How did you get started as a Wild Women Entrepreneur?

I got started when I was not yet old enough to count, literally. My parents had a Portuguese store in Hudson, Massachusetts and one day I vividly remember being at the store with my Avo (grandmother) and trying desperately to figure out how numbers were added together. My Avo was illiterate, barely able even to write her own name. That in itself taught me many life lessons. Mainly it taught me to never forget where I came from and the people who helped me throughout my journey. As I grew, I would search for and keep articles about entrepreneurs, especially those about extra-creative women and kids. It felt so right to me to create a company from nothing. Being part of a corporation was good for some parts of my life but I would always eventually become restless. I would "go back" when I was afraid I'd run out of money or wanted a break from being my own boss. As time went on, the length of time I could work for others kept diminishing until I could not even stand to be an employee for even a day. It was a pull that just kept getting stronger no
matter what I did. Being an entrepreneur is not usually the easiest route but for most of us, the alternative is unthinkable. I wouldn't change a thing!

Maria, what are the differences between men and women in
business?

Ahhhh, the age old question. I went to the only business school in the world for women. It's the incredible Simmons Graduate School of Management right here in Boston. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to earn her MBA. First, you can take an accelerated program so instead of two years you do it in 11 months. It is harder than most things you'll ever do, but what you learn when they squeeze you out reawakens you. I grew up with three brothers and no sisters. I went to Boston College for my undergrad degree and for the most part, lived in a patriarchic society fighting the good fight (to be heard, seen, and respected) but to most people I was too young and female. Simmons taught me the rules of the game. The founders are the first women allowed to attend Harvard Business School. The stories they shared helped put everything into perspective. They not only pointed out the challenges, but on every level, they offered solutions - solutions and perspectives I use to this very day. I am a communications expert. I have immersed myself in many cultures. Basically you need to study the differences between men and women and find creative strategies to override the system which I LOVE DOING! A simple example is getting consensus on a project/idea. What men do is go to each other behind the scenes and develop allies. When they enter a meeting they already have supporters and therefore it's easier for the others that are just learning the idea to go along with it because they see others think it's a good one too. Another example is getting promoted. Most women tend not to talk about their accomplishments because they don't want to be seen as show offs. Well, I guess that I'm a show off! (I've been called a lot worse.) I love telling people I worked with Mikhail Gorbachev and Yahoo! I love telling people that I speak a bunch of languages and have lived around the world. If they are jealous, that’s their issue. In the end it's about the legacy you leave. Now that I have three wonderful children, I feel that even more. I want them to know that life is a wonderful ride if you only get on to your next adventure!



What are three of the biggest lessons you've learned along the way?

It’s hard to pick just three. Hmmmmm, the first one is easy. I came to the United States when I was almost four years old and for as long as I can remember I was made fun of for being able to speak two languages and sometimes wearing different clothes and practicing different customs from other kids. It got so bad that I was beaten up, name called, and even spit on from grade school through high school! Even though I was completely fluent in English and learned all the American customs in the small town I grew up in I would always be a "portuguee." This made me an outsider, so I adapted in my own way. This has been one of my most wonderful gifts because what does not kill you makes you stronger. There were some really dark times but it’s important to go through them and not dwell in them. That is where most people derail themselves.

Another lesson is that most people don’t know what they want. The art and influence of asking good questions is key. With a simple question you can completely reframe a situation. There is nothing more powerful in communication than a question. I could talk about this one topic for a long time, and in fact, have given many lectures on it around the world.

Okay, now that I’ve mulled this question over, a deluge of answers have popped in. I will only pick the best of the bunch right now so as to keep within the limits of the question. Last but not least, the biggest thing to remember is that everyone is human. Many of us walk around feeling inadequate comparing ourselves to
others. This is life’s universal joke because everyone else feels the same way. I love the quote, “other people’s opinions of me are none of my business.” No matter what you do, there will ALWAYS be someone who loves/likes it and someone else who dislikes/hates it. That is the balance of humanity. The only way to combat this is to be happy with what you do and make sure your actions and choices are what you like, not what you think they should be. You will go A LOT further in success that way!

How do you juggle your family life with your busy work
schedule?

Besides having a start-up real estate company and all that entails, I have three children: 10, 19 months, and 3 months. The youngest has Down Syndrome. We also have a dog and a cat. Life is definitely full and I would have it no other way. I picked a partner who is incredible. We did not start off that way but we have worked on creating a wonderful support system for each other. I believe in the family support systems that were so prevalent in the past. I don’t like being away from the children. We have an in-home nanny who is here 40 hours a week. I could not work without her. Having her allows me the freedom to do my work (most of the time) AND be around my children. Since I was much younger I have been thinking about how to create a life so that when I got to this stage I would have the ability to raise my children the way I wanted. I don’t believe in daycare for our family. That’s just me. I respect the choices others make though. It’s whatever works for you. Brick House Realty is a virtual company, meaning that there is no central bricks and mortar structure for an office. We all have the freedom to work out of our home offices and also spend a lot of time going out showing homes.

Who have been your mentors along the way?

This is probably the hardest question because I have not had many mentors in the purest sense. I am a creature who loves to see examples of others and then be inspired by them. There is really no one who has been a straight up mentor to me though.


Why did you make the switch from marketing/public relations
in Silicon Valley to owning a real estate company in the Boston area?


It was time. I had been in San Francisco for five years and had done many wonderful things, but my biological clock was ticking, 911 happened, I missed my nieces and family in Massachusetts and the Internet boom was winding down. I left PR because at the end of my day, I was not adding value to our planet.In fact, I was adding
more bullshit. That is not the legacy I wanted to leave. Now with Brick House Realty, I am teaching people how to take a basic life necessity (a place to live) and turn it into a strong financial asset. It feels really good to help change someone’s financial life in a way that ultimately gives them more financial freedom.

If you could offer these Wild Women Entrepreneurs a piece
of sound advice, what would it be?

BE YOU! There is a quote that goes something like, “If you try to act like someone else who will be you?” To find true happiness, achievement, and fulfillment you need to go out (actually it’s really about going in) and finding you. Most of the problems we have in the world are because people spend way too much time, money and effort blocking who they are and trying to be like someone
else. Save yourself the aggravation!

Labels: wild we member of the month