PARK CITY, UT—To build your brand, owning yourself is important, and it should happen from day one. So said Stephanie Gilezan, director of growth at eXp Commercial, at the GlobeSt.com national Women of Influence conference here in Park City, UT, as she discussed her journey getting to where she is today.
"The reason that I can be resilient is because I own my brand," she said. Gilezan began her commercial real estate career at just 21 years old and quickly became a force in the industry. After struggling to find a mentor who would commit the time to teaching her, she promised herself that she would dedicate her career to helping others.
That promise, she said, has shaped her entire approach to business. Today, Gilezan is a successful land developer, owns and operates a real estate team in the top 5% of producers in Kentucky and Indiana and is the director of growth at eXp Commercial, the commercial real estate division of eXp World Holdings, Inc.
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"It doesn't matter what is happening in the economic downturn, we all have the ability to pivot," she told the audience of more than 300 attendees. "You do what it takes to keep moving and going on."
Gilezan played an integral role in the launch of eXp Commercial in November 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While few are able to lead a business through a successful launch in the midst of a global pandemic and economic hardship, Gilezan's competitive instincts and resilient work ethic led her to accept the challenge. As a result of Gilezan's efforts, eXp Commercial has become one of the fastest-growing commercial real estate brokerages to ever launch.
"Those of us who are tough and who are resilient thrive," she said. "Don't be fearful to prove to someone who the heck you are."
Under Gilezan's guidance, no need goes unaddressed. One of her most recent efforts at eXp Commercial includes negotiating an exclusive partnership with Enriched Data to build an advanced data platform that allows eXp agents to complete broker price opinions and valuations on almost any property in the U.S. in minutes. Additionally, Gilezan is collaborating with leading global ESG experts to develop ESG scoring on properties in the U.S. so eXp agents will have the ability to perform ESG audits and scoring for property owners. "Just as credit scores drive the rate at which we borrow money, ESG scores will drive the rate at which we value property," Gilezan explained.
"My mission is to inspire and develop a younger and diverse generation to be able to have a successful career in CRE."
Check out other stories from the event below that you might have missed and stay tuned for more coverage.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
