Catalyst Leaders | Cara Milgate, Susan Pitcher and Sylvia Sotelo-Kidd - 028

Welcome to another amazing episode of the Women Who Lead podcast! In this episode, our host Teresa Palacios Smith meets with three leaders who act as catalysts in their roles: Cara Milgate, Susan Pitcher, and Sylvia Sotelo-Kidd. They discuss leadership in difficult markets, the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and leading by example when it comes to work-life balance.

Meet the Leaders

• Cara Milgate – Vice President and Sales Manager at Intero Real Estate (San Francisco)

• Susan Pitcher – President and CFO HomeServices Beazley, REALTORS and Vice President and CFO Bill Beazley Homes

• Sylvia Sotelo-Kidd – Sales Leader and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for Ebby Halliday

The Leaders’ Journeys

• Sylvia got into real estate by chance. Someone who was already in the industry met her and said, “You need to be in real estate!”

• Susan was working for Bill Beazley Homes and was selected by Mrs. Beazley to take over her role in the business.

• Cara fell in love with financing and lending while working part-time in a bank. She then worked for mortgage companies and then started her own real estate business!

How Do You Lead During Unstable Times?

• Susan: Real estate is an ever-changing market. Change quickly and fail quickly if you need to! Take new tech in stride and investigate it thoroughly.

• Cara: She thrives when the market shifts. Challenges help her jump into action. Part of being a good leader is staying positive and calm so your team stays engaged.

• Sylvia: Even though the market is always changing, there are always going to be sales. During good and bad times, we need to be practicing and honing our skills.

Setting an Example of Work-Life Balance

• Cara: Her advice to young leaders is to make time for themselves or the stress will catch up with them. Introspecting helped her let go of the guilt and shame that came with self-care.

• Sylvia: Learning to say “no” has helped her focus on the important things in life, especially taking care of herself and staying present.

• Susan: She still struggles with work-life balance! She recommends making time for the people in your life. Show up for the moments that are important to them.

Leaders’ Favorite Books

• Sylvia: The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday

• Susan: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (And it’s Small Stuff) by Dr. Richard Carlson

• Cara: The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger

Leaders’ Favorite Quotes

• Sylvia: “You have the power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius

• Susan: “The mind-forged manacles I hear.” – William Blake (from the poem “London”)

• Cara: “The purpose of life for me is not to achieve, but to make positive changes, to be productive, and to impact others in a way that will create a better future. Everything else falls into place.” – Cara Milgate

When you help another woman rise, we all shine. And that’s how we make an impact. So let’s build each other up, and shine brighter than the sun. For more great content from Teresa, connect with her on LinkedIn, join her Women Who Lead Series on Facebook, and subscribe to her YouTube channel. You can find more episodes of Women Who Lead on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.

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