Unfortunately, the statistics tell the objective truth that gender inequality and bias still exists in the real estate industry, particularly at the upper echelon of management. I stand on the shoulders of strong, successful women, like Barbara Corcoran, who have broken gender barriers and paved the way for women like me to forge a successful path in real estate. With that said, there is more work to be done and this effort is most effectively led by Women Leaders of Real Estate and other leadership networks where women show by example that there is no place for biases that stymie women’s advancement.
As a part of my series about strong women leaders of the Real Estate industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bonnie Heatzig.
Bonnie Heatzig of The Luxury Real Estate Authority, has sold more than $400 million in real estate and counting since becoming a realtor in 2004. She is a member of Florida Association of Realtors and Realtors of the Palm Beaches. She was recognized as the Top ½ of 1% of all realtors in Florida based on sales volume by Real Trends/Wall Street Journal in 2020. Bonnie’s unique skill set and nuanced experience representing clients, including A-list actors, entrepreneurs, business managers, and Fortune 100 executives, gives her the professional edge when working with ultra-high net worth clients from around the world. Bonnie received her bachelors degree in economics from Boston College and Juris Doctor degree from University of Connecticut Law School. She is a member of the Bar Associations in Florida, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Upon graduating from law school, she practiced with one of New England’s largest law firms, Robinson & Cole. After transferring to Miami, Bonnie became an attorney for South Florida Water Management District. She then served as General Counsel for one of the nation’s leading advertising agencies, Directional Ad-Vantage Holdings, LLC (d/b/a Smartlite), doing business in 48 states. She continues to advise them as an “Of Counsel” attorney.
Thank you for doing this with us! Can you tell us the “backstory” about what brought you to the Real Estate industry?
I was working full-time practicing law when my husband and I decided that we should consider selling our own home. After interviewing several top agents, I didn’t feel that they shared my passion for my house and that, to me, was such a critical piece of a salesperson’s job. If my agent didn’t love my property, how could they sell it for top dollar? I also researched properties where we could move once we sold our then-current home. I found the exercise challenging as I delved deep into searching for deals that beat the market. At the dinner table a few weeks later, I said, “Game on!” Real estate was my match! Not long after that Sunday night dinner, I followed my dream and pursued a career selling real estate where I knew I could make a value added contribution and make my mark!