SOARING TO THE TOP

KATHERINE KARVELAS, a broker with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, is ranked among the top 1 percent of brokers throughout the Chicago area and within the top 1.5 percent nationwide. She is a passionate, high-impact leader with a trail of accolades and record-breaking sales. Karvelas serves as a sitting member of the University of Chicago Hinsdale Hospital Foundation Board, advises startups, and supports local nonprofits.

What’s the greatest risk you’ve taken as a professional? The greatest risk that proved to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made was transitioning into real estate. While I was no stranger to business and leadership, leaving the education sector and the security it provided was terrifying, yet a risk I was ready to take. Never resting on my laurels, I committed to learning from my previous experiences both as a professional and serial entrepreneur and never looked back.

What is the most important characteristic of an effective leader? To lead effectively, a leader must trust themselves and always maintain a positive outlook. We don’t win or lose; we win or learn. They must be a negotiator, think creatively and collaboratively, be a lifelong learner, and commit to their own success and development and to the success of others.

What meaningful lesson did you learn in your first job? Trust yourself first. Respect your superiors and learn from them, but never assume they always know better. For some, it takes time to come into your own and trust yourself, your instincts, and the knowledge and intellect you never knew you had until a defining moment or turning point. Take the time to listen and reflect. Don’t rush. Trust yourself.

For more information, visit katherinekarvelas.com.