Join us as we get to know some of Sydney’s finest – the ones selling, leasing, strategising, inspiring, dreaming and doing. Because property is about people, and people are at the centre of everything we do.

Nicole Robertson – Sales Agent, Hunters Hill
It’s 3:30pm on a rainy Sydney afternoon. I’m sitting in the BresicWhitney Hunters Hill office with Nicole Robertson. It’s my first time to the suburb in a decade. I’m pleased to see that the sense of warmth and community I remember remains. The busy strip shops, tree-lined streets, and manicured lawns deliver a tangible sense of place, and peace, that confirms why it’s one of Sydney’s favourite spots to call home.

But it’s far from sleepy – Hunters Hill is fast-paced suburb that’s worked hard to secure its reputation – something that Nicole knows a thing or two about. I am surprised to learn however that she’d spent most of the morning at the dentist in preparation to have her wisdom teeth out. It’s not somewhere I expected to find one of Sydney’s leading real estate agents (especially for someone whose norm is a six-day working week). But it’s investing the time in humbling appointments like this that Nicole believes are key to ‘nailing’ this all-important balance in life.

She’s warm and genuine, and the more we talk, the more I want to know her story. I ask about the beginnings of her career, and how she got to where she is now. Turns out, it’s a story of opposites and one that starts in the Southern Highlands town of Mittagong. Working in administration for an industrial steel frame manufacturer, Nicole tells me it was her ambition that saw her promoted quickly. But with a longing to be among the hum of the city, she farewelled the small town for the bright lights of Sydney. While this decision brought major changes, one thing’s remained the same for Nicole.  “I’d always wanted to be a real estate agent. And I love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she says proudly. “But you need to have a strong drive and that inner fuel to keep going. If you don’t have that, being an agent is not an enjoyable job,” she laughs.

I’m curious if these are traits Nicole believes you’re born with. “You can learn it, but you need to work at it. It’s about being hungry to learn the skills you may be missing, while balancing the things that do come naturally to you and then learning how to put them to work together.” Nicole’s clearly had experience in doing so. In recent years she’s written approximately $1 million in fees, is one of the group’s leading female agents, and a trusted confidant for colleagues – positions she’s truly earned during her eight years with BresicWhitney.

“For me, this process was about learning how to balance my softer, nurturing side with sense of bold determination,” she says. “It didn’t come straight away, but since learning it, it’s never left me. I already had the competitiveness though. I’ve always been very competitive,” she says assuredly (just in case I had any doubt).

Staying true to yourself is a necessary part of the process, and one that young agents must take note of, Nicole adds.  “You don’t have to fit a certain mould.” The certainty in her voice hints that this is a realisation Nicole has lived through. “You just need to be who you are and back yourself. It doesn’t really matter how good you are if you’re not authentic and staying true to you.”

I can’t help but draw parallels between her words and the authentic timber walls that hug the office we’re in. Warm lighting dances off the gold finishes and filters into unexpected places. You’re never quite sure where you’ll uncover the light or shadows, but in it’s intriguing in a way that also puts you at ease – much like our conversation.

It’s clear what keeps clients choosing Nicole, but I’m interested in her opinion. “It’s important to never forget how personal real estate is. Being invited into someone’s home is an intimate thing and selling it is a privilege,” she says nodding. “I honour this by ensuring my clients get the ‘real’ me. I connect with them openly and will always talk honestly about their home, the market and why I may or may not be the right agent for them.”

I ponder how strong this sense of genuinity must be for Nicole’s clients, if I’m convinced of it and it’s only been 30 minutes. Add to that the personal vulnerability that comes when selling or buying a home, and I see why she’s built a loyal client base among those who love the Lower North Shore. Our time is coming to an end, and I realise that it’s authenticity and genuinity we keep coming back to. A theme of her past and certainly her present, I’m naturally curious if she thinks it’ll be a theme of her future too. The chances are high. “I actually don’t want to win every listing. I want as much time to invest in myself as I do my clients. The better quality of life I have, the truer I can be to myself, and the better agent, colleague, and woman I can be.”

So what does quality of life look like for Nicole? Regular time off that includes allow her to slow down physically and mentally, cooking and daily meditation. “Exercise is another great outlet for me,” she says, searching her mind to see if there’s anything else to add. Turns out there is. “Oh, and I see an energy guru. He’s great!”, she laughs.