Sonia Catalán, a success story at Engel & Völkers Spain

A brilliant career with no previous experience

Our protagonist landed at Engel & Völkers in April 2015 and after experiencing a gratifying break in her work activity due to her maternity (mother of three). With studies in ADE + MBA from ESADE, her previous experience was as an auditor and investment manager (nothing related to commercial activities). Sonia joined the team of real estate consultants in Sant Cugat del Vallésone of the most strategic areas for the brand, due to its location in the metropolitan area of Barcelona metropolitan area of Barcelona and the attractive target of residents in the area. A professional challenge that I faced with no previous experience in the real estate sector.

Sonia herself recognises that she opted for the role of real estate salesperson because of the greater facilities she could find to reconcile her professional and family life to reconcile her professional and family life. She was the one who defined her agenda according to the number of properties and/or clients she could take on at any given time. In addition, the firm facilitated her entry into the market with specific information, commercial materials, legal and commercial advice and, of course, its powerful brand image.

Leap to management in Sant Cugat and move to Madrid

In just two years, Sonia earned a well-deserved reputation in the area and achieved the title of Senior Consultantthis distinction is awarded to consultants who double the average turnover of the company. As a result, in 2017 she was selected to lead the team in Vallés Occidentalteam, taking advantage of a series of organisational changes in the province of Barcelona and in recognition of her accumulated merits. Moreover, when the brand expanded its structure in the region once again with the creation of the new team for the Vallés Oriental and Badalonasonia also took over its management.
It was 2018 and Sonia had under her responsibility an area with more than 70 real estate consultants, reaping excellent results in such competitive markets. At the end of 2019, Sonia decided to move to Madrid for personal reasons and, of course, Engel & Völkers also facilitated her move to another important division of the brand. Specifically, Sonia took over the management of the real estate consultancy team of Chamartínone of the key districts of the capital.

Commercial Director of the Madrid Market Center... and the story continues

The good results continued to accompany Sonia in her new assignment and she had barely been in Madrid for a year when she was given the task of to manage the commercial area of the Madrid Market Center. It should not be forgotten that this is one of the real estate company's most important hubs in Southern Europe and from where some of the most important transactions in the real estate market are managed every year the most important operations in the Spanish real estate market every year. Sonia's pulse did not tremble and today she continues to write her success story as she leads the commercial strategy of around 400 real estate consultants, as well as the staff in charge of supporting them in their daily tasks (legal, financial, marketing, architecture, photography, etc.).

Sonia's example and the differential value of Engel & Völkers

Contrary to what one might think, Sonia Catalán's case is far from exceptional is far from exceptional. Her story in the company is not so different from that of other professionals who, at a given moment, felt attracted by the option of joining the Engel & Völkers team as real estate consultants. As self-employed professionals, consultants have a great deal of flexibility to manage their time and manage their properties and clients.

It was clear to Sonia that her next professional challenge was to become her own "boss" and the model she could find at the luxury real estate company perfectly met those expectations. Like her, other consultants have become "mini-franchisees" and make decisions as if they were their own company. All this without forgetting the hallmarks that explain Engel & Völkers' success even in potentially uncertain times for the sector. This is how Sonia Catalán sums it up: "For me, Engel & Völkers is different from the rest of the competitors because of the quality of service and the passion we put into all our operations".

do you identify with their story and are you looking for a new challenge? You can find out more about all the opportunities Engel & Völkers has to offer here.