Looking Through the Microscope at Top Performer’s Career
Ray White New Zealand's head of marketing, Larissa Tuhaka, sat down with Regan Golding, a top performer in New Zealand’s Central North Shore real estate market, to uncover the fascinating journey that has led to her remarkable success.
Larissa unpacked Regan’s career, the 20 years prior to her entry into real estate, her deep-rooted connection to the Beach Haven community and the seven years as a sales agent that has seen her becoming one of Ray White Group’s top performing agents.
“Regan's exceptional work ethic and unwavering dedication to her customers have been the driving forces behind her achievements. She is someone who firmly believes that strong relationships are the cornerstone of her business, and her ultimate goal is to alleviate any stress points for her clients,” Larissa said.
Regan spoke about how supporting her customers through what can be an incredibly stressful time in their lives is the most important thing to her.
“The fundamental of caring is the ethos I live by. Selling your property is one of the top 10 stressors in your life. Why not help them make it as stress free as possible?” Regan said.
“I often loan my own furniture to vendors to help stage their home (much to my children’s dislike), which saves them thousands they might not actually have for staging. It’s the little things like this that make such a big difference for my customers.”
Before embarking on her real estate career, Regan had a successful career in a completely different field. After finishing high school, she pursued a profession in laboratory work, specialising in the study of human cells, which for 20 years was her life.
“My journey into real estate began when my partner (now husband) and I purchased our first home at the age of 20, despite it being located on the worst street in the North Shore,” Regan said.
“From there we bought another property and began renovating and this is where my passion for property started. I actually sold a property myself privately and I loved the process. I loved negotiating and talking to people about it.”
While volunteering for her daughters’ school seeking sponsors for a school event, Regan approached Glenn Carpenter, principal of Ray White Beach Haven, whom she had met previously as the underbidder on a property he was selling.
"Glenn called me one day and offered me a job, which was a turning point in my career and life. My first reaction was no, I've got a good job... but maybe? It was a really tough decision to walk away from my career and my lab as it would be hard to go back as technology was progressing, and I would essentially be left behind," Regan shared.
Accepting Glenn's offer to join Ray White Beach Haven was a turning point for Regan, despite the initial hesitation to leave her established career in the laboratory. Taking a 90-day leave from her job to test the waters, Regan found herself fully hooked in the real estate industry and has never looked back since.
“My first listing actually came from my brother and at the time I hadn’t finished my papers, but it gave me the motivation I needed to complete them and make the move officially into sales.
"Nothing adds pressure to your first sale like selling a family home, though - it could've been an awkward family Christmas," Regan joked.
Regan's continuous growth and ascent within the Ray White ranks has seen her become a Chairman’s Elite agent which puts her in the top 2 per cent of Ray White Group agents in Australasia.
Regan spoke about the coaching and support she’s received from Glenn which has been a huge part of her success.
“He genuinely cares about his people, his staff, the community. It was a small team when I started and it’s much larger now, but the ethos is still the same.”
When asked about working alongside other top-performing female agents, Regan emphasised the strong bond and support they share.
"We're like sisters. We are family and are genuinely happy for each other's success. I always feel like our table is the loudest at the awards; we're screaming and cheering for each other - and that's genuine," she said.
Larissa asked Regan how she balances her career and her family life.
“It’s a challenge, but I prioritise spending my mornings with my daughters before I head into the office,” Regan said. While Regan acknowledged the importance of taking time off, she admitted that achieving a healthy work-life balance is a work in progress.
"For every working mum, achieving a ‘work-life balance’ is incredibly hard. I truly believe that people may say that to make mothers feel guilty. All we can do is the best we can," Regan shared.
Recognising the potential for burnout in a demanding industry, Regan's solution is to prioritise self-care and reset through sleep. She has also sought support from a mindfulness coach, introduced to the team by Glenn, which has proven beneficial for her overall wellbeing.
“One lesson I’ve learnt over the years in my career, is how important boundaries are, especially for yourself. It’s easy to take on everyone’s stressing, but realising putting up boundaries for yourself doesn’t make you any less empathetic,” Regan said.
“I also have learnt that not every listing is worth it. Listen to the red flags and don’t be afraid to walk away. We have a really cool culture in our office, where there’s genuine support for this mantra.”
Regan's commitment to her community extends beyond her real estate career. She actively participates in local events and fundraisers, viewing it as her duty to give back to the community that has supported her family.
"I like giving back; I really do. I feel like I have a duty to give back to the community that puts food on my family's table. Having worked with the school in fundraising, I know how hard it is, and that's something now I can help with on the other side," Regan expressed.
“The harder I work, the luckier I become. I am a lucky person, but I work hard to create that,” Regan said.
In her role as a salesperson, Regan spoke to one quote that has stuck with her and that she uses almost daily.
“You don’t know what you don’t know and that’s okay. It’s okay to not know, just ask,” she said.
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