‘Being a woman is your superpower’: Veteran agent’s advice for newcomers

“All the big hitters were all male: the licensee, the highest performing agents, the associates,” O’Connor said.

“There was a ‘bro code’ mentality and they were all part of the ‘boys club’.”

Back then, O’Connor remembered being one of the few female agents on the floor, with the rest of the ladies holding more administrative positions.

“It was challenging because as a woman I came to work hard and was very focused on my job – which they saw as a threat.”

Thankfully, O’Connor said the industry has now shifted, with more women entering and standing their ground.

Over time, she said the gender balance has changed and in her Ray White office in Annandale, more than half of the employees are female, including the two top-performing sales agents.

“Real estate is a level playing field for everyone because the harder you work, the luckier you get, and there’s no real gender pay gap. It’s all about opportunities,” O’Connor said.

“The harder you work, the better you become, and gender doesn’t matter.”

Even if the industry has changed over the years, O’Connor said that sometimes clients can see being a woman as a weakness.

“I try not to focus on that because everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and you can’t change how some people look at things – if someone is a chauvinist, you can’t change that.”

Despite the challenges, O’Connor has achieved chairman’s elite status, with a record $90 million in sales over 12 months, and has maintained the top spot on RateMyAgent in Annandale for six years, backed by over 289 five-star client reviews.

For International Women’s Day, O’Connor shares her lessons with female agents in the industry.

Use being a woman to your advantage

While being a woman isn’t a disadvantage, O’Connor believes it can become a “superpower”, especially in residential real estate.

She said while not all women or men fit specific roles, some women may have a better eye for presentation and empathy, particularly in residential real estate, which is driven by emotions and personal connections.

“Women are more intuitive, and biologically more geared towards catering to people’s emotions and feelings because we are nurturers.

“I believe this is a superpower. For example, when someone is unfamiliar with the transaction process, as women we can offer support and notice details that men might miss, focusing more on emotions than just problem-solving,” she said.

Align yourself with a successful agent

While O’Connor now has a successful career, she started with absolutely zero experience and had to carve her path.

“I started in sales with absolutely no experience, and I went straight away alone. I didn’t know what I was thinking, and if I had known how hard it would be, I probably wouldn’t have done it.”

“My advice to my younger self would be to align with a successful person,” O’Connor said.

She believes young professionals should align themselves with successful mentors, find a brand they are passionate about, even if it means working for little money.

“I remember my first job paying me two days a week while I worked six days a week – I just wanted to get experience.

“I wasn’t looking at it as a wage earner; I was looking at a career.”

She said successful new agents learn from more experienced ones and absorb all the information they can to develop their skills.

Don’t take things personally

While being in touch with their emotions can be a strength for women, O’Connor said it can also be a pitfall.

“The most successful women in real estate and women in business and sales are the ones that can take the rejection, know it’s not about them, and keep moving forward.”

She warned women in the industry not to take negative interactions personally, as they are not about them, and no one knows what is happening in their clients’ lives.

As a green agent, O’Connor remembered being treated poorly, only to have the same clients contact her months later, unaware of their past behaviour.

“I’ve had people scream at me, hang up on me, and shut the door on my face, but they don’t even realise who you are and won’t remember you the following week.”

“Whatever happens, it’s not about you. Don’t take it personally,” she said.

Spend money on your career

O’Connor’s last advice is for agents to invest in their career by continuously developing their skills.

She said agents who want to become successful should invest in their success by putting money into their growth and marketing.

“Work hard, don’t let rejection deter you, and believe in your abilities.”

“The saying, ‘Build it and they will come’, applies here – you know you can do the job, now you need to let people know – that’s where investing in marketing and promoting yourself becomes key,” she concluded.