Meet Karen Hatcher

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karen Hatcher a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Karen, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Being the only one like me in a room has both challenged and inspired me. I’ve embraced these moments for personal and professional growth, showcasing my unique perspective while respecting diverse thoughts. In such situations, I exhibit resilience, adaptability, and open-mindedness, which helps me navigate new environments and build meaningful connections.

I intentionally speak up against bias and advocate for diverse representation. Emphasizing that diversity is essential to growth and business. One example is my educational journey in a predominantly white school and neighborhood, where I overcame microaggressions and graduated with honors. I always felt like I belonged wherever I was and whoever I was with.

After college, I became involved in volunteer leadership in my local real estate industry. I was among the few black women in leadership, and I often felt I had to prove myself from microaggressions in our industry. I refused to let that stop me from succeeding. I made my presence known, invested time, shared my knowledge, and became a valuable asset. I also ensured that there were others who looked like me on the path to leadership so they won’t be the only ones in the room in the future.

Now a successful entrepreneur, I help everyday people and small businesses achieve their goals while promoting inclusivity and equity. Grateful for my experiences, I’m committed to making a lasting impact.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?Thank you for the opportunity to tell your readers about my journey and work, which hopefully can inspire and empower others to embrace a #LiveSovereign.

As the Founder and CEO of Sovereign Realty & Management, I have forged a path in the real estate industry that has allowed me to create the life I aspire to, and I am on a mission to help others achieve the same.

In 2021, I made history by becoming the first Black woman to serve as president of the Atlanta REALTORS Association, which has been around for over a century. As a recognized expert in my field, my journey serves as an example of what dedication and hard work can achieve.

My passion extends beyond real estate to serve as an advocate for helping individuals create a life of sovereignty through my #LiveSovereign lifestyle brand. Through this platform, I aim to provide people with strategies and inspiration to design their lives based on their aspirations and core values with a foundation of real estate.

In addition, I host the Hatching Wealth with Karen Hatcher podcast, where I share valuable strategies, tips, and stories of successful entrepreneurs, investors, and landowners.

I am thrilled to share my passion for creating pathways to success in real estate and entrepreneurship with your readers. It’s important for me that individuals understand their power to shape their destinies through embracing sovereignty, creating a plan, curating a tribe, feeding their spirit and investing in real estate

Furthermore, I’m committed to making sure that everyone has the opportunity to own a home. To achieve this, I have expanded the development division in our Sovereign companies to create affordable housing. Additionally, I co-founded the Keep Building Foundation alongside my husband. This foundation aims to educate and empower future leaders in the real estate and construction industries while also bolstering the workforce.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Reflecting upon my experiences, the three most influential qualities I have found are sophistication, intimate balance, and innate fairness.

1. Sophistication – People who possess a lawful demeanor, exude grace, and project simplicity have an air of sophistication. It’s a quality that makes it easier for others to work with them, trust them, and believe in their competence.

2. Intimate Balance – This principle is the ability to remain true to your authentic self while adapting to life’s challenges. Staying committed to your goals during turbulent times speaks volumes about your character and resilience.

3. Innate Fairness – Possessing a natural sense of fairness gives a person an edge in decision-making, negotiating and relationship-building. Masterful diplomacy, cooperation, idealism, and sociability are essential traits that help foster fairness or a win-win. A fair disposition involves treating others impartially and only dispensing what is demanded – nothing overdone or neglected.

For those early in their journey, I suggest developing these qualities by practicing active listening, finding mentors who exemplify such traits, and consistently challenging yourself to grow personally and professionally. Implementing these attributes into your everyday life will result in a more rewarding journey of personal growth and success.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely! Specifically, we are looking to collaborate with developers and builders who share our vision and values, landowners interested in contributing to community development, and nonprofits and community development corporations that align with our objectives. By joining forces, we can make a greater impact on our shared mission.

If you or anyone you know falls into these categories and would like to collaborate, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can connect with me at @property_ninja on Instagram and our team @sovereignrm on social media platforms and Sovereign Realty and Management on LinkedIn.

We are eager to explore the possibilities of working together and exchanging ideas that can lead to transformative projects.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Southeast Mortgage

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