Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawne Richards.
Hi Dawne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been a serial entrepreneur since my 20s, beginning with a small market research startup with two partners.
Since then, I founded and ran a local civic association, and what grew out of that was my desire to start Pompano Today magazine, Pompano’s first lifestyle magazine. We published our first print issue in October 2010 and successfully ran it for six years, until May of 2016, when I decided to run for city commission.
While I did not win, it gave me the opportunity to serve on the board of a local political committee in subsequent elections. In our first election cycle, five of our six candidates won their seats.
Not long after, a partner and I founded Spectacular Bags, “where art meets fashion.” The bags were one-of-a-kind, artist-designed, small handbags and Neoprene beach totes, with all materials sourced and manufacturing done entirely in the United States.
Since then, I’ve pivoted to real estate. This is my third full year; in 2024, I was awarded the “Rising Star” award by the local Keller Williams office.
Now with eXp Realty, I continue to serve my clients, combining unmatched negotiating skills with dedication and my deep knowledge of all of Southeast Florida, from Miami to West Palm Beach.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road! I tend to take on too much at once (for example, deciding to start a magazine with no publishing experience and a demanding full-time corporate job).
I stopped publishing the magazine when I decided to run for office; the city was one of our advertisers. Even though it was legally permitted, I was not comfortable continuing to accept advertising from the city in which I was running for office, never mind that I maintained my full-time corporate job as well. The job also required extensive travel across the United States, but I made it work!
In mid-2018, I was downsized from the corporate job and decided to work on publishing my first book. I’d made good progress by the end of 2018, when tragedy struck our family. My husband unexpectedly took his own life.
As you can imagine, this was a shock to our family. 2019 was a year of making sense of things. While I’d hoped for a return to normalcy in 2020, Covid arrived, and there went any sense of normalcy.
Having abandoned my book, I spent the next couple of years thinking about what I’d do next. In late 2023, I got my real estate license and haven’t looked back!
As you know, we’re big fans of Dawne Richards, REALTOR®. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m a local residential REALTOR®, who specializes in helping really everyone, whether first-time homebuyers, longtime landlords, tenants, and sellers. What sets me apart is the ability to get every deal done, no matter how difficult, and negotiate the best outcome for my clients, in addition to having built a reputation among other REALTORs® as the agent they know they will appreciate working with.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
My view on taking risks came from advice my father gave me a very long time ago. When I was in high school, he said, “Don’t ever say ‘I should have.'” For me, it’s always better to give things a shot – no matter what it is – than regret not having taken the shot later on. All of my businesses and endeavors have taught me so many things, have exposed me to new people, industries, and experiences, and made me a better person and businessperson.
I’ve always been the person who never gives up; a longtime friend calls me “the Phoenix.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://deardawne.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawnerichardsrealtor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawne.richards
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnerichards/
- Twitter: https://x.com/dawnerichards
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DawneSouthFloridaHomes
