Leaving Corporate America Leads to Entrepreneurship

Since the pandemic, baby boomers are leaving more and more of the U.S. workforce. According to Forbes Advisor, an average of 2 million baby boomers have retired each year since 2011. However, by 2020, that number had increased to 3.2 million, a trend that continues today. For some, it means breaking out of a corporate career that has lasted decades and retiring early to create an entrepreneurial endeavor on their own terms.

Unlike young entrepreneurs, these seasoned employees bring a lifetime of knowledge and experience. For women in particular, flexibility, escape from corporate politics, and finding purposeful work are key to leaving corporate America and entering entrepreneurship. Her 50+ in the Forbes 50 further shows that women are making progress in their entrepreneurial pursuits without age limits.

In many ways, entrepreneurship resembles the pursuit of young entrepreneurial dreams, with the added caveat of the experience learned in their arsenal. In exploring potential innovations, many female baby boomers are bringing their personal and professional sensibilities into new environments of compassion, inclusion and empathy.

Catherine Kauferis a luxury real estate agent and advisor, and a leading early adopter of opposing corporations to pursue entrepreneurship. She left her IBM career and embarked on an adventure of her own years ago when her decision was less steeped in understanding and positive emotions.

Over the past 20 years, Kauffer has overcome personal and professional obstacles to run successful real estate businesses in Nevada and California. Now she devotes part of her time to providing practical support and advice to those just starting or looking to expand her efforts.

“Today’s youth are some of the brightest people America has ever produced,” says Kauffer. But building world-leading businesses and brands for the long term requires upholding proven principles. “

Kauffer believes one of the two main secrets to her longevity and success is her insistence on constant self-education, service evolution, and building a reputation within the industry.

This reporter sat down with Katherine Kaufer to gain insight into the mindset of women entrepreneurs. Before her, the female entrepreneur chose to leave the corporate world for personal pursuits. Kaufer shares her journey and offers what she thinks this generation should focus on to advance their careers.

Rod Berger: Your story was one of perseverance, from academic success to building an enviable career in real estate. Go back to your previous journeys, backgrounds and pursuits.

Katherine Kaufer: I was born and raised in the East Bay Area and have lived there all my life. He graduated from St. Mary’s College in 1986 and soon after he got a job at IBM. I got married soon after and bought a house that same year. This feat was extraordinary, especially considering I was considered dyslexic as a child and people thought I was of no use academically.

I couldn’t read, so I had to go back to first grade. But with the help of sheer determination and faith, I turned it around, becoming an “A” student, the same year I graduated, and the only undergraduate at my university hired by IBM. I got

I am a mother of two grown daughters, a real estate broker and an investor. I call myself a real estate advisor.I love creating win-win situations. It also runs a non-profit organization called Mini and Me Ministries.

I have a team of therapy animals that help people who are experiencing loss, depression or difficulty. Assisted Intervention) playing the role of an animal. They bring so many smiles to people’s faces, give them hope, and help them overcome life’s challenges. I started Mini and Me after tragically losing her husband in an accident in 2015 and trusting God to heal and deal with it. Mini and Me is my way of sharing with others and her one of the things that helped me.

Burger: How did you transition from working at IBM to becoming a real estate broker? These two paths of his appear, in experience, to be unique and not necessarily congruent.

cow fur: In 1993, while still working at IBM, layoffs surged within the company. The company was restructuring and closing several locations, including my Walnut Creek office. The company presented her two options in front of me. Either commute to the San Francisco office or take an acquisition package. At the time, I was pregnant with my second child, so I turned down the opportunity to take them to work. So, I took the option of purchasing.

Many people inside the company told me I would never get a better job. I worked a few odd jobs and ended up helping my husband run a construction company.Her husband and I bought fixer her uppers and from 1995 her 2000 Flipped it up to 2018. During that time, I fell in love with real estate and in 1998 obtained her license as a broker to help more people. Since joining a luxury broker in 2000, he has been active as a top producer.

I just clicked and knew that’s what I was trying to do. For the past 20 years, I have put this gifted creative problem-solver to good use as a full-service real estate broker in one of the Bay Area’s top his markets.

Burger: What are the secrets of your success over the last 20 years? How can the younger generation learn from those secrets?

cow fur: I pride myself on adapting to unforeseen scenarios rather than skipping boats. That’s how I stayed in the industry after the 2008 housing market crash. I am ambitious and driven by challenges. I have an impeccable work ethic that has kept me at the forefront of the industry. But despite all these traits, building a reputation within the industry is one of my strongest weapons.

Burger: Can you elaborate on building a good name and how it has benefited your career?

cow fur: When growing a business or running a business, our eyes are often so focused on profits and promotions that we tend to miss the many opportunities that lie hidden in the needs of our customers. has a reputation for excellence in its work and aptitude to help its customers get exactly what they want, or as close to it as possible.

Excellence, empathy, honesty, and intuition are the core ingredients of a good name. Real estate is more than just a job for me. I am similarly passionate and focused on my career and my clients. When you love what you do and the people you serve, word spreads quickly.

When the recession hit in 2008, we knew we had to learn different ways to help our clients. So I invested in the education of world-renowned coaches. The goal was to create additional investment strategies for our clients.

In 2011 I had to leave the broker I worked with. Because they insisted that I could only buy and sell homes for my clients. I disagreed.

He then relaunched as a real estate advisor by founding the brokerage firm Redeemer Real Estate Solutions. I help advise my clients on all means and strategies that will benefit them and their investments. My insistence on going above and beyond for my clients stands out and is recognized in the industry. I am proud of the awards that reflect my dedication and commitment to my career.

Young people have all the skill sets and techniques available, but their hearts may need a little more training.

Burger: Today, our focus is on millennials and their ability to be flexible in their career choices. You made a big decision in his 1993. I made a bet on myself and launched a successful new career. What advice would you give to the next generation of professional women looking to have it all?

cow fur: I believe you can have it all. However, it will take some time to put everything together. In my experience, getting things ahead of time can leave you unprepared for responsibilities and financial burdens. I discovered giving. If you help people get what they want, they will help you.

Life’s journey opens and closes doors. It helps identify which doors to go through and which ones to leave alone. For example, if an opportunity presents itself and you are so excited and it seems so right and everything in your being is saying yes to you, experience it. If it is, let it go.

Burger: How has a new role in your life changed your definition of success?

cow fur: My definition of success has changed over time. Success starts when you’re fresh out of college and land a job in the career you want. As life progresses and personal responsibilities increase, the conditions for success change while trying to balance careers, children, marriage, finances, and more.

For example, when I had two daughters, working closer to home and making sure they received what they needed was essential. Therefore, I bought her IBM and found another career. I always strive to be the best version of myself and grow personally so I can help others. Being able to help my family and others defines my success now. I’m here.

Millennials and Generation Z are often the topic of headlines highlighting the rise of entrepreneurship in the United States. However, as research suggests, more experienced professionals are finding success in their entrepreneurial pursuits.

For women who have struggled with the corporate life of juggling parenting and careers, these new ventures can offer a renewed sense of empowerment, purpose and community building. Employs the core elements of branding: excellence, empathy, honesty, and intuition, while benefiting from the insight and experience of those who fought before them.

The entrepreneurial journey is one learned through experience and setbacks. Synthesizing advice from our predecessors may provide the keys to collaboration that can help open the door to the success young professionals seek.

Interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.