A Cuppa with Rachel Eckey, CEO Harcourts Real Estate SA, Industry Leader

My guest on this episode is industry leader, business powerhouse and role model, the CEO of Harcourts in South Australia, Rachel Eckey. 

Rachel has a diverse background in business, real estate and government, and has worked with teams throughout Australia, as well as in Europe and Canada. She spent a decade in strategic communications and business leadership roles before joining the real estate industry 13 years ago. 

Harcourts are a values-driven real estate company who have been market-leaders in South Australia for many years and are leading the charge to change the perception of real estate agents by focussing on their clients, not themselves.

Rachel is also the charitable Foundation ambassador for the Harcourts Foundation and has been involved in dozens of grants to community groups across SA. 

Rachel shared her journey and valuable insights.

1                   Some of the roles she had abroad.

2                   What were some of the key skills she learnt or developed which haver been of the most benefit in your current role

3                   What lead her to the real estate industry 

4                   Her apprenticeship leading up to being appointed CEO and skills she needed to develop for that role.

5                   The main challenges you faced internally and externally.  The challenge of ‘Imposter Syndrome and perception issues.

6                   Rachel explained how Harcourts are leading the charge to change the perception of real estate agents by focussing on their clients, not themselves. 

7                   Our ability to distinguish / differentiate ourselves in the market, our Unique Selling Proposition USP is really important.  How ‘price’ is the worst thing to focus on.

8                   The housing market has gone nuts and its fair to say that 5-6 years ago, very few people, if any would have predicted where it is now.   What do you see in the short to medium term.

9                   Rachel gave us her views on where do you see the market in the next 5 years and what are some of the biggest challenges to the industry?