loved it because it emphasized what I’m really good at, working with people.” She started her career in real estate as an assistant at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, though it took off when she was personally contacted by Ryan Serhant, leading member of the Serhant Team and star of Bravo’s television series Million Dollar Listing New York, to work on a new development project on the West Side. She landed and sold that listing, and is now a co-lister on another new development, 101 West 14th Street, which contains 44 units designed by architect ODA New York and developed by Gemini Rosemont. As she stands on the construction site of the 13-story building, Courtney says her passion lies in selling new properties. “I really love new development. I do resale as well, but new development has really become my niche. I love watching the project come full circle, watching it grow,” she says. “[New development] is where I thrive and where I’d like to stay.” Courtney also says that she takes a hands-on approach to her listings and draws inspiration from her mother’s interior design background, most recently during the staging process of two units at 101 West 14th Street. In her limited spare time, Courtney enjoys playing tennis, staying active, and exploring all that New York City has to offer. At just 26 years old, though, she works hard to make a name for herself in what she calls “a very competitive industry.” “When I started in the industry, I didn’t see anyone around my age selling,” she says, adding that her age does not deter her efforts. “I’m very personable so I become friends with my clients, my buyers, so they trust me. Co-workers might look down … might say ‘she’s new to the industry,’ but at the end of the day, I keep doing me and I keep working ... I just keep grinding.” Courtney has applied the lessons and tools she acquired at Forman throughout her career, ultimately discovering her strengths and attaining success. “I’ve definitely learned what you put into something is what you get out of it, definitely in real estate,” she says. “[From] Forman, it doesn’t come easily, but if you keep pushing and if you want something, there’s no limit.” As she reflects on her experience at Forman School and beyond, she encourages current students to “take every day one day at a time” and to believe in themselves. She adds, “With a learning disability, you will develop a skill that most people never will; the ability to adapt and evolve in any environment and find a way to make it work.”

Alexa Liddle ’13, Courtney Travin ’13, and Olivia Lutz ’13