My friend Kat and I both majored in public relations and advertising at Chapman University. After college, she decided to get involved with real estate and was able to combine both her interests. If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out to her directly with the contact info towards the bottom of the post!
Name: Katarina Lehner
Age: 26 (I cannot believe it either, but Vitamin C serum is a game changer!)
City: Stamford, CT
Company: Compass
Title: Marketing Manager
Time at Company: Almost two years
How did you hear about the position and what was the interview process like?
I found my job on the Compass careers page. I am an independent contractor within Compass, and negotiated a base pay plus commission pay structure. I first interviewed with my boss who is the team leader, and then I interviewed with the Director of Operations.
What past experience do you think helped you land your current role?
I worked in marketing at another real estate firm prior to Compass and found that the skills and experience were very transferable. Being well-adept at social content creation was definitely also a plus. I got my real estate license as well which definitely gave me a leg up because I am able to show properties and meet with clients / host broker’s open houses. I definitely recommend getting your license if you plan on working at a brokerage, as it allows you to legally work on-site.
What does your job entail?
I create all of the social, digital, and print marketing materials for a top luxury real estate team that operates in Greenwich, CT and Manhattan, NY. I also run point on marketing for The Private Client Network, which is a nationwide referral network of the top-selling luxury agents at Compass.
Since I am a licensed real estate agent, I also host open houses, attend broker previews, and occasionally take clients out to look at homes. Every Tuesday and Thursday, we have Broker’s Open Houses, so I am able to attend those to see what is on the market. This is very helpful when determining marketing strategies for our listings and making sure we are pricing our inventory correctly.
On the back-end, we use a platform called Business Tracker which is where all of our listings live. Every day, I toggle between Business Tracker and our internal marketing software to make sure our home statuses are being updated (either accepted offer, pending, under contract, or closed). We have marketing collateral for every status change and there is also lots of paperwork that must be uploaded for each transaction.
I usually allot my mornings for sending out DocuSigns / updating any paperwork for our listings and having one on one calls with our agents. Then, mid-day I will attend Broker’s Open Houses and have lunch at my desk around 1PM (sometimes later, it depends on the day). The later half of the day I edit social content, prepare e-blasts, and make sure we are on track for any print activations that we have coming up. One of our listings was recently featured on the cover of Greenwich Magazine and we also ran a two page custom ad in the issue as well. Every summer we are featured in a few publications, but last year we had an incredible spread in Hamptons Magazine which performed very well. We also run an annual ad where we buy out the entire back cover of the Wall Street Journal right after the Real Trends real estate rankings come out. We get amazing feedback on that ad every year as well.
What are the skills needed to be successful at your job?
Having a creative eye is very important and also being able to manage multiple projects at once is crucial. We have a structured pipeline for all marketing materials from pre-listing to contract and close. I am also constantly working with our team to prospect via postcards, print ads in magazines or paid digital or social ads. Real estate is an “eat what you kill” business, so we are constantly finding new ways to reach buyers and sellers.
Who do you directly report to and does anyone report to you?
I report directly to our team leader and CEO.
Do you work from home, office, or hybrid?
I work in the office everyday from 9AM-5PM. I get into the office around 8:30AM to prepare for the day.
How many vacation days do you get per year?
I get 14 days.
What do you do to help your work/life balance?
I set boundaries. I am always available to answer my team at any hour of the day / week, but if it’s late at night or on the weekend, I make sure they know that I will get back to them the next business day. I always have everything prepared prior to any weekend showings or appointments as well.
Have you been promoted at your current company and what do you think factored into your promotion?
I was promoted to Manager this year. I think being efficient and showing my boss the metrics of our growth since implementing new marketing initiatives definitely helped.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love getting to work with the best agents in the business and creating content for these stunning homes. I pinch myself that I get to do what I love everyday. Luxury real estate is the most fascinating business.
What has been your proudest moment at your job?
I helped plan a big offsite for our network last year and was able to present a video that I created at one of our kick off meetings. Everyone in the room was so appreciative of the work I had put into it, and I had the best time getting to meet all of the people that I work with around the nation.
What’s the biggest lesson(s) you’ll take away from this job?
The best career or job is the one in which you’re using the skills you enjoy. However, not every job needs to address all of your passions. Use your job as an opportunity to learn something new and keep an open mind; you may find that you really enjoy something you never imagined would appeal to you.
Any advice for people who want to work at your company or in your general field?
Network! Social media is also such a powerful tool. Do your research and ask people to grab coffee with you. People love to talk about themselves and their experiences.
Have you worked anywhere else in the past?
Yes, prior to getting my real estate license I worked as an Executive Assistant at a talent management firm in Los Angeles.
If people want to connect with you and learn more, how can they reach you?
I am most active on Instagram for work, so please feel free to DM me @kat_lehner!
Fast last 5 with Katarina Lehner:
- Last tv show/movie: The Last of Us
- Last book you read: I didn’t finish it, but it was Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
- Last concert: Lake Street Dive
- Last restaurant: Perry Street in NYC
- Last vacation: Jackson Hole, WY!
Thanks for sharing, Kat!
