Which Came First: The REALTOR® or the Influencer?
Katie Hession joins the REAL TIME podcast.
Social media is a strong tool in the world of real estate. A REALTOR®’s online presence and personality can directly impact their professional success.
Katie Hession, also known as YOWCityStyle on Instagram, recently expanded her career to real estate. YOWCitySold is where she now leverages her experience as a professional social media influencer to build her business in real estate.
She joined the REAL TIME podcast to share her journey from influencer to REALTOR®, why authentic content is always going to rise above, and how fellow REALTORS® can leverage social media to form stronger connections with their community and grow their business.
Tracing Hession’s journey from Christmas elf all the way to REALTOR®, host Shaun Majumder starts off this dynamic and informative episode by asking Hession, with more than a decade on social media, how important creating an online community can be to REALTORS®.
She starts off by saying that whether REALTORS® choose to have an online personality or not, the sphere of influence, or community, that you’re a part of is top of mind, and “having a personal brand online is really just a way of taking that on turbo speed or magnifying it like crazy.”
Ottawa born and raised, Hession takes us through her various experiences prior to her online career including studying sociology and business at university, working at CBC, and getting a teaching degree in Australia. Following a 10-year stint in Toronto, Ontario, she returned home to Ottawa and worked in the nonprofit space.
She shares how she first started thinking about a career in real estate back in 2005, but after getting a different job she put the idea on the backburner.
That is, until early 2020.
Real estate was shuffled back into the deck about two years ago—ultimately becoming a REALTOR® officially in 2025.
The conversation then loops back to her start on social media, which was in many ways rooted in her love and pride of her hometown. What started as a project to get acquainted with Ottawa blossomed into opportunities to become an ambassador for the city, and for the community.
Rooted in her love for her hometown and guided by a personal brand that reflects that passion, Hession shares insights that can help any REALTOR®, or aspiring REALTOR®, connect meaningfully with their community.
A must-listen episode for new and seasoned REALTORS® alike, this episode is available to listen or watch at CREA.ca/podcast.
