Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Chin Stevenson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Danielle. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m a New York native that has called Atlanta home for the last 20+ years, relocating to Atlanta in 1998 with my young son D’mitri. My daughter Madison, was born here in Georgia.
As a young (22 y.o.) single mom, I attended Brooklyn College as an English major and on many occasions, I had to bring my son, then around four years old, to class with me. I had friends that would babysit him in the student union building on campus, while I attended class. Among some of the jobs, I worked early on was my tenure as a receptionist at NYC’s famed Soundtrack Studios. Being on the cusp of the music industry was both exciting and eye-opening. It was a fast-paced environment that instilled a sense of urgency in me, and the ability to effectively navigate different social circles.
Upon relocating to Atlanta, I decided to begin my career as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant, accepting a role with Kasowitz, Benson, Torres (formerly Kasowitz, Benson Torres & Friedman), a commercial litigation firm with offices in 10 cities across four countries. While in this role, I supported Managing Partners, Special Counsel and Associates in their NY, Atlanta & Silicon Valley offices. I also contributed to significant wins in Insurance Liability and Intellectual Property litigation and remained with Kasowitz for ten years.
Eager for a new professional challenge, I accepted an opportunity with a privately owned asset management firm managing over $20B in assets, as the Executive Assistant to the Founder & CEO. Changing careers while simultaneously changing industries required tenacity and adaptability. My time there, though relatively short, was both challenging and rewarding, but most importantly, it provided an opportunity to observe the daily habits of a successful entrepreneur.
Being fired(!) from that position reignited a long-held desire in me to build my OWN legacy and business that I could be proud of, and led to me pursuing my current career as a Realtor. I decided to reinvent myself at the age of 45. I was absolutely terrified, but as I’ve done so many times in the past, I jumped in headfirst by taking an accelerated two-week course and passing the state exam my first try. That sense of urgency has never been stronger for me than now! I enjoy being a small business owner who can interact with my clients in an intimate way, allowing me to provide unrivaled personal service, as well as building a viable business and generational wealth.
Being a mother has by far been my most challenging and rewarding role! When my children were of school age, I made it a practice to volunteer at their various schools and any extracurricular programs they were involved in, throughout their academic careers. I have a heart for community outreach and servant leadership, and one of my greatest joys is being a student mentor for the Cristo Rey Jesuit School, and serving in whatever way I can. I’m the Director of Administration for NSN Atlanta Chapter through January 2020. My term afforded me opportunities to serve in various capacities, but my absolute favorite was serving a Mother’s Day Brunch at a local shelter for displaced mothers and children, last year.
In my spare time, I’m an avid reader who especially enjoys murder mysteries and autobiographical works. A city girl at heart I also have a love for nature, outdoor activities, and my ten-year-old Boxer, Buddy. My philosophies on life are simple: treat others as you wish to be treated, approach each day with the curiosity of a one-year-old, and if you can’t pay it back, pay it forward.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been easy. I relocated to GA from NY with only my ex and his family as a support system. I left everything I knew including my entire family and support structure, back in Brooklyn. I was fired from the job I secured prior to moving, three months after beginning it. I found out I was pregnant with my second child shortly thereafter, and I lost my stepfather to cancer less than a year after leaving NY. I had to bury my father while I was four months pregnant with my daughter.
I then separated from my children’s father less than a year after our daughter’s birth, though we continue harmoniously co-parent 20 years later, I decided to stay in Atlanta and carve out a life for myself and our children. A couple of years after my dad’s death, my mother and I came to the decision that I would legally adopt my two younger sisters so that they could live with me and attend high school in Atlanta. They weren’t dealing with my dad’s passing well and my mom felt they needed a change of scenery to help cope. I was around 28 years old, raising two teenagers, a nine-year-old and a toddler.
I went through a period of unemployment around 2004-2005, which forced me to implement some belt-tightening, soul searching and introspection. In 2006, I secured a position with Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman, which was the first step towards rebuilding my life.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m a REALTOR, licensed in the State of Georgia as of August 2018. I operate as both a Buyer’s and Seller’s Agent. This means I’m able to service either party in a real estate transaction. As a business owner, I’m most proud of my commitment to working with as many minority and women, small business owners, in the course of my transactions. As a minority woman, I’m committed to seeing more people that look like me in these spaces. My preferred lender and closing attorneys are all minority women. For my clients, it’s a welcome change for them to conduct business with people that are reflective of them, as well. I operate at the highest level of integrity, as it will ALWAYS pay off. People know when you are disingenuous, so I’m as transparent and genuine as I can be.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
The Real Estate Market in Atlanta is thriving! With the addition of our growing film industry, comes more transplants that need somewhere to live. The construction of the new Mercedes Benz Stadium and the Battery means Metro areas that have been neglected are being revitalized at a rate we haven’t seen in past years. There will always be those that shy away from markets or fields that are “over-saturated” but I believe the Atlanta Real Estate pie is big enough for everyone, who’s willing to work hard, to have a slice!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 404-512-7292
- Email: Danielle@prisedright.com
- Instagram: DannieSellsAtl
- Facebook: Danielle Stevenson
Image Credit:
NSN Atlanta
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