Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Ioanna Paraskevopoulos

Ioanna Paraskevopoulos shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Ioanna, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My 9 year old has taken an interest in hiking lately, so we’ve been exploring Greater Cincinnati’s many hiking trails. It’s something I’ve always loved doing, and I’m so excited that he is old enough to join me, and enthusiastic to boot.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born and raised in Cincinnati’s historic Gaslight Clifton neighborhood, and I returned home after world-spanning experiences in New York, D.C., Belgium, and even serving at the U.S. Department of State, bringing a unique combination of global perspective and local insight to my work. My love for the city’s walkable neighborhoods, vibrant art scene, and architecture fuels my passion for real estate.

I specialize in Cincinnati’s unique neighborhoods, from Clifton, to Over-the-Rhine, to Northside and beyond, helping clients find homes rich in character, whether a bungalow, Victorian, or chic loft.

I offer seamless, personalized service to a wide range of clients, from first-time buyers to seasoned investors. Whether helping people find their dream homes or guiding sellers toward wise decisions, I bring expertise and empathy to every step.

In 2024, I joined forces with my friend and colleague, Brandi Mays, to form Sage Real Estate and Property Management Group, a real estate team that represents clients in real estate sales transactions as well as in property management.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
I have always been a self-starter and a hard worker, for better or worse. Usually it was a good thing – I like to tackle projects early so that my decks are clear for new opportunities whenever they arise. Less often, it can lead to my having to revisit projects as circumstances change. But I have never had a problem *doing work.* And usually, I do it really well.

An insight I think about a LOT, though, came from a senior foreign service officer when I was working at the U.S. Department of State as a first year program officer. I had submitted a project and was fretting over whether it was done correctly, and she gave me a big smile and said, “People care a lot more about whether you’re easy to work with than whether your work is perfect 100% of the time.”

This totally changed how I approached work. I still do tackle projects early and I still work hard, but now I prioritize relationship building with my clients and business partners above all else. Projects can be tweaked, goals can shift, and mistakes are inevitable, but that trust building and rapport are the most important thing about any real estate transaction or other project I take on.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me to have more empathy for everyone I work with. Honestly, I am pretty Type A, and I have always been careful to meet deadlines and turn in complete, high-quality work. However, after going through some very stressful life events while juggling work, family, volunteer commitments, and managing a household, I have a huge amount of understanding for anyone (all of us, let’s be honest), doing their best to manage everything on their plate.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
My public image is always honest and truthful, but it’s important to have boundaries between my personal, private life and what I want to share with the entire world. I always try to share information about neighborhoods and properties that I personally find compelling and believe that my clients and potential clients will, too. Do I share my daily meals and laundry schedule? Not often. No one wants to see that.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I have done this before, and while I would do it again for the right cause, I do not recommend it! There are a couple of lessons here:

1. We need to prioritize. Between paying jobs, family, and volunteer commitments, I believe that we are all juggling the equivalent of about 3-4 jobs. This is not sane or sustainable. Does everything need your best? Absolutely not. It’s okay to order groceries online and eat microwaved soup for lunch, for example. You don’t have to cook organic meals 21 times per week. Pick your priorities: your loved ones, your clients who need you, your health, and everything else can slide.

2. Don’t kill yourself working for people who wouldn’t do the same for you. It leads to burnout and resentment, and when you’re burnt out, you can’t do much well at all. Yes, do right by your clients, even if they don’t sing your praises every day. But taking care of yourself is incredibly important.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sagesalespm.com
• Instagram: @ioannasellscincy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioannaparaskevopoulos/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ioanna.para/
• Other: www.ioannasellscincy.com
  IG: @sagesalespm

  FB: https://www.facebook.com/ioannaparacincyrealtor/
  FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567389233410

Image Credits
Natalie Grilli