Heather Walton of Ray White Epsom has not only built up her own real estate business and achieved Chairman Elite status, she’s now a finalist in New Zealand’s prestigious 2018 Women of Influence Awards (Board & Management Category).
Ms Walton had worked as a legal executive in a boutique property law firm for over 10 years before taking that experience and love of property and turning it into a thriving real estate business.
Ms Walton rose quickly to the top and enjoys running a successful Ray White office in Epsom where she delights in helping people sell their homes, something that can often be one of the most stressful things for a person to do.
“Our customers are often dealing with high emotions, but because I genuinely care about people I take it really seriously and it’s an honour to help people navigate their way through it,” Ms Walton said.
“My team and I try to make the transition fun for people and a nice experience all round. It’s just a matter of helping people and going the extra mile.”
Paying it forward was something Ms Walton felt very strongly about. She spends a lot of her time helping her team develop and grow through their own life experiences as well, recently getting the pleasure of watching two of her team members who she has mentored cross the stage winning their own ‘New Start Salesperson’ awards.
“It would be such a waste to have gone through everything I have in life and not to have turned it into something positive, and then be able to use your talents to help other people along the way. It’s just about being a genuine good person,” Ms Walton said.
Ms Walton is also a big supporter of her local charities, speaking at special women’s events when she can. These organisations that support victims of domestic violence are close to her heart and focus on helping women pick up the pieces and carry on with their lives.
“What drives me is watching people rise from that experience and not letting it define them”.
To say she’s humble about her achievements is an understatement and she’s certainly humbled by the nomination.
Ms Walton said about the awards, “it’s really nice to be recognised as strong and influential, as well as being feminine and girly. The two can exist together.”
Ray White New Zealand CEO Carey Smith congratulated Ms Walton on being named as one of this year’s finalists.
“Heather has performed at the highest possible level as both a salesperson and business owner within the Ray White Group, gaining national and international awards and recognition,” he said.
“However it is the work that Heather has undertaken outside of this in mentoring other real estate agents, conducting teaching and motivational seminars and donating her time to charitable causes that truly defines her as a woman of influence.
“While we wish Ms Walton all the best at the upcoming award ceremony, we are just delighted that she is part of the Ray White family and are proud of everything she has done and everything that she stands for.”
Ms Walton said she was grateful she had “managed to grow back up from nothing and be in this position now where I can help other people who find themselves in a similar situation through no fault of their own,” Ms Walton said.