Uzo Ogbodo answers questions about her successful multifaceted career as a sales agent, mompreneur, and author
Countless mothers juggle many roles daily, seamlessly transitioning from caregivers to providers and educators to friends, all in the pursuit of nurturing their families. Balancing these responsibilities requires unparalleled dedication and resilience.
Among the many who have navigated these challenging roles with distinction is Uzo Ogbodo. Her journey from being a devoted mother to a trailblazing entrepreneur of Epitome Real Estate exemplifies the boundless potential of mothers who wear multiple hats while crafting a legacy of excellence for their families.
In an interview with Business Insider, Uzo delves into the intricacies of balancing diverse careers, offering insights into her journey of highs and lows and how she achieved a multifaceted path with pride and excellence.
Uzo and Her Early Beginnings
What inspired you to pursue a career in real estate? What shaped your perspective on life and business?
My love of architecture and helping people achieve the American dream of owning their own home are my top two inspirations in this field. From seeing and learning the unique artistries of designs in high-end luxury homes to the use of subtle curvatures in the crown moldings in modern homes, these visions and experiences always bring an array of emotion-filled impacts. The depths of those emotions continuously fuel my passion for real estate and helping people.
My uncle, my father’s younger brother, guided and helped shape my perspective on business life. Being a General Surgeon and successful real estate investor for over thirty years, he helped propel me into the real estate realm, and I fell in love with every aspect of it ever since.
What’s the biggest lesson you and your husband, Anthony, learned from your dry cleaning business?
The biggest lesson we learned was to slow down in the beginning of any new business venture. Despite the keen awareness of areas for improvement in the industry, had we not tried to fill every void as quickly as we did, we may have had a longer-lasting business. Sometimes, filling a noticeable gap can produce a positive return on investment; however this isn’t always the case in the early stages. Learn to take a beat before filling said gaps, at least until your business is strong enough and has had time to grow and flourish.
Navigating the Real Estate World
What challenges did you face when starting Epitome Real Estate, and how did you overcome them?
As a new agent and broker, dealing with your first few negotiations can be intimidating, especially with seasoned agents. I’d say that not having a real estate agent mentor guiding me on this specific skill, amongst other skills, made it quite challenging in the beginning.
However, I have since learned and perfected many unique skills necessary to navigate the real estate world, including understanding human behavior. I didn’t stay in the novice realm too long after learning special traits. Successful negotiations, one of the said skills necessary to be successful in and out of the real estate world, have become second nature.
How do you differentiate Epitome Real Estate from other Alameda, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus Counties firms?
Easy. Me! As a Broker of my own company, I like to be ‘hands-on’ if you will, meaning working closely with each client. No client has come through my doors without meeting with me first. I don’t always go with the norm of referring to other agents if I am booked for the day or said client is listing or purchasing out of my area. I thrive working one-on-one with clients, examining what they want and need, and then personalizing each client’s experience accordingly. No two clients are ever the same to me.
What’s the most rewarding part of being a real estate broker?
Closing the deal! Seeing the smiles on my client’s faces never gets old. Being in real estate is one of the most rewarding jobs I could hope for. Anyone who’s ever ventured into real estate purchases or sales knows it can sometimes be a highly emotional venture, both as a client and an agent.
I have often seen clients fall so in love with a property they just had to have, then do everything they can to get an accepted offer, only to be out-bidded or unable to obtain the resources needed to complete the transaction. It can get a bit emotional to see the heartbreak in my clients. However, on the flip side, once I get them into a home just as or sometimes more favorable than the one they lost, seeing their happy tears and smiles is the other side of those emotions, and THAT is a great feeling!
Uzo as an Author
Aside from being a real estate broker, you are also a writer. What inspired you to become an author, and how do you balance writing with your other responsibilities?
Writing has always been my first true love, so I don’t feel like it is a profession that genuinely disrupts my other professions. I write all the time. I get a lot of story and character ideas at random times and love bringing the ideas to life. I have many unpublished stories and poems in notebooks and multiple flash drives, some just waiting to see the light of day.
I decided to publish my first book, “Ages of Suffocation: Remembered Dreams,” because I felt it might benefit many people who have been through similar situations. Envisioning themselves in any of the book’s subject matters was something I felt could be relatable and helpful to many people, along with the children’s book “Valentine, Shell-B and Friends,” a 5-book series written with my two kids for the younger generation.
How did you feel when your children expressed interest in writing, and how did you guide them through the process?
I was filled with pure joy when both my kids came to me of their own free will, asking how they, too, could become published authors. My heart filled with so much pleasure, mainly because it was their choice and not advised or pressured. I then sat them down and taught them the process, ensuring they understood that a story they felt passionate about had to be born first before pen or pencil was put to paper. Putting the pieces of the proverbial puzzle together were the subsequent steps.
At ages 9 and 10, they came up with the storylines and wrote out their stories, and I helped ensure connections, flow, and age-appropriate reading levels were present in the final works. They have a few more wonderful unpublished works, but it’s left to me to find the time to edit and publish them.
On Motherhood and Family
How do you balance being a successful businesswoman and a devoted mother? Who or what has been your biggest inspiration throughout your multifaceted journey?
Being a successful businesswoman is what I do; being a devoted mother is who I am, and I’m lucky to say that the two rarely conflict with each other.
Over the years, I have grown my businesses to function like a well-oiled machine. When bumps come up, as they occasionally do in any industry, I am lucky to say I have an understanding family that allows me the time I need to get the business back on track.
It also helps that my family, kids included, are quite busy with their own lives. Both kids are in multiple sports, both in varsity water polo and swimming, and my son is in varsity basketball and piano lessons. So, between school work, homework, and extracurricular activities, we’re all too busy to have many voids to fill.
My biggest inspiration throughout my journey, cliché as it may sound, is my husband. I could not have gotten as far as I have come without his support and guidance. He’s been a listening ear, advisor, constructive critic, and, above all, cheerleader. I’m lucky to have him by my side.
You will celebrate your 20th wedding anniversary next year. What have you learned from your marriage that was vital to your success as an entrepreneur?
Listen! Pay attention! Learn from your mistakes, and don’t make the same ones. Value the opportunity to work with any client, customer, or patient, both good and bad. Should you encounter the bad, just like in a healthy marriage, use that opportunity to learn about yourself, how you react to the issue, and the person you’re interacting with so that you may adjust accordingly for healthier future relationships.
Learn that everyone has a right to their thoughts and feelings, so learning what works and accepting what doesn’t can be vital both in marriage and business.
Uzo Celebrating Personal Growth and Achievements
What advice would you give young professionals looking to diversify their careers?
Diversifying one’s portfolio is always a good thing in my book. However, it’s not for everyone. Some people thrive in multiple realms and have built fortunes off of being able to diversify their businesses or careers. Then, some have tried to diversify and failed. More times than not, it’s because some people were built to focus on only one trade but either don’t yet know it or refuse to accept it. Perfect that trade! Be the ‘go to’ person in your field, and you could be just as successful as those with multiple trades. Avoid getting pulled into the need to do more despite seeing others doing it.
2024 will be a big year for you and your family. How do you feel about all these milestones you will celebrate? What’s next for you in real estate, business, and literature?
2024 brings multiple milestones for me and my family. My husband and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. My daughter will turn 16, my son 18, my husband 50, and I 45. God-willing, I will also celebrate ten years as a healthcare provider with the State of California at the headquarters level. Yes, what a tremendous year it is set to be!
For most of my life, I have tried not to let my light shine too bright when I get a ‘win’ or something worth celebrating. I often chose to share the good news with a handful of friends, and a couple of my siblings and pretty much stopped there. I rarely post wins or happy times on social media, nor have a big celebratory party as deserving as it may be.
In my almost 45 years, I have never had an enormous party or celebration for myself, not even a wedding. All this being said, I am intently choosing to use 2024 to let my light shine bright and celebrate as big and grand as I see fit. So look out, world, put on your sunshades!
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your career?
At first thought, the only change I may make is doing the same things but starting earlier in life. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t be where I am now hadn’t it been for what I had to endure to get here.
Author: Anne Schulze
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