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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Erin Nakano: 20 in Their 20s (Young & Prosperous)

Manager of Operations & Business Development Century 21 Peak, Woodland Hills Age: 26 She worked as a marketing assistant for a music industry company and in public relations before transitioning into the real estate industry. At residential brokerage Century 21 Peak, she has overseen the sale of $3 million-plus homes in the San Fernando Valley market. Biggest Accomplishment: Just under four years ago, I started off with my company, Peak Realty Co, now Century 21 Peak, as a part-time minimum wage employee. Within a short amount of time, I was lucky to have received numerous opportunities for growth. I now manage two office locations, Woodland Hills and Granada Hills, oversee 500-plus real estate agents and 30-plus employees. Most Memorable Experience: Acquiring our first real estate office. At the time, I had just shifted my focus away from marketing and towards the administrative side of real estate. I was tasked with making sure that we successfully learned about the incoming company, how they operate, what their agents needs are, finding ways to integrate and learn from both parties involved. I found a passion for mergers and acquisitions throughout this process. Since then, I have overseen five additional real estate office acquisitions. Most Interesting Aspect of Job: The variety of work. Each day, a new task arises that I need to take on, a new question is asked that I haven’t heard before, and a new obstacle is thrown my way that I need to overcome. Some days I am opening a new office location, other days I am sitting coaching an agent, others I am interviewing new employees. Personality on the Job: My job requires working with a large variety of people in different positions with different personalities and different goals. I have a very amiable personality and am able to adjust to and work with different personality types on a regular basis. While I am very agreeable, the real estate industry is not for the faint of heart. You must be motivated, have a strong work ethic, and be tenacious to succeed in this business.  Biggest challenge? My age. Typically, in the real estate industry, years of experience is directly tied to job position, and, in turn, your age. Most owners, brokers and managers are double my age and this challenges me to prove to them that I have just as much knowledge and deserve to be where I am.  Career Advice: Stay open minded to new opportunities in your life, regardless of if they are in the industry you think you want to pursue or not. I would not be where I am today without opening my mind to a completely new and different path. I have been lucky enough to find a company that has many opportunities for growth and has taken the time to teach me and help me grow. If you do not have these opportunities readily available, go out and find them or create them for yourself.

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