Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilee Sutherland.
Hi Emilee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
With a background in event design, the pandemic hit my business hard. I had been planning weddings and events for 12 years. It’s what I knew. I went to school for Marketing & PR so I decided to take those skills I learned to explore other areas that I noticed were not as affected by covid than weddings. A dear friend happened to be expanding her Real Estate business around the same time and was looking to grow her marketing department. I thought this could be a great opportunity to expand my knowledge and learn something new. After doing Marketing for the real estate world for about a year, I was motivated to finish the courses and take the test to become licensed myself. I knew I could make it in this industry. I saw so many parallels to the event world. The hustle of being an entrepreneur, the walking clients from start to finish on a journey that is often the first time for them, the emotional roller coaster that is getting married or selling a home. Many of the skills I perfected directly translated to this new to me industry. And at the end of the day, I love connecting with people and I knew this was a great fit. And just this spring, I passed my test and now I am a licensed real estate agent in Pasadena, CA
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This was definitely not a smooth road. Obviously a lot of people made career shifts during the pandemic, so I’m not unique in that sense… but it was scary! I had done the same thing for so long. Change will always be scary. On top of it all, I was going through a heartbreaking divorce at the same time. It felt like with everything going on and so much loss in my life, I really needed a “win” and becoming a real estate agent was exactly that for me. Something I had achieved all on my own.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
So for the first time in a decade, I am a member of a team! I’m not the boss, I’m a team player – and I love it. I hang my license under the brokerage, The Agency which is a boutique luxury brokerage based in Beverly Hills and we have offices all over the globe. I am part of our Pasadena office. It is here that I am a licensed agent and team member for the Buigues DiVito team. I am so honored to be a part of this incredibly talented team. Between everyone, there is so much knowledge, experience, and diverse skills. I handle the marketing for the team, but we all support each other in different ways. While we are a luxury brokerage, we believe luxury isn’t a price point – it is an experience. So we handle transactions of all types. From probates to million-dollar listings and condos to leases. We do it all. With white glove service.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I would not be where I am today without the guidance, leadership, and mentorship of my boss, Carla Buigues. She believed in me when I barely believed in myself. She gave me a seat at the table. Not only that, she invested so much time and knowledge (30 years of experience!) teaching me the business. Not just the business… but how to be excellent in this business. She set a standard far above the norm and she continues to teach and guide our team today.
I am beyond grateful for my entire team. I love being on a team and the encouragement, the camaraderie is so valuable. This would be an entirely different experience if I was attempting to do this on my own.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/emilee.sutherland_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilee.sutherland/
