Kristen Newman’s journey at Worth Clark Realty is a testament to dedication, passion, and professional growth. Over the past three years, she has played a key role in growing the company’s talent acquisition strategy, starting as our Talent Acquisition Specialist and recently earned a well-deserved promotion to Vice President of Talent Acquisition. Her commitment to recruiting top-tier agents and ensuring they succeed within Worth Clark’s innovative brokerage model has been pivotal in the company’s continued success. In this interview, Kristen shares insights into her career, the lessons she’s learned, and her vision for the future of real estate recruitment.
Can you share a bit about your professional background?
Before joining Worth Clark Realty, I was a recruiting associate at a recruitment process outsourcing company working with companies in different industries. These include meal-kit delivery, railroad, and life sciences industries to fill positions such as production, maintenance, manufacturing, food handlers, equipment operations, quality assurance, and leadership positions.
What initially attracted you to Worth Clark Realty?
In addition to my professional recruitment experience, I had the privilege of working with a local real estate investing company, where I assisted with administrative tasks aimed at sourcing off-market properties. This experience ignited my passion for real estate, and it felt like a natural progression to combine my interest in real estate with my background in recruiting. After I learned about Worth Clark Realty’s commission structure and agent ownership opportunities, I was excited about this opportunity. I believe that our brokerage model is the future of the industry.
What has been the biggest driving factor in your career and your biggest inspiration?
My focus has always been to prioritize people. I recognize that by helping others reach their goals, mutual success naturally follows. What drives me is helping others and the fulfillment that it brings. I get to make a difference in the lives of agents who are also making a difference in the lives of others.
What are some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?
I feel that recruiting and talent acquisition, are always about focusing on individuals’ needs and relationship building. Given that recruitment is inherently people-centric, it’s important to actively listen, build relationships, articulate value, and identify each person’s unique skills, needs, and talents. So it is about relationship building and focusing on identifying their needs and then explaining how we can meet those needs by articulating the value we offer.
What are you most excited about in this new Vice President position?
I am honored to hold this vice president role, as it offers an enhanced capacity to serve and advocate for both the brokerage and our agents. This position enables me to foster stronger connections with agents, while also contributing to the brokerage’s ongoing growth.
What aspects of Worth Clark’s mission and vision resonate most with you?
I love that I can help make a difference in the lives of agents while they are making a difference in the lives of others. The empowerment that accompanies the creation of a legacy for one’s family, while transforming lives in the process is something I’m grateful to be a part of.
How have you grown since you first started at Worth Clark Realty?
I’ve been presented with opportunities that initially seemed beyond my comfort zone, for example, hosting webinars, recording videos for our agents, and conducting retention calls. However, embracing these challenges and learning as I adapt has been such a privilege. I’ve also proactively assumed additional responsibilities where I could contribute, and offered ideas and feedback to identify growth opportunities. I consistently strive to exceed expectations.
How do you see the future of real estate recruitment evolving, and how is Worth Clark staying ahead?
We believe that recruiting is more than adding agents to our roster; it’s about attracting the right agent who aligns with our model and then fostering their growth through support, tools, and resources. We focus on providing a high-value platform for agents motivated by various factors, such as commission splits, freedom and flexibility, guaranteed support, ongoing training, and professional development. Our focus is to attract agents who not only want to generate more business but also keep more of their own commissions. Worth Clark Realty is staying ahead by proactively evolving with the industry – by investing in technology, prioritizing agent feedback, and ensuring our agents are equipped with the resources needed to support their professional growth.
What role does company culture play in attracting and retaining top agents?
Worth Clark Realty guarantees support, ensuring agents have access to the resources and broker support when they need them. When you can provide great support, 100% commission, and all of the tools needed to grow, top agents not only want to join but also stay at the brokerage long-term.
How do you ensure that the company’s goals align with the needs and aspirations of the agents you recruit?
This goes back to focusing on attracting the right agent, rather than simply adding numbers to our roster. I seek to understand the agent’s personal needs and motivations for seeking a new brokerage first. Once I identify their needs and goals, it’s easy to articulate the value we offer here to see if it’s a mutual fit.
If you could describe Worth Clark Realty in three words, what would they be and why?
If I had to choose, I’d go with value, evolving, and future.
- Value – We focus on adding value by offering freedom and flexibility, 100% commission, guaranteed support, and staying focused on helping agents be great at buying and selling real estate.
- Evolving – Our brokerage is quick to adapt to industry changes while also seeking opportunities to grow and invest in resources for agents.
- Future – I believe our brokerage model represents the future of the industry. By giving agents the freedom to create their own brand and offering agent ownership options, we align with the industry’s shift towards personal branding and agent autonomy.
Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn!
