Taylor Travaglione’s
Q: What initially got you interested in Real Estate—how did you get into the field?
A: I’m entrepreneurially minded, raised in a family of entrepreneurs, so I realized from a young age that going into business for myself was inevitable, I just didn’t know in what industry. Out of college with a Sports Management degree, I envisioned myself as becoming the next “Jerry McGuire” but after a brief role with The Miami Heat in (’06) and being a part of the organizations first Championship, it came to a sudden end and I relocated back to NYC. Wanting a break from the sports business.
Ultimately real estate presented itself—it more or less, found me. While working as a Membership Director of City Winery in SoHo, the sales team handling the then TRUMP SoHo Hotel & Condominium project became regulars and essentially recruited me into the industry of luxury real estate, and the rest is history.
Q: Tell us about your real estate career—how did you get to where you are now, as the VP of Growth and Evolution at ONE Sotheby’s International Realty?
A: I had the good fortune of partnering with a top producingteam at Corcoran after getting my license in ’09. Right at the peak of the financial crisis, so in short, I learned a tremendous amount very fast by staying focused and being hyper observantof market trends and a client’s every need. 3-4 years later I moved on to become an independent agent, and how it so happens in real estate is that one listing comes your way and changes the course of your career…which is what happened to me. Because I was so comfortable socializing and being readily available, while also emphasizing kindness and being truly useful, I was able to build relationships, and leverage that skill into a successful business. I’m a big believer in karma and that what you put out into the universe will come back. From there, I still focused on traditional real estate, by starting a luxury sales team of my own which eventually led to the talent prospecting side of the business while at COMPASS, and now I’ve taken that to the next level with ONE Sotheby’s.
Q: What sets you, and ONE Sotheby’s International Realty apart from others in the industry?
A: Our objective and core value as a company is definitely quality over quantity. For me trying to find and identify the best people—and I say best people, because it’s not about just production, it’s more of a holistic and organic process for me. I want to understand who someone is, what makes them tick. Because I am able to establish a common ground with various personalities and empathize with most people, which coupled with my years of experience as an agent in the field, allows me to really connect and be able to understand what an agent’s needs are. We offer the strength of the brand, and our market share, but my emphasis on developing real relationships combined with my understanding of what it takes to amplify and enhance an agent’s business, is what sets us apart.
Q: We learned that you were referred to as “The Ferris Bueller of Real Estate.” Can you expand on that and how it applies to your business?
A: Ha! Sure, and it’s not the first time I’ve heard something like that; It’s all about how you present yourself and what people remember after sharing time with you.…I always try to be relatable and well-received by everyone I come into contact with; relationship-building is so crucial to the business, but it’s also who I am—I LOVE PEOPLE. I have a real interest in learning about their diverse backgrounds and find them each fascinating, especially with how they can surprise you!
Q: What do you see as your next career progression, what is the goal with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty?
A: We want to create the best-in-class brokerage, period. With the best agent experience out there. For myself, I want to be the industry leader when it comes to agent services and agent development. That’s the goal, and we’re on our way to just that with the right foundation of talent and leadership. We’re on an amazing trajectory as a company, and it’s just incredible to be a contributor to that journey. Something I’m tremendously grateful for.