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

Nya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Early in your career, how did you think through the decision of whether to start your own firm or join an established firm?

I began my journey as a Real Estate professional by joining a small firm started by two brothers in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Beginning a real estate career is not like most careers where one person, in this case, the applicant, gets interviewed. In meeting with Real Estate brokerages, I was interviewing them just as much as they were interviewing me. It was important to me that our value systems aligned, and that it was a place where I could grow not only as a business woman, but as an individual.

I chose to go into the Real Estate sector after 15 years in the retail industry. I had worked my way up to senior levels in the fashion industry and was very happy serving clients, designing the interiors of our shops, weighing in on products to buy, and ultimately opening boutiques around the nation. One day, amidst this race to get to the top, I realized I had not been to my native country of Ethiopia in 8 years. Taking that memorable trip put my priorities in a new order. I wanted a career that would allow me more time to travel–and do more for people than find the right outfit..

The first two years were very difficult. I took a significant pay cut and several times even called my mother crying telling her that I had made a big mistake. In Real Estate, you do not get a bi-weekly paycheck, which I was accustomed to. Your earnings are directly connected to how many clients you serve. I had sales experience, I was great at building relationships. But I wasn’t yet sure how this translated into building a business and so the insecurity kept me in self-doubt. I was intimidated by those who had been in this field long before me. I could not see how I was going to possibly learn everything they knew or where my clients would come from.

This journey began in 2017 and has had its own textural wrinkles along the way. I focused on what I wanted as the outcome: my financial independence; my ability to choose who and what I share my time with; and helping people, including as it has turned out, many Ethiopian-Americans–find the home of their dreams..

I keep a spreadsheet of my growth from 2017 until today. I have amassed a great client base that keeps on growing, great friends along the way, wonderful experiences, and really heartwarming moments when people’s dream of owning a home comes true right before my eyes. I am so proud that I decided to not only change careers but also believe in myself and my potential to make my dreams a reality and stick with it.

Today, I not only travel to Ethiopia more than once a year, I am involved in the Real Estate development of the first green residential condo building in my native city of Addis Ababa.

Nya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the late ‘80s. My biological set of parents did not make it as a couple. Yet as a result of their break-up very early in my childhood, my mother met and married my step-father who was then a South Sudanese refugee who received asylum in Addis Ababa. Their courtship ended up with 5 other siblings, 4 of whom were born in Addis Ababa. In 1995, as part of a refugee resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), my family was resettled to Portland, Maine. I grew up in New England, in both Portland and Boston. I was raised as the eldest of six, and the expectation was clear from a very young age that I would pave the way for my siblings and become an anchor for my family.
I have always loved people and building relationships. It was something I took very seriously. I began my customer service journey as a teen working the cash register at McDonalds. I loved that job–mainly for all the new people I got to meet daily and the opportunity to serve them. This server’s mindset has transitioned with me into every career field I have ventured into.
In my Real Estate business, the slogan I anchor my team’s value proposition with is “Real Estate Rooted In Relationships.” I take extreme care with each of my clients to make them feel supported end to end (connecting with lenders, home inspectors, helping to fill out applications, contractors, and title attorneys).
A lot of my work is in helping the Ethiopian community in the journey of home ownership. Some of my clients are independent contractors–and often profit-and-loss statements are required for lending purposes. I offer assistance with preparing these documents for my clients when they need them.
What I am most proud of is that I have built a life around serving others. I work extremely hard to craft a reputation that is synonymous with consistency, transparency, and trust.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I am a very generous person by nature. I like to be helpful and to solve problems. I am this way in my daily life, so it isn’t any different for me in business. This shows up in the way I shepherd my clients in their home-buying and home-selling journey. First-time home-buyers are especially my favorite because of the opportunity to also use their buying experience as one where there is so much learning. You only buy your first home once, and how that experience unfolds is an integral part of the purchasing journey.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I host one event per quarter where past clients can meet new people, discover new restaurants or activities, and commune. I send Christmas presents every year to all who have bought and sold with me. And I do such a great job taking care of people that it inspires them to send me referrals. Ultimately, I maintain the same authenticity that drew clients to working with me and that itself begets loyalty.

Contact Info:

• Website: therealnya.com
• Instagram: therealnya
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyaalemayhu/

Image Credits
Kenny Allen Nathan Hirsch Tatiana Dove