Lauren Carroll has quickly established herself as a modern force in the Brookline and Newton real estate market.

Lauren’s first priority is to meet the goals and expectations of her clients; she brings a strong dedication and attentiveness to everyone who works with her through the buying and selling process. Her expert knowledge of the marketplace as well as home staging, and a wealth of top-notch organizational skills help her clients show their homes in the best possible light when being offered for sale.

With a strong background in marketing and customer service, Lauren’s excellent communications skills, attention to detail and engaging personality bring superior quality to her clients’ experience. After spending several years in the corporate leasing of major area shopping malls, she began her career in residential sales where she continues to bring a strong dedication and attentiveness to ensure her clients’ satisfaction from start to finish.

Lauren is sharing what the word “empower” means to her with The Corporate Escapists.

Thank you for joining us here at The Corporate Escapists. Please introduce yourself to our readers. They would love to know about you, your passion, and how you came to find and follow your passion.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Miami, I began my first experience in commercial real estate, working as a leasing agent for a company that owned and operated many shopping malls across the country.

As soon as my husband and I had a baby, the corporate work style was no longer compatible with starting our growing family. It was evident to me that if I wanted to be a mom the way I aspired to be, while still working, I had to find a way that wasn’t so corporate-driven. So I sought out residential real estate sales after being inspired by a friend of the family and it was the best decision I ever made.

As a successful entrepreneur please share your viewpoint if you believe that entrepreneurs are born or made?

Both could be true. If you are destined to be an independent entrepreneur because you have a passion that can be profitable, then I think that’s the type of entrepreneur that is born. Those are the ones who are lucky enough to wake up every day and do what they love. They tend to have a more precise and focused goal.

In terms of entrepreneurs who are made, I believe this is more about people who tried other careers, more corporate positions, and later found that it is better to be their own boss to establish their own identity in business.

Nelson Mandela once quoted – ‘I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’  What has been one fear you have overcome?

Tell us what the word “empower” means to you?

In my opinion, empower has two strong motives behind it. The first is having the ability to support and build up the people who work for you or with you. This creates change in a positive way for everyone that can circle back on continued success of your business.

The second is providing this outside of work and into your community. It allows them to be able to help others accomplish their goals while making a difference to so many people in your community and generating meaningful relationships.

What has been one of the biggest business ideas you have had and how did you have the courage to implement it?

My team and I had set our minds on showcasing our business on an exclusive and well known billboard area next to the main highway. Usually, it would only consist of major corporations that would advertise their business. However, I was determined to have that be our new location to share my business with the larger community. Mind you this area was perfect as it would be seen by many families that lived outside the city.

No one has ever taken this risk, let alone the expense. But after a year and a half, we finally got it! While it was one of the hardest challenges I’ve had to face, I would not give up no matter how long it took and by doing so it made the business stand out (due to it being so unique) and provided a great buzz for the company.

Running your own business can be scary.  Success requires moments of courage to push through to the next level, please tell us one of the moments you have had to push through to take your business to the next level?

As a new entrepreneur, it’s important to remember that no matter how successful your business becomes, there should always be some level of concern.

There are times when you may feel fear, but this can serve as motivation to get you through some of the more challenging times. There is no need to focus on the negative when managing your business, but if you lose the sense of protection or growth, if you become complacent, those are the moments your business is most vulnerable.

My profession has had times in the past when the stability of clientele is bleak, such as during war times, a bear market, or a virus outbreak. In the face of uncertainty, you need to have the confidence that markets change, they always change, and you need to be able to weather that storm. My job requires (which I love!) me to help them with their life changes, and any world events might cause the whole community to become more cautious.

Tell us what attributes you feel make a good leader in business today?

The top three I would recommend would be:

1. Exceptional Listening Skills. In any business, the most important thing is to be able to hear how the client wants to be represented. Business interactions are situational, and everyone’s needs and wants are different, so if you cannot accommodate that appropriately as a boss lady, then it will be hard to succeed.

2. Empathy. In a professional setting, people often forget to have compassion for their clients and other businesses they are interested in, which can have a significant impact on their relationship with the person they are dealing with.

3. Business Commitment. If you’re running your own company or business as a mother or caretaker, you have to squeeze two full days of work into one. You have to be able to take care of the people you love and also the people you are interacting with at work. The days can be long, but the effort is worth it.

What is your favourite quote about empowerment?

“Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourself in a way that others might not see you simply because they’ve never seen it before”

~Kamala Harris

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start their own business?

A brand or business can be created in so many ways, including starting from scratch that has never been done before or stepping into a role that already exists. However, it is you find yourself beginning this new venture, being an entrepreneur is about building a system and structure that is unique to the company and to you as the owner. Always keep that in mind. It is essential for anyone considering starting their own business to develop a clear understanding of the various steps they need to take to achieve their goals that will ultimately help their business grow.

What would be one (1) question you would you ask the person who most inspires you?  Also, share with us about this person and why they inspire you?

Karen Kennedy, who also lives in my area, has been an exceptional mentor to me.

My first hand experience of her tenacious drive in real estate inspired me to believe I could also have a successful career one day.

Having shadowed her early on in my career, she provided me with valuable advice, especially on what you should and shouldn’t do in this industry.

If I could ask her one question based on her 30-plus year career, it would be “what is the one thing that made you stand out in our real estate work environment?”

You can connect with Lauren right here on Instagram.