Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Canada Director of Client Services Karrie-Ann Sheppard is known for her professionalism and positivity in the real estate industry. People-oriented and passionate, Karrie-Ann serves as one of the top members of the international BHGRE community. Find out what Karrie-Ann loves about the industry, who her hero is, and what she values most at BHGRE Canada in our “Ten Questions With” series!

1. Which of our BHGRE® P.A.I.G.E. (Passion, Authenticity, Innovation, Growth, Excellence) core values do you identify with most, and why?

   As much as I love them all, I really identify with Authenticity. Everything we do in both work and life becomes easy when we embrace our authentic selves. It takes too much work and effort to try and be something that we are not….not to mention, there’s no sustainability to it. True success can only be built on authenticity.

2. What are your favorite qualities in a customer?

   I absolutely love customers who know what they want and aren’t afraid to communicate it with me. It’s so much easier to assist someone in building a dream when you know exactly what the dream is!

3. What is the one characteristic that’s helped you the most in your career?

   I’m a firm believer in “where there’s a will, there’s a way” and that persistence is what has helped me attain any of my goals, even if sometimes I had to take the unconventional path.

4. What was the last book you read?

   Unselling by Scott Stratten and Alison Kramer.

5. If you weren’t in real estate, what would you be doing?

   Wow, great questions, I don’t exactly know. I suspect it would be something along the lines of strategic planning as I really love to see the overall picture and understand how moving parts work together.

6. What was the last song you heard that you couldn’t stop humming?

   I wish I could say it was a great classic rock tune, but, my daughter “owns” all our music systems, so right now I’ve got, “Hotline Bling” by Drake embedded in my brain.

7. Who is your real-life hero?

   This would have to be my daughter; she’s toughed out a lot this last few years, but always comes out on the other side smiling.

8. What’s your favorite thing about social media?

   I love the transparency of it all. Going back to authenticity, we have many opportunities to both “see” who people really are and at the same time “show” who we really are. I’ve learned that many people I know are much kinder, more generous and loving than I’d have ever imagined on my own.

9. If you could sell a home in any market in the world, where would it be?

   I would love to be able to sell a home, specifically a castle in Scotland. What can I say, I’m a Braveheart fan.

10. What is your favorite motto, and what advice would you give your younger self-starting out in real estate?

    I mentioned it earlier, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” I don’t like to acknowledge limiting beliefs and I truly believe we can all accomplish anything we want, we just have to understand that it may take some getting creative. If I were to give my younger self advice, it would be to “slow down” and actually enjoy the journey. I had a tendency to make everything a race, I’m sure I missed a few golden moments.