Dahlia Gonzalez

“Be the hardest worker in every room you are in.”

#WomenWhoBuild meet Dahlia Gonzalez,

Dahlia is a loan officer at Guaranteed Rate and a co-founder of Women’s Real Estate Collective, a networking community for Women In Real Estate. ArchNative sat down with Dahlia to discuss her shift from a career in education to one in Real Estate, what gave her the initial push to create Women’s Real Estate Collective, how networking has impacted her career, and what advice she has for women who are just starting in the field.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey in Real Estate? What made you decide to pursue it as a career choice? 

After receiving my Masters from Boston College, I pursued a career in education. While I loved working with students I was feeling burned out by the bureaucracy of both the public and private educational systems. I had always had a passion for sales and took a leap of faith transitioning into mortgage lending when the opportunity presented itself. While I had no experience in the real estate sphere, I found myself educating once again - only this time I was educating homebuyers on financing as apposed to educating teenagers on literature. 

What gave you both the initial push to create Women's Real Estate Collective? What do you hope to achieve with the platform? 

I felt there was a huge gap in networking capabilities for women in the real estate industry. The organizations that dominated the market either required substantial financial commitments or didn’t necessarily add much value. I wanted to create a space that was based in education and connectivity where women could connect and share their accomplishments without having to invest copious amount of time or money.  

How has networking helped further your own careers outside of the Women's Real Estate Collective? 

Building a footprint in any business takes time but in real estate the basis of your connections are social. By networking with women outside of my direct sphere I have had the opportunity to bring value to situations I would have otherwise not have been exposed to, and have also been able to learn from women who have either done it longer than me or do it differently than me. 

What does each of your day to days look like? How do you balance your careers with the growth of the Women's Real Estate Collective? 

Sometimes balance doesn’t feel like it exists, but I have been active in trying to time block. WREC is a passion project for me and feels less like “work” and more like fun. As a mortgage lender I need to be available for my clients essentially around the clock which means long days and weekends full of work. A typical day starts at 8:00am, answering emails, clearing my inbox, outlining my day and really getting geared up for whatever is on the docket. One of my goals this year is to limit myself to a 12 hour work day which is tough when you’re working from home. 

What has been the biggest challenge of your career? What has been the biggest triumph? 

My biggest challenge and triumph are one in the same, doubt, both within myself and among my peers. When you’re “new” in any industry, especially one as competitive as real estate, it can be challenging not to let other people’s perceptions of your success dictate how you see yourself. For me, staying true to myself has been a huge win. Putting in the hours, laying the foundation and really leading with positive intentions. 

What advice do you have for women entering the field? 

Be the hardest worker in every room you are in. Real estate and sales in general are both competitive industries. People may have more experience, they may have a bigger clientele, but never let them outwork you. Put your head down for the first year and spend every single day giving it all you have, even on days you don’t want to.