Her Story
About Galina
I came to the United States from Moldova, a small country in Eastern Europe between Romania and Ukraine. I have a bachelor's degree in linguistics and foreign language, specifically French, and I speak other languages as well. After graduating in my country, I came here and did the recertification with my credits to get the bachelor's degree equivalent to American college. Before entering real estate, I worked as an interpreter, doing medical interpreting and then getting certified for legal interpreting as well. I've been in the real estate industry for 10 years now, working with buyers and sellers and bringing them together. I'm also a loan officer, so I guide clients through financing options and give them the confidence that I know how to follow the transaction and help them ask the correct questions. I reached the ICAN status with my company, which means I am one of the top 1.5% of the 88,000 people we have in the United States, and I've achieved this recognition a few years in a row. Going through the recession and a divorce with three little kids, I needed to survive, so I knew I needed to improve myself, do trainings, and do anything it takes to make it happen. God helped me get all three of my kids through college, paying for it, and having them independent now.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Galina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the need to survive here in the United States. Going through the recession and going through divorce with three little kids, I needed to survive, so I knew that I needed to improve myself, do trainings, and do anything it takes to make it happen. God helped me get all my three kids through college, paying for it, and having them independent now. Challenging myself to accomplish that and keeping focused on that goal is what helped me move on. I came here young and was able to learn English and accommodate much faster to this economy, culture, and way of doing business.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to challenge yourself all the time and do not stay comfortable. The moment you become comfortable, you are regressing, you do not progress. I don't know if that was good advice or not, but it's worked for me so far.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid of anything. Always fight your fears and move on.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are all the changes in the world, because that affects our field for sure. The current situation with the war is influencing the rates, and people kind of get scared. They're asking themselves, do I need to buy a house now and lose it because of a war or something? What can be expected? Should I stay where I am? Should I wait a little bit later? These uncertainties are creating challenges in the real estate market right now.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are to do good to people, no matter who they are, because that will come back to you one way or another, much better and greater. And never do something for people hoping to receive something back from those people.
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