Majority of any form of leadership is gaining experiences and learning through it. Christian Ross, a pioneering broker in Atlanta, leveraged her experiences working with varying clients to create her unique identity and reputation in the market.
Today, the top-selling broker is making inroads in the market as an influential leader. In this Exclusive Interview, Christian Ross talks about her journey and the real estate market.
What according to you makes for a powerful woman?
A powerful woman is one that genuinely cares. She cares about herself, her community, and is always seeing where she can create bridges. A powerful woman is always respectful of different views and separates herself from ego. Every day I make intentional efforts to be impactful and be a reflection of all the incredible women that have poured into me.
Talk to us about your growing up years. What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the real estate space?
I was out of college and working a corporate role with radio stations in the top 10 markets. My interest came from my neighbor at my first apartment out of college. He had a friend that owned a commercial development firm and said he was looking for an assistant.
After I interviewed to find out more and saw the developments they were working on, I was in. I had my corporate AmEx card, 401k and my mom said, you have a job, this doesn’t sound smart. I told her if I don’t do it now, when would I do it? I put my two weeks in and started my journey into real estate. To this day my mother says, “I’m glad you didn’t listen to me.”
What has been the approach followed by you to ensure optimal buying and selling experience for your clients?
My approach is client centered every step of the way. I want my clients to have the best experience and feel educated through the process. I have a team that helps me sweat the details, so we manage their transaction with knowledge of the market and sensitivity that this is a large financial transaction. In addition to real estate investments, my husband and I have purchased 8 homes together.
What does a day in the life of Christian Ross look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?
Every single day is different. I ensure work-life balance by taking breaks throughout the day. Most days I have client check ins, follow up, 1- 3 virtual and in person events, marketing reviews, negotiations, as well as speaking or hosting.
I used to work most weekends for years and now I work maybe one weekend day a month with clients, but I am still working on my laptop or making calls. My husband is my biggest supporter. We have been married for 16 years and it is important that I invest my attention to him like I do for my clients. When I first started my career, I sacrificed a lot of that instead of creating boundaries up front with clients.
Looking at your journey, what would you have done differently if you were to start again?
If I were to start again, I would not hop from CRM to CRM. Your customer relationship management tool is your pipeline and your reminder system. You don’t want to break the links that are directly tied to you remaining top of mind and creating income.
What has been the biggest challenges you have faced during this journey?
The biggest challenge was the downturn of the real estate market during the Great Recession. I had nine clients in my pipeline to close and overnight, one person qualified. Home values plummeted and we were doing the same amount of work at minimum wage but with way higher expenses like gas, marketing, etc. It created an opportunity for me to work with international investors and with that I started selling real estate to clients from over 27 countries. No matter what challenge comes your way, think your way through it and execute.
What would be your advice for emerging and aspiring women leaders in the industry?
Understand your superpowers and delegate. Delegating allows you to leverage your time to create the life that you want. Do not aspire to some Instagram “reality.” Understand the income and goals that you want and create a plan for that. Work your numbers backwards, include all of your expenses and always add 15-20% on top of any number you think you require to live your lifestyle.
Finally, what does the future look like for you, both professionally and personally?
I will continue to invest in real estate and hand-off more opportunities to my team with a commitment to our same service level.
Personally, I will have extended periods abroad and work on expanding my business, Happy Talks, that was born from my experience in real estate, but is not real estate related.
Contact Christian Ross on LinkedIn.
