Today we’d like to introduce you to Tegest Walker.
Hi Tegest, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Real estate has always been something I was drawn to, long before I ever considered it a career. Growing up, my grandfather and I would watch HGTV together, and I loved everything from the homes themselves to the design and décor. I even remember helping my parents choose different details for our own home. By the time I was 18, becoming a Realtor was something I had seriously considered.
But at the time, I was preparing to attend the University of Michigan, and I thought, “I’m about to go to college. Does it really make sense to start a career in real estate now?” So I took a different path. I earned my degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering and, after graduating, began my career at Goldman Sachs.
There was still a part of me that wanted to pursue real estate, but Goldman Sachs felt like the opportunity I was supposed to take. From there, I eventually transitioned from finance into consulting, where I had the opportunity to work with different companies and industries. In many ways, I was trying to figure out where I truly belonged professionally.
The funny thing is, real estate never really left me. I would sit at work listening to real estate podcasts, learning about the industry and eventually beginning to invest in real estate myself. After living in New York and Chicago, I ultimately returned home to Detroit and purchased my first property here.
That experience helped everything click for me. I realized that being a Realtor incorporated many of the things I enjoyed about consulting, including strategy, problem solving, analyzing information and helping clients make important decisions. The difference was that instead of helping a corporation improve its bottom line, I could use those same skills to help people make decisions that directly impacted their lives. That felt much more personal and meaningful to me.
So I finally decided to pursue the career I had been thinking about since I was 18. I initially started in real estate part time while still working in consulting before ultimately making the leap into it full time.
Today, I’m an Associate Broker with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate in Detroit. My engineering, finance and consulting background may seem like an unconventional path into real estate, but those experiences have become a major part of how I serve my clients today. I approach real estate analytically and strategically, while still recognizing that buying or selling a home is an incredibly personal decision.
Looking back, I don’t see my previous careers as detours. Each one gave me skills and experiences that prepared me for what I’m doing now. Real estate was the thread that was there all along. I just eventually gave myself permission to follow it.
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 definitely has not been a smooth road, but I think that is also what has made the journey so rewarding. Entrepreneurship has stretched me far beyond my comfort zone and required me to grow in ways I did not anticipate when I first got into real estate.
I have always been a more reserved person. Before real estate, I was never someone who posted a lot on social media or wanted to constantly put myself out there. Then I entered an industry where marketing yourself is a major part of building your business. I had to become comfortable being visible, sharing my knowledge, getting in front of the camera and putting myself out there even when it felt uncomfortable. Surprisingly, that challenge helped me discover a creative side of myself that I did not know I had. I realized that I actually really enjoy marketing, creating content and finding new ways to connect with people.
Another major area of growth has been figuring out how I wanted to structure my business. I was not on a real estate team, so while I had access to coaching, training and other successful agents, I also had a lot of freedom to determine how I wanted to run my business. What I quickly learned was that you can ask five successful agents how to do something and get five different answers. The fundamentals may be similar, but how each person executes them can look completely different.
That forced me to really look inward and figure out what worked best for me. How do I work best? What are my strengths? What kind of clients do I want to serve? What do I want my days to look like? And ultimately, how do I build a successful business that I actually enjoy running? I had spent years working within established corporate structures, and suddenly I had the opportunity to create my own. That freedom has been one of the greatest parts of entrepreneurship, but learning how to use it intentionally has also been one of my biggest areas of growth.
There have also been plenty of moments when I have given something my all and it still did not go the way I hoped. You can write an offer that does not get accepted. You can put time and energy into an opportunity that never comes together. I had to learn that disappointment does not mean defeat. Sometimes you have to allow yourself to be disappointed, learn from it and then get back up and keep going.
More than anything, this journey has required me to believe in myself, strengthen my faith and trust God even when I cannot see exactly how things are going to work out. I expected real estate to teach me how to run a business, but I did not realize how much it would teach me about myself.
I am nowhere near the same woman I was when I started in this industry. I have become more confident, creative, resilient, self aware and willing to take chances. The road has not always been easy, but I am grateful for how much it has stretched me and for the woman I have become along the way.
As you know, we’re big fans of Tegest Walker Real Estate Group. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I help people buy and sell real estate throughout Metro Detroit, with a particular focus on first time homebuyers, new construction and helping homeowners strategically position their properties for sale.
What sets me apart is the combination of how I think and how I care for people. My background in engineering, finance and consulting naturally makes me very analytical. I believe in leading with data, whether that means analyzing comparable sales, evaluating a new construction opportunity, determining how to position a home for the market or helping a buyer decide what makes sense financially. I want my clients to understand the why behind the advice I am giving them so they can make informed and confident decisions.
But real estate is about much more than numbers. A home is often one of the largest financial decisions someone will make, and there are real people, emotions and life changes behind every transaction. I genuinely care about the people I work with. I listen, I am patient and I try to bring a calm presence to the process, even when there may be a lot happening behind the scenes. My goal is never to convince someone to buy or sell a home simply to complete a transaction. Sometimes my advice may even be to wait or walk away. I want to understand what my clients are trying to accomplish and help them make the decision that is truly right for them.
That is probably what I am most proud of when it comes to my brand. Of course, I am grateful when someone tells me I negotiated a great deal or did a great job marketing their home, but the feedback that means the most to me is when clients tell me they felt heard, that I was patient with them or that they knew I genuinely cared about what they wanted.
Ultimately, I want to be more than the person someone calls when they are ready to buy or sell. I want to be their real estate resource. Whether someone is purchasing their first home, considering new construction, preparing to sell, relocating to Metro Detroit or simply trying to understand their options, I want them to know they can come to me for honest guidance, thoughtful strategy and a perspective that always keeps their goals at the center.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are so many people who deserve credit for where I am today, and I know I could never name them all.
First and foremost, I have to give credit to God. My faith has carried me throughout this journey and given me the strength to keep going even when I could not see exactly how things would work out.
I also have to credit my grandmother and late grandfather, who raised me after my biological parents passed away when I was young. They became Mom and Dad to me and have always been my biggest supporters. When I told my grandmother I was leaving my corporate career to pursue real estate full time, she never made me question my decision. She simply believed in me and reminded me that I could do it. Having that kind of support while taking such a major leap meant everything to me.
One of my earliest professional mentors was Stephanie Smith, who was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs when I met her. She told me years ago, “The only thing that can stop you is you,” and encouraged me to take my hammer and shatter the glass ceiling wherever I went. I still carry those words with me today. Sometimes we place limitations on ourselves or question abilities that other people can already see in us. As I continue to grow and think about what the next level looks like for me, her words remind me that I am capable of reaching it and that I cannot allow my own doubts to stand in my way.
I have also been fortunate to have people within real estate who encouraged me along the way. Jill Gallant was one of the first Realtors who made me feel like this was something I could really do, and Geraldine James took me under her wing when I was still finding my footing in the industry.
I am incredibly grateful for the Realtor friends who have grown alongside me, my transaction coordinator Simone English, my lender partners, business partners and, of course, my clients. Every person who has trusted me with a purchase, sale or referral has played a role in building my business.
Real estate may have my name on the business card, but I certainly did not get here by myself. I have been blessed with an incredible community of people who have supported me, encouraged me and believed in me along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tegestwalker.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tegest_tsehai/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tegest.walker/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tegest-walker-1aba6b48/?isSelfProfile=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tegest_tsehai
