September 30, 2020
BBW MEMBER INTERVIEW: Danielle M. O’Brien, Real Estate Broker, ParkWay Real Estate, LLC.
What is your name?
Danielle M. O'Brien
What is your occupation?
I am a real estate broker, and small business owner
What is your business name?
How long have you been a Boston Business Women’s Member?
Less than a year
What is your instagram handle?
@parkwayrealestate
What is your linked in URL?
Were you born and raised in Boston? If not, what brought you here?
I was born in Massachusetts, but outside of Boston. I grew up in Bridgewater and moved to Boston's North End with friends during college. I fell in love with both the city and soon after, my husband - who was born and raised in the JP neighborhood. We bought our first home in Hyde Park, and eventually settled in West Roxbury. We truly love the Parkway area of Boston!
Tell us more about your job or company and what led you to your career?
I obtained my real estate license in 2008, soon after having my first child and realizing the 9-5 grind was not going to work in our favor. Concurrently, I was obtaining my MBA from U-Mass Boston and because my husband is a firefighter, we really wanted my career shift to be something more flexible that could fit into our non-traditional schedule. During my MBA journey, one of my favorite courses was entrepreneurship. In this, a spark ignited - I would soon grow to be a top agent, and eventually TRULY be my own boss. I opened Parkway Real Estate in 2014.
What would your clients say about you and your company?
Our clients love our attention to detail, and our commitment to educating them throughout the transaction process and beyond. We have hosted many seminars that not only teach about buying and selling homes, but also maintaining them, improving them, and also how to create a healthy financial lifestyle through insurance, equity building, estate planning, credit profiles, etc.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
You don't always have to know the answer, but you have to want to find it.
What is your favorite book?
My favorite business book is GRIT by Angela Duckworth. Overall, I tend to lean towards fictitious books that have movies made from them so I can read and compare. A good example might be Nickolas Sparks novels.
What is your secret weapon? An app, a tool, a organization method, anything?! (Can be a personal or professional life tool)
My iPhone Calendar! We have all of our various business, personal, and family engagements on there. We have even taught our children how to utilize this. If it's not in there, I probably will forget!
What is your most recent WIN? How are you slaying it in your career or business?
My husband and I recently listed the first 4 units of an 8-unit development we are building in Jamaica Plain. It has been about 5 years of very hard work from zoning, to contractor selection, financing, construction, and marketing. It has been both a tiring and rewarding educational journey!
What advice would you give to your younger self?
DO IT. Do it NOW. Don't wait! Too many times I have waited to really jump in to something - a new career, offering a service or seminar, attending a networking opportunity, whatever! I wish I obtained my real estate license sooner, I wish I opened my company sooner, and I know looking back there will be something else I wish I did ``sooner``.
How do you enjoy your free time?
My kids are very active 10 & 13 year olds who keep me on my toes. My free time is spent as their sports & school bus driver, it seems! I know I will miss these years. If I do catch a few moments to myself it usually involves the beach, a softball game with friends (yes, I play in an over 40 league still!), or a glass of wine.
What is something that not many people know about you?
I was a rugby player in college! I will never forget the day I played my first A-side game against the University of Vermont and was tossed around like a rag doll.
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