Features

SARAH ELDER LYONS a broker with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate in Winnetka, loves selling real estate on the North Shore because she believes in the community where she raised her own family. Heading into her 20th year in real estate, she has achieved almost every accolade possible, including being recognized as one of The Wall Street Journal’s RealTrends “Top Real Estate 1.5 percent of 1.6 Million Brokers in America.” She also ranks in the top 5 percent by the North Shore Board of REALTORS®. A proud North Shore resident, Lyons has been giving back for 20 years through volunteer work with the Rush University Medical Center Auxiliary Woman’s Board. However, she says her greatest accomplishment is her three successful, strong, young daughters—Elizabeth, Gabrielle, and Alexandra. “My family has thrived on the North Shore,” she says. “My goal is to help you and your family find the happiness that is possible here.”

Most rewarding part of what you do? Helping individuals and families in purchasing their largest financial investment, helping them discover their dream homes, which are essential for their happiness, success, and overall well-being.

How should women support other women? Always be their biggest cheerleader in all their endeavors. Not knock their crown off—rather help fix it!

How do you inspire others? I like to think my positivity in all situations— find the good—keep the faith mindset. Never ever give up. I also try to live my best life each day because tomorrow isn’t a given.

Definition of success? My definition of success is my children’s love and successes. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do will matter very much.”

For more information, visit atproperties.com/agents/2460/sarah-elder-lyons and follow @sarahelderlyons on Instagram.

It’s no wonder that LAUREN SCHIFFERDECKER, LCPC, was named “The Most Influential Woman Entrepreneur Thriving in the Healthcare System” by Healthcare Insights magazine. This CEO and founder of Inspire Counseling Center, with locations in Kenilworth, Lake Forest, Northbrook, and Evanston, is also a best-selling author and speaker. Inspire Counseling Center is known for providing high-end psychiatry and counseling services for kids, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Beyond Inspire, Schifferdecker is a TEDx speaker, author of She’s Not Crazy: Dare to Understand Your Feminine Power, and founder of a nonprofit, Inspire Change for Mental Health. A proud wife and mom, those close to her know she has a big heart and loves to laugh while also serving others and making a difference in her community.

Most rewarding part of what you do? When someone stops me on the street to tell me how their life, or their child’s life, has changed because of their time at Inspire. That is what fuels me to work harder each and every day.

How should women support other women? Remember that one woman’s success leads to another woman’s success. When we can allow other women to inspire us, it serves us more than we’ll ever know. Women are a formidable force when we’re connected.

How do you inspire others? My gift is that I can see the good in anyone. When people feel seen and loved, the whole world opens up for their potential and possibilities.

Definition of success? Having the guts to try something that scares you. Success is trying.

Greatest risk you’ve taken as a professional? Opening a new location. Each time it is extremely exciting and scary, but I’m passionate about making mental health convenient, affordable, and part of the community.

For more information, visit inspirecounselingcenter.com, follow @inspire_counseling on Instagram, and Inspirecounselingcenter on Facebook.

JODY DICKSTEIN with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate is known as the “Luxury Home Lister,” not only for the homes she lists but by giving her clients the concierge service they are accustomed to. She specializes in homes ranging from $500,000 to $10 million and has cultivated expertise on the North Shore. A highly skilled stager, she also has the ability to do home makeovers for her clients. Dickstein has 24 years as a top listing agent and in 2021 was named a Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Real Estate Broker. She is also among the top 50 Chicago brokers and in the top 1 percent in residential sales volume for @properties Christie’s International Real Estate.

Most rewarding part of what you do? I love working in real estate. I enjoy being with different people all the time. At the end of a sales transaction, I really enjoy seeing the seller or buyer thrilled with the process instead of stressed. I have worked with many clients who have become my friends. This is rewarding and I personally care about all of my clients.

Definition of success? Success in my opinion is family. I am blessed with a large family and extended family. We all care about each other and laugh a lot. It’s not about money and things, it’s about love.

Best piece of advice for anyone starting out? I would let new agents know that they should become familiar with the market they want to be in. Real estate sales take time when you are new, so hang in there. Try teaming up with a real estate professional. Ask your friends and family for referrals. Work daily to build trust with your clients. It’s all about learning and being smart about the market.

For more information, visit thedicksteingroup.com.

KATHERINE KOPKASH, M.D. FACS, is the Director of Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery for Endeavor Health and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Illinois before completing her medical school and surgery residency at Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Kopkash also did a fellowship in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery at the University of Southern California. “I have been in practice for over a decade as an academic breast cancer surgeon and my research interests focus on innovation in breast cancer surgery,” she explains. “I am the Principal Investigator for two ground-breaking national clinical trials that are using the robotic approach for nipple-sparing mastectomies and reconstruction.”

Most rewarding part of what you do? I truly enjoy educating my patients on all of their options and then helping them choose the right treatment plan that honors their health goals. Nothing is more rewarding than performing a cancer surgery with an excellent oncologic outcome that provides my patient with a beautiful cosmetic result.

Definition of success? Success is living a life you can be proud of. For me that means doing good work, surrounding myself with people I love, and continuously growing and improving as a human. Best piece of advice for anyone starting out? You only get one life so make it worth it. There is no shame in trying your best and failing. Life is such a great adventure and we never know what the future holds. Don’t be afraid to make bold moves!

Traits you think great leaders possess? A great leader has a clear vision for the future and they encourage their team to function at the highest level to work towards achieving that goal.

For more information, visit northshore.org.

We never know where our early work experiences will lead us. The college sophomore flipping burgers for the summer could well decide to become a chef. The high schooler babysitting on the weekends may find a career in early childhood development. For Alicia LeBeouf, fond memories of convincing strangers to buy Girl Scout Cookies ignited her interest in sales and commerce. “I loved the transaction between the buyer and seller and convincing people that a Girl Scout Cookie was the product missing from their lives at that moment.” Following her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, LeBeouf started her career in the Charlotte mayor’s office recruiting companies to hire at-risk youth as summer interns. To make extra money on the weekend, she took a job on the sales floor of Banana Republic. “Early on,” she recalls, “I only treated my retail job as a side gig, but the nostalgia of selling, running a business, and merchandising reminded me of my Girl Scout days. Since the heart of retail is about people and providing customer service, I knew my experience building an internship program would translate well into the retail industry.” After a random encounter with a recruiter during the financial crisis in 2008, LeBeouf left the familiarity of working in local government to pursue her passion—connecting people with products.

For more than a decade, LeBeouf has been a leader in the corporate suite, first at Target—in a variety of roles spanning corporate security, store operations, strategy, and supplier diversity— and now at Meta, where she leads a national team as the Head of Retail & Ecommerce, a revenue-generating division that supports digital advertising and commerce for the largest retailers in the country. “I am responsible for helping big box retailers, grocers, and marketplaces leverage our family suite of apps—Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp—to advertise, engage consumers, and conduct commerce,” she explains. “Ultimately, I am working with retailers to help them better understand the role that ‘social media’ and digital can play in driving profitable growth.”

The way we shop has changed dramatically since Amazon kicked into high gear in the early 2000s. Because of the pandemic, even traditional in-store shoppers who had never placed an online order found themselves embracing technology to discover and shop. “While many of those consumers have returned to shopping in physical stores,” observes LeBeouf, “brands are learning to meet customers where they are and create a multi-channel experience that allows people to shop when, where, and how they want to and on their terms. That could mean a weekly visit to your local grocery store, or a midnight impulse buy while scrolling Instagram. Embracing digital allows brands to stay competitive and extend their relationship with consumers beyond the aisles of a store.”

While a number of retailers have closed stores and scaled back expansion plans, LeBeouf doesn’t see stores disappearing completely anytime soon. “I believe retailers need to be strategic about where they have physical stores and capitalize on locations where they are getting ideal foot traffic,” she notes. “And there are some departments within stores that desperately need to be reimagined— like electronics—so that every footprint of the real estate is intentional and driving sales. Ultimately, the customer journey online and in the store needs to be complementary and retailers should invest in the infrastructure to be great at both.”

Well into her career, LeBeouf remains keenly engaged with her work, thrilled by the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. “We are at such an exciting and transformational time in retail. Local malls used to be filled with only traditional retail stores, but now we are seeing direct-to-consumer brands build storefronts as a way to have a physical showroom to display merchandise. Legacy brands are forced to pivot to manage unprecedented operational challenges like labor shortages, inflation, and global supply chain issues. Convenience is king, and ‘fast fashion’ continues to win shopping baskets across America, especially for Gen Z and Millennials who embrace social media to discover and research products. Creators are the new currency to build brand affinity, and several businesses are testing artificial intelligence capabilities to drive operational efficiency. All these shifts require businesses to innovate and adapt quickly to stay competitive.”

LeBeouf grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where her father started as one of the few Black engineers at IBM in the 1970s and her mother worked in insurance. Her parents have been married for 48 years and raised three children (LeBeouf is the middle child). LeBeouf describes herself as a true Southern girl who loves hosting and usually welcomes guests with freshly baked pound cake when they come to visit. “My childhood was filled with family vacations to the Carolina coasts, visits to grandparents, and church,” she shares. “Achievement was always an expectation, and I knew failure and laziness were not an option. I loved learning and in school, I gravitated toward student council, Girl Scouts, and clubs that focused on leadership and entrepreneurship.”

LeBeouf moved to Minneapolis for Target, then had a small stint back in Charlotte before moving to the Chicago area almost four years ago to join Meta. Her husband, Marcus LeBeouf, simultaneously became the first general counsel for the Chicago Blackhawks. “After searching for a home for a few months,” says the mother of two, “we visited Wilmette and immediately fell in love with the area. With its cobblestone streets and greenery, it reminds me of my Southern roots and the community is amazing. The Wilmette neighborhood has several gems that have become part of my weekly routine. I love meeting my trainer at Redefined Fitness and taking my son, Marcus (8), and daughter, Sydney (6), to the Wilmette Public Library.” Not surprisingly, with a busy job and young children, LeBeouf prioritizes convenience and does most of her shopping online—perhaps even coming full circle by buying from a Virtual Girl Scout Cookie Booth.