As we have gathered over the past year for regular meetings of the Utah Women’s Investing Club, it has become clear that Utah is home to an endless network of inspiring, empowering, and incredible women.
So we decided to sit down and create a list of the first who came to mind. Our list was overflowing.
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to interview Salt Lake City local, Skye Galley as our first guest in a series of blogs on Utah women who inspire. She found success as a Commercial Real Estate Agent at a relatively young age. She’s sharp, she’s driven, and she’s passionate about what she does.
Skye found the courage to move into her own power after dealing with a deep personal loss. And she has been expanding her reach and her influence ever since.
From Monique, our Principal Broker:
I met Skye through a mutual friend that thought we could help each other. I admire her so much because she is in her mid 20s and is killing it in commercial real estate. Not only is she young and brave, but she is finding tons of success in a very male dominated industry! I have sent her some of my commercial clients and she is fantastic to work with.
From Our Interview:
1. What are you most passionate about? What gets you up in the morning?
I love helping others and enjoy working on a variety of projects. Real estate can be invigorating for both reasons and ultimately helps me feel excited for each day.
2. How do you rest? What do prioritize in order to enjoy your life?
My family and friends are a huge priority for me and can be a sense of respite from work. I always try to incorporate time with loved ones whether it’s walking my dog, hosting dinner parties, or spending the day out with friends. My relationships are everything to me, and I find a huge sense of value and happiness derives from time and activities with your people.
3. What got you into real estate at such a young age? Were there any major influences in your life that led you there?
I’ve always known business was in the cards for me. I love setting goals, evaluating numbers, and executing my plans. In college, I studied finance and marketing at Westminster which seemed like an unusual mix to others, but has proven to be useful in my experience, especially now with real estate.
Out of college, I started working as a customer service rep for a local clothing company. Although relatively large and well known, the company had a small, family feel and we all wore multiple hats. After about a year in customer service working to understand the company and products, I was offered the opportunity to promote and create a customized business analyst role. I worked with top-level management to develop and run new systems, analyze sales and inventory reports and manage other projects. It was my dream job with my ideal company, and everything was amazing until life threw me a curve ball.
On March 21, 2019, my younger brother passed away unexpectedly and my life took a 180. Consumed by grief, nothing felt the same for me after that point, including work. My priorities shifted, and I quickly realized a change was inevitable. A few months before my brother passed, I dated a realtor who mentioned I would be good at real estate, but I never considered it until some soul-searching led me there months later. So many of my new values aligned with what real estate offered, and by the end of the summer, I came up with a plan to pursue it as my new career.
Over about six months, I worked to get my license and build up my savings. I also narrowed down my area of focus to commercial real estate which typically has a longer turnaround time than residential, so I knew I needed to save about 12-18 months of expenses to cushion my pursuits.
On March 1, 2020, I stepped foot into my new office for the first time as a commercial real estate agent, and I haven’t looked back since. Even throughout the pandemic, as an office-specialized agent, I’ve been able to create opportunities that have allowed me to continue forging my path.
4. Who is your hero? Someone you admire or aspire to be like?
I have many mentors and role models I look up to every day, some of which include my parents and my business partners. Real estate is a tough business, so it’s important to surround yourself with optimistic and uplifting people who can relate to your difficulties and inspire feelings of hope by providing a different perspective. I feel very lucky to be around people who help motivate me to continue learning and growing.
5. What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?
I would start by asking yourself “why” you want to pursue real estate. If you want to succeed, your “why” needs to be stronger than your excuses. Secondly, I would do everything you can to set yourself up for success such as networking, creating a business plan, and providing yourself the means necessary to focus your efforts 100% on building your business.
6. Any regrets?
I don’t have regrets, only learning opportunities. Every deal is different, and every deal can teach you something new if you allow it. Juggling various predicaments and personalities is so much more difficult than most people realize. I appreciate interpersonal skills and innovation a lot more at this point in my career because I know how much they not only influence deal probability, but also your ability to propel all other areas of your life as well.
7. Any new projects you are excited about?
This year’s big project is buying a new house!
