Though her high school interests were engineering and science, an internship with an architect helped Pressley-Blackwood see that real estate was for her. But a funny thing happened while Pressley-Blackwood was studying for her broker’s license—her broker shuttered his doors. “I was trying to decide whether to be an associate or open my own shop. I realized I couldn’t depend on others any longer. I had to do this myself,” she says. 

FIGHT THE FEAR: Her first home sale gave her jitters. “I was 22 and apprehensive about helping people buy, but I said, ‘Here we go!’” Working with many entry-level clients, she still netted sales of $3.2 million last year. 

REACHING OUT: Remembering the value of her internships, Pressley-Blackwood is now mentoring others. “Someone helped me, and I feel as though I should do it, too,” she says..