We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Fernanda Read a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Fernanda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Oh, I am absolutely happy as a business owner, no question about it. I’ve always had a fiercely independent spirit. I don’t thrive in environments where I’m being told what to do, especially when I know there are better ways of doing things. I need space to lead, to create, to pivot, to push boundaries, and that kind of freedom just doesn’t exist in most “regular” jobs.

That said, I’d be lying if I said entrepreneurship is easy. It’s not. It’s demanding. It’s intense. It will stretch you in every way possible, financially, emotionally, mentally. And yes, there are moments where you pause and think, “Wouldn’t it be easier to just clock in, do my part, and go home without carrying the weight of it all?”

Because the truth is, you’re never fully off the clock when you own not one but three different businesses.

Between managing dozens of tenants in my real estate business, serving a full roster of accounting clients with The QuickBookers, and planning life-changing philanthropic travel experiences through At The Top, But Not Alone, I’m constantly responding to emails, texts, questions, and last-minute fires at all hours of the day. And night. My phone never really stops buzzing. And even when it does, my brain doesn’t.

But here’s the thing: I chose this. I built this. And I love every second of it. I love the stimulation, I love that I get to create jobs and that I get to serve, everyday, all day. I love that I get to watch people’s lives change all around me, and so I choose to show up. Even when it’s inconvenient. Even when I’m tired.

Would it be nice to truly unplug sometimes? Yes, absolutely. But for now, this is my reality as I am building things I truly believe in. And while I may not get traditional “days off” like everyone else, what I do get is fulfillment, impact, and a life that’s rich in purpose.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

At my core, I’m a builder. A builder of businesses, of relationships, of meaningful experiences, and of legacy. I wear many hats: entrepreneur, philanthropist, numbers nerd, real estate investor, curator of once-in-a-lifetime experiences… but above all, I’m someone who believes that success should be shared, and that service, integrity, and human connection should be at the center of everything we do.

I run three very distinct businesses:

First, my real estate company, which was my first leap into entrepreneurship. It started after a major life transition (divorce) when I needed to rebuild my life from the ground up. I saved every penny while working full-time and taking on side hustles, determined to create financial stability and independence for myself and my two young children. Real estate became not only a vehicle for building wealth, but a way to help others find homes, invest smartly, and feel secure in their own transitions.

Second is The QuickBookers, a boutique bookkeeping and accounting firm I co-founded with my dad. I’ve always loved numbers, and I believe bookkeeping is one of the most essential, yet most overlooked, parts of running a successful business. It started with a part-time role at a prestigious law and accounting firm (as one of those side gigs), and it grew quickly once I realized how underserved so many small and medium-sized businesses were. We offer full-service monthly accounting and bookkeeping services, but what sets us apart is our responsiveness, reliability, and deep care for each client. We’re a father-daughter duo that treats every client like family. We show up. We communicate. We truly care.

And then, there’s my soul project: At The Top, But Not Alone. This business was born from the intersection of my two greatest passions: travel and philanthropy, and from a truth that many successful people quietly carry: it can feel lonely at the top. Through this company I get the privilege of curating multiplef high-level, VIP experiences and philanthropic trips across the world every year. I’ve seen lives change when people gather in the right environment, with the right intention. So I created a members-only, ultra-curated lifestyle and networking group for high-achieving, mission-driven individuals who want to connect, give back, and experience the world through a deeper lens. We travel, we serve, and we grow. Together.

What sets me apart? I live to serve. I don’t just build businesses, I build trust, I build community, I build experiences that matter. I’ve always led with heart, discipline, and a deep commitment to excellence. Whether I’m helping a business owner clean up their books, helping a family secure a dream property, or helping a world-changer feel seen, supported, and surrounded, I always show up with integrity and love.

What am I most proud of? That I’ve built all of this from the ground up, with no handouts. That I get to create jobs, that I get to work alongside my family and other people that I really care about. That I’ve turned my passions into purpose. And that I get to help people in meaningful, lasting ways.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

The best advice I can give? Treat people like adults.

I’ve always believed that leadership isn’t about control, it’s about trust. I hire people because they bring something valuable to the table, so I give them the freedom to actually use it. That means encouraging creativity, allowing room for mistakes, and creating a culture where people feel safe to take ownership.

I don’t micromanage. I give people clear expectations, and then I get out of their way. I’ve found that when people feel respected and trusted, they rise to the occasion. They take pride in their work. They come up with ideas I never would’ve thought of. And that’s exactly what I want, because I intentionally surround myself with people who are smarter than me in all kinds of areas. I don’t need to be the smartest person in the room, I want to be the one who created the room where brilliance can shine.

High morale, to me, isn’t about perks or pep talks, it’s about purpose. People want to know that what they’re doing matters. Whether it’s helping a client clean up years of financial chaos, coordinating the details of a dream trip that will change lives, or maintaining the comfort and safety of someone’s home, they need to feel the why behind the work.

And finally, I make it personal. I care about my team as humans first. I check in. I celebrate their wins. I support them through the tough stuff. When you treat people like they matter, you build a team that’s not just productive, but loyal, energized, and proud to be part of something bigger.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There are two books that deeply impacted me. How to Die With Zero by Bill Perkins and Am I Being Too Subtle? by Sam Zell.

How to Die With Zero completely reframed how I think about money, time, and life. The core message is simple but powerful: the purpose of wealth is to live fully, not to die with a big number in the bank. It encouraged me to intentionally spend on meaningful experiences, especially while I’m still young and healthy enough to enjoy them.

Am I Being Too Subtle? is the memoir of billionaire real estate investor Sam Zell, and it completely blew me away. Sam’s boldness, clarity, and unwavering commitment to his values, as well as his loyalty to his lifelong business partners, inspired me to take bigger risks and confidently forge my own unique path. He didn’t chase trends, he created them. The thing that stuck with me most was that Sam used to tell anyone he hired that they would be ruined, that after working with him, they’d never be happy anywhere else. That hit me hard, because that’s exactly how I strive to run my companies today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.atthetopbutnotalone.com
• Instagram: successisbettershared
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernanda-read/
• Other: https://www.thequickbookers.com