My eXp Journey: How eXp found me

Some opportunities become significant through the people you meet along the way. You start with a business decision and, somewhere between the conversations, friendships and moments of unexpected encouragement, discover that your world has become a little bigger. That is how I think about my journey with eXp. My background was firmly rooted in real estate: working with clients, building a business and understanding the responsibility that comes with helping someone make a major life decision. Through a considered move to Central Otago to pursue agency ownership possibilities and ultimately co-creating JHC Realty, my work connected me with communities in Central Otago and Canterbury. There is a particular satisfaction in building something of your own. There is also a great deal that happens behind the scenes. The decisions, the responsibility, the constant consideration of what comes next. Agency ownership gives you an appreciation for both. A local business, a wider world JHC Realty operated under eXp New Zealand, bringing a locally grounded business into an international network. That combination became an important part of my journey. My clients still needed someone who understood their home, their circumstances and their community. Meanwhile, my own professional world could extend well beyond the places where I worked. A conversation with someone overseas might introduce a different way of supporting agents or building a team. Hearing how another business owner had worked through a challenge could give me something useful to consider at home. Real estate is wonderfully local. Learning can travel. Discovering another side of growth As my involvement grew, so did my interest in helping other agents explore what might be possible for them. Agent attraction became a significant part of my work. But there is a human story behind every person who considers a change. They bring their ambitions, questions, experience and sometimes a fair amount of hesitation. Those conversations deserve time and honesty. My own organisation grew, and with it came a broader perspective on leadership. Encouraging someone to take a step is one thing. Helping them find confidence, connection and support as they move forward is an ongoing commitment. That is the part of growth I keep coming back to. Finding my voice My journey also took me into agent representation, including serving as Chair of the New Zealand Agents Advisory Council and as an International Agents Advisory Council representative. Those roles gave me opportunities to listen to agents and contribute their perspectives to wider conversations. They also reinforced how much I value transparency, accountability and a meaningful voice for the people doing the work. Becoming a Women's Impact Network Global Ambassador added another dimension: the opportunity to support and encourage women across the business - across the world. For me, ambition and generosity belong comfortably in the same room. There is room to build your own future while helping someone else see theirs more clearly. The relationships that shape what comes next Today, my life and work are based in Christchurch, and my interests continue to expand across real estate, business growth and the systems that help people stay connected. My friendship and collaboration with agents across Australia is a great example of where this journey has led. Together, we are building The Growth Movement, a monthly mastermind bringing agents into conversation with people who have grown substantial businesses within eXp. We share ideas, encourage each other and make space for bigger thinking. That spirit also runs through my work with ei8ht and Kairos: paying attention to people, understanding where support is needed and creating something useful around it. Looking back, eXp has become part of a much wider chapter in my life. One that includes leadership, learning, friendships across borders and a growing confidence in what I want to build. Perhaps that is how an opportunity really finds you. Through the people who help you recognise what you have to offer, and the possibilities you begin to see for yourself.