Karine Doche is a real estate broker for Sotheby’s International Realty Quebec with a keen eye for property in the neighbourhood of Old Montreal. Her advice to young professionals? Do what you love. No compromise.
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I am a real estate broker at Sotheby’s International Realty Quebec.
Why did you start working at your company?
I chose to work for Sotheby’s Realty for the same reason women choose to wear Prada and men choose to drive luxury sports cars; Sotheby’s International Realty is the quintessential luxury real estate brand.
What was the inspiration for this career route?
After graduating from university I decided to do what any business graduate aspires. I worked for a few multinational companies where I hoped to become a powerful executive. After a few years in the corporate world, I realized that it was simply no match for me. On a warm fall day, I was walking around Old Montreal with a dear friend expressing my frustration at work. He gave me fantastic advice, saying, “Karine, we have been walking around for one hour now and on every street corner you say hello to someone. You have friends everywhere. Go into a PR-inspired line of work.”
That conversation made me realize that in my next career move I would have to capitalize on my network of friends and acquaintances. Since my mother had been in the real estate business for so long, the answer was clear and simple.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis?
Interacting and meeting a variety of fascinating people every day. I love that every person I know always wants to talk about real estate, it seems to be a topic that really intrigues people.
The most challenging part?
Sometimes people’s reason for buying or selling a property can be a happy story, such as a couple getting married, having a child and needing a bigger house. When it’s a sad story like a divorce or a break up, it can be quite a challenge to deal with people’s emotions. I always try my best to make these clients realize change is always good and better things are yet to come.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I would like to be the hip and cool reference for real estate in my beautiful city of Montreal.
What does success look like to you?
To me, success in real estate is all about growing your business through referrals, and by that I mean through my circle of friends. If you make a sale, you make a commission, but if you make a friend, you make a fortune.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
One evening I was having dinner with a group of friends in a restaurant in my neighbourhood of Old Montreal. I overheard the conversation at the table next to ours. They were discussing real estate and my name came up. It made me proud to know that I am becoming a household name around this area.
It’s things like this that keep me motivated and always hustling.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Do what you love. No compromise.
Do you support any charities?
Yes I support charities in my own way by attending as many events and fundraisers as I can.
What to you is notable?
My mother for being an inspiration in my professional and personal life.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
iPhone, iPad and soon iMac. It’s all about the iCloud…
Describe your ideal retirement: how old will you be and how do you plan on spending your retirement years? (Sponsored by the TD Redefine Retirement Contest)
Being a real estate broker is running your own business. In all honesty, the idea of retirement never occurred to me and perhaps that’s because I am still young, full of energy and ambition. To me, keeping active is keeping youthful. I love so much what I do that it doesn’t even seem like work and I feel extremely blessed to have chosen a career path which fulfills me in so many ways.
What are you looking forward to most about retiring? (Sponsored by the TD Redefine Retirement Contest)
Donald Trump once said: “to retire is to expire.” And I feel the same way. I love what I’m doing and for as long as I love what I’m doing, I won’t retire.