Yahoo Finance Taking Charge, Embracing Change and Redefining Success
Former management consultant Veann Lee uses her expertise to reinvent her approach to real estate.
Embarking on a mid-career switch is to venture into uncharted territory in a journey filled with a mix of trepidation and exhilaration. Veann Lee, a former consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), reached an inflection point in her career when she decided a change was needed to reclaim autonomy of her life. She bid farewell to the familiar, diving into the world of real estate with her years of invaluable knowledge and expertise in management consulting.
“Although I excelled in and thoroughly enjoyed the field of management consulting, I found myself drained by the demanding hours and constant travels,” she recounts. “I had to give too much of myself to the job to enjoy my life outside of it.”
In 2022, she gained notable acclaim at ERA Realty Network, ranking in the top 1% of agents. She secured consecutive Rising Millionaire wins along with ERA Asia Pacific Elite and Service Excellence Awards.
Her journey into real estate was not a deliberate plan, but rather a fortuitous turn of events. The year she started out was also when multiple rounds of cooling measures were introduced, sending shockwaves through the property market. “During my early days as a rookie, I faced significant challenges and frequently doubted my chosen career path. I had to constantly remind myself that what I lacked in experience I made up with enthusiasm,” she recalls.
With a resilient mindset and a strong understanding of what her customers need, honed from her previous role, she was able to overcome these challenges. Today, those initial concerns of committing “career suicide” have been assuaged, as she now regards the decision as one of the best choices she has made, setting the stage for an illustrious career thus far, charting a course for greater purpose and meaning.
Lee has redefined what success means through her vocation as a real estate agent and mentor to budding agents. Her remarkable achievements in the industry have been recognised through the years: She proudly claimed her place among the top 1% of ERA Realty Network’s agents in 2022, when she was awarded Rising Millionaire for the second year in a row, as well as the ERA Asia Pacific Elite and Service Excellence Awards.
An authentic connection with clients
Lee’s background means that she has a unique skill-set that adds value to her clients’ experiences by harnessing technological and data-crunching abilities to excel in the real estate industry.
She is able to leverage technology to enhance efficiency and provide clients with up-to-date market insights, while her ability to digest complex data and present relevant facts without overwhelming her clients helps them to make informed decisions. Furthermore, her experience in managing stakeholder expectations and thinking several steps ahead at all times enables her to navigate real estate transactions with finesse.
Lee also understands the importance of embracing authenticity in the real estate business. By embodying her true self and her ability to empathise and understand clients’ goals, she has developed genuine connections with her clients and built lasting relationships based on trust and mutual respect.
As a result, Lee says her biggest achievement is the positive impact she has had on her clients’ lives. For her, success is not just about financial gains and winning awards but also about helping people unlock their life potential through real estate. She believes that good karma comes from positively influencing someone’s life — one person, one family and one home at a time — which is satisfying in itself.
By combining digital tools with a human touch, Lee offers a comprehensive and modern approach that meets the evolving needs of her clients. “My strength comes from building rapport and trust with clients naturally and willingly. Prospective clients who come to me are heard, seen and understood right from the initial meet-up,” she shares.
“Each individual’s personal value or success should not solely be measured by financial or monetary metrics. Instead, I measure success from the organic growth and recognition of repeat customers who truly believe they have benefited from my service and guidance, “ she adds.
Veann with her mentor, Eric Goh, after receiving her award.
She attributes this perspective to her ERA mentors, Eric Goh and Tracy Teo, two of the most “natural entrepreneurs” in the trade she has had the privilege to work with. Early on, Goh and Teo encouraged her to boldly put her intentions out into the world, emphasising the importance of being proactive in pursuing any goals she sets her mind to.
“They both have such tenacious mindsets, teaching me to turn setbacks into stepping stones — what’s in the way shall become the way,” says Lee.
Embracing a positive mindset and social media to expand educational outreach
As rosy as the picture of her career in the real estate business may now seem, the reality is that her journey in the industry had its fair share of challenges and was unlike anything she had experienced before. “It was challenging in the beginning, particularly due to the dynamic nature of real estate transactions. In this industry, circumstances can shift rapidly so we need to be adaptable all the time,” says Lee.
“My strength comes from building rapport and trust with clients naturally and willingly. Prospective clients who come to me are heard, seen and understood right from the initial meet-up,” - Veann Lee
“I found myself needing to persist with unwavering determination and continue progressing despite any hurdles,” she adds. “Through consistent self-affirmation of my ability to embrace change and maintain adaptability, I successfully adjusted to the ever-changing demands of the role.”
For instance, she has developed an online presence by adding social media to her repertoire, narrowing the gap between herself and clients. This allows her to reach a wider client base, with the enhanced outreach benefiting existing clients too as sales are pushed through more quickly.
With social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook growing in popularity, this has made it natural for real estate agents like her to feel pressured to keep up with the influencers who often beat them in terms of online engagement. “But we aren’t influencers and shouldn’t compare ourselves with them — we are a different kind of public figure,” she reasons.
“As experts in our domain, we require the technical nous as well as quick wits to understand macro and micro daily news that impacts our clients and their unique situations, and convey these messages through social media,” adds Lee.
She regards these platforms merely as tools and channels through which she can effectively extend her knowledge to a broader audience, even though the prospect of public perception can be daunting at times. Through interactions on both online and in-person, she has cultivated trust by delivering personalised guidance and assistance that cater to the distinct requirements of every individual client.
From mentee to mentor
This outlook on success and Lee’s impressive list of achievements speak of her ability to translate her competence at personal relationships with clients into successful property transactions. Presently, as a team leader and mentor, she is enthusiastic about passing on these skills and teachings to aspiring real estate agents. She accomplishes this by sharing her wisdom and motivating young agents to rethink their approach, fostering creativity through the integration of fresh concepts.
Motivated by a genuine desire to uplift people around her, whether clients or new agents, she selflessly commits to the "invisible work" of laying foundations for their growth and success.
In her leadership, she prioritises a spirit of generosity and a hands-on approach to any prospects or clients, while building resilient mindsets such that challenges can be turned into opportunities. She holds the conviction that by adopting a multi-faceted approach and thinking out of the box, aspiring agents can expand their horizons and reinvent the industry. In essence, Lee’s approach fosters a nurturing environment that promotes growth and cultivates a sense of community among new entrants.
Her genuine desire to make a positive influence on the people around her, whether that be clients-turned-friends or new agents looking for direction, means that she is willing to be an unsung hero, putting in the “invisible work” required to lay a firm foundation for the future growth of those around her.
A decade later, Lee is still continually inspired by her customers — to improve and grow. “Everyone only sees the successful years,” she says. “But how you do one thing is how you do everything. Whatever you do, make it fun and meaningful.”
For more information,
Contact Veann Lee | 83232423
Branch Division Director (R050685D)
ERA REALTY NETWORK PTE LTD
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