Robbie Briggs
CEO, Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty
“Attitude, of course, is No. 1. We are a small organization serving a large populace of agents and clients, so all our employees must be flexible, other-centric, intuitive, hardworking, smart, and good listeners. Everyone must see a little gray. Being black and white and rule-oriented doesn’t work well with entrepreneurial, independent contractors—which real estate agents are. I strongly believe in collaboration, and in an ever-changing environment like real estate, it takes a village of skill sets.”
Curt Farmer
CEO, Comerica
“First, I determine if the individual is a good fit with Comerica’s culture. Second, he or she must possess essential leadership capabilities: putting the customer first, the ability to inspire and influence their teams, a drive for results, disrupting the norm and challenging the status quo, and leading with innovation. Lastly, leaders at Comerica understand that the customers we serve want, need, and expect us to be community-minded and socially responsible. I believe this is true for all companies.”
Nina Vaca
CEO, Pinnacle Group
“The first trait that everyone must have, but especially my executive team, is an entrepreneurial spirit. We’ve been growing rapidly for 23 years and are always looking to innovate, create, and make changes. I also look for a fire in the belly, that burning desire to make an impact, to learn new skills, and to contribute in any way possible. The third thing is humility. As an entrepreneurial company, you have to be ready to do whatever is needed, whenever it is needed, wherever it is needed.”
