Katie Kenny
- Real Estate Broker
- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck
School Information
School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2020-2022
Career Information
Working For: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck
Title: Real Estate Broker
Industry: Real estate
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
As a real estate agent, I assist buyers, sellers, and investors through the buying and selling process of residential/commercial real estate. I am an expert and trusted advisor on the real estate market for all of my clients, and I have to be constantly keeping up with the changes of the market. When working with a seller, I am responsible for listing the property at a competitive price, marketing that property, and seeing the transaction through until after closing. For my buyers, I am their guide in purchasing, investing, or renting a property. I am responsible for showing them properties, and using their criteria to find exactly what they are looking for. I maintain relationships with all of my clients after closing to ensure that they feel taken care. A home is the largest investment most people will ever make, and it is extremely important to me that the people I am working for feel valued in their time, money, and energy spent in the buying and selling process.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Being the happiest I have ever been in my entire life as a real estate agent, where my job is what I am excited for every single day.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting has given me the confidence and faith in myself to go after my goals, no matter how big they might seem.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
My College Works Painting experience helped me make the decision to go into real estate, rather than a typical 9-5. I have always been scared of falling victim to the rat race, and the confidence I gained from this internship allowed me to choose the best possible life for myself. My career does not feel like work, I feel like I am pursuing my passion every day. College Works Painting gave me knowledge and relationships that I use constantly.
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
To all of my clients: thank you for trusting me, and giving me a chance to grow and run a business. You taught me how to be accountable, responsible, and take pride in my work.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
When things are really tough and you feel like you are failing, this is when you need to work the hardest. Getting up after being knocked down by the pandemic, no sales, and feeling like quitting was what made me a champion.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
Multiple trips every year with the friends I made at CWP. Lifelong friendships, and future business partnerships.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Do it for Cancun.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Potential College Works Painting participants: Take a leap of faith, get comfortable being uncomfortable, and learn how to fail! If you are scared to do CWP, that means that this internship is exactly what you need. I almost quit as an intern in 2020, but now I cannot imagine my life without the knowledge and relationships I gained from this company. Current College Works Painting participants: Ask too many questions, talk to everyone, and soak in every moment that you have here. Do not back down from your goals, you will be so proud of what you can achieve.
Many college students struggle to choose between an internship specific to their target industry or doing CW. What advice would you give them on this subject if they wanted to enter your career field?
There is no better way to learn how to run a business, network, gain clients, and acquire all the other skills so many people lack. This internship is what makes people stand out, and not necessarily by their resume, but by their persona and how they carry themself.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Learn how to work hard and work for yourself, and no one is going to push you like you need to push yourself. You will need to have perseverance, and understand that it might take weeks, months, or even years to see success in real estate. You have to be self motivated when running a real estate business and understand the power of delayed gratification, just like when you are running a College Works Painting branch.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
The feeling of selling $30k on a single Saturday in April 2020. And Cancun, hands down, tops everything. :)
Last words of wisdom?
Do the thing that you will be proud of in 10 years. If you are not proud of yourself and grateful for your accomplishments then it means nothing.