• "Nokia had an awesome approach to staff treatment, particularly female staff. When I went on maternity leave with Nokia, before any paid parental leave was legally required in New Zealand, I received three months full pay and then three months half pay. They also had a wellbeing program with a weekly masseuse and fruit bowls in the kitchen."

  • "I started to feel the need for mental stimulation, so I went back to the University of Waikato and did a postgraduate marketing diploma. I really enjoyed it, and it helped me regain confidence, which can sometimes be lost as a stay-at-home parent."

  • "Steve kept telling me that if I worked as hard in real estate as I did at Fonterra, I'd be incredibly successful and make a lot of money. Finally, I decided to listen. I realised real estate is still marketing, but just a different product - property. I thought if I could apply my strategic marketing skills and experience, it could be interesting and something I could succeed in."

  • "Having that moral compass to look after people and do your best for them, coupled with the grit to keep going even when you get "slapped in the face," are not so much career-defining moments, but things I carried from past jobs that laid the foundation for my current success."

  • "Our job is to list and sell property for clients and I see many people get bogged down in social media marketing, or thinking coffees and lunches are the way to get clients. I'd focus more on getting properties to sell and doing an excellent job selling them, which then snowballs. A plan is essential for that success."

  • "If you're going to start very young (in real estate), I would strongly recommend working within a team; don't try to do it on your own, that's a mistake. You're much better off working with an experienced agent because you'll learn so much from them."

  • "You must also remember that it is commission-based, so if you're not making sales, you're making zero."

  • "For me, that's at the heart of what we do - helping people. This is one of my key drivers, more so than being the number one agent or earning a million dollars. It’s about the people and the connections."

  • "In our industry, you really need to look after yourself emotionally, mentally, and physically, otherwise, you won't survive or have the necessary natural resilience. Exercise is a massive stress relief and part of my life, helping me stay mentally fit for clients. "

  • "Looking after past clients often results in repeat business or referrals, which is massive. I also focus on networking with colleagues, not just in Hamilton but in other offices, which has been a real source of referral business."

  • "If you want an industry to practice difficult conversations, real estate is a good choice, because we practice it every day. Invariably, nine times out of ten, the seller wants a higher price than the market is prepared to pay, and most buyers want to get the property under its market value."

  • "I think it gives you a life education that's truly invaluable especially if you consider a career like real estate - spending time overseas and meeting new people is a useful part of your education. I would absolutely recommend an OE."

  • "I believe good food and cooking for your family are at the heart of what we could do to improve our society. Many people are totally disconnected from that, and if they had some basic skills in that area, it could be transformational, not just for them, but for future generations - their children and grandchildren."