8th Annual Luxury Forum Inspires Agents to Persevere and Prepare

Valorie Kondos Field had already lived a life worth celebrating.

The storied University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) gymnastics coach had won seven national titles and was the third winningest gymnastics coach in NCAA history.

She’d developed a reputation as a leader. But it almost wasn’t. Early in her career, Kondos Field thought she had to be a coach that yelled and was a tyrant. She was mimicking other coaches at the time. But it wasn’t working.

She was on her way to the UCLA athletic director’s office to quit, but before she got there, she found legendary coach John Wooden’s book on leadership. Right then, Kondos Field pivoted and changed her outlook.

“It said peace of mind is a direct result in knowing you’ve done your best,” she says. “That was my biggest ah-ha moment.” 

Kondos Field says she learned that in order to have success, she had to be herself. That, she says, leads to success in any field.

“When you finally become authentic and true to yourself, you become a leader,” she says. “I knew that championship mentality of life would transfer to the mats and we started winning.”

Kondos Field spoke to RE/MAX affiliates at The RE/MAX Collection 8th annual Luxury Forum. The event brings together the best and brightest in the luxury real estate sector for networking and industry insight. This year, it was held virtually for the first time, with more than 400 attendees from 13 countries.

The overarching message of gratitude and adjusting no matter the circumstances resonated.

Sessions focused on marketing, pivoting in the pandemic and leadership. They included sessions from the hall of fame coach and Ted Talk speaker Kondos Field, but also decorated U.S. Winter Olympian Apolo Ohno and No. 1 RE/MAX Global Luxury Residential Agent Jordan Cohen.

“We always align our speakers with luxury market trends and topics,” says Anne Miller, RE/MAX Vice President of Luxury, who has headed all eight of The RE/MAX Collection Luxury Forum events. “The purpose remains the same: Bring our membership relevant information to add value to their business. I know we did that this year.”

Kondos Field’s talk on transformative leadership showed that regardless of the circumstances, everyone has a choice. She says no matter the area someone is in, by taking control of how they feel, they can help dictate the outcome.

It was that perspective and change that allowed her to finish her career after a cancer diagnosis and become the leader she always wanted to be.

It was also what allowed keynote speaker Apolo Ohno to thrive. The most decorated U.S. Olympian of all time detailed his career, from not making his first Olympic team, to eventually winning eight medals at the Winter Olympics. The key, he says, was through all the ups and downs he learned to create micro wins each and every day.

He compared it to being a luxury agent, saying that in order to get to that big sale, an agent has to focus on getting smaller wins every day.

“I can’t tell you how important process over prize is,” he says.

In taking from both – the leadership of Kondos Field and process of Ohno – No. 1 RE/MAX global luxury residential agent Jordan Cohen brought it all together.

Cohen, who works with celebrities and professional athletes, detailed what makes him so successful in the luxury arena.

Cohen says he didn’t get to where he was without trusting his process. Known for his listing presentation, Cohen says he tirelessly perfected it and works every day to do what no other agent in his market will.

“I just keep working,” Cohen says. “I’m driven by competition and I want to always be No. 1. I’m always upping my marketing. I just sat last week with my printer and was saying I want to do what no other real estate agent has even thought about. That’s what it takes to be successful in the luxury market.”