Britainny Hari was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. As a proud fifth-generation Canadian-Sikh, her family has a long settler history in Calgary, Alberta, as early as 1910. She grew up in the Fraser Valley and attended elementary and high school in Delta, BC. Her first job was at a local sports store when she was 13. After graduating from SFU, she pursued a career in economics and communication. She became interested in media studies and found a job in broadcasting, non-profit, marketing, real estate, and brokerage environments, where she put her studies and interests to use. Today, she operates a successful real estate marketing company, fulfilling her entrepreneurial dreams.
“Throughout my experiences, the most plain takeaway was that you may not always find representation in your workplace,” she says. “You’re encouraged to have mentors when you’re young. No companies teach you that when working in male-dominated industries. You may not always find female mentors or corporations with employees who look the same as you. At first, I considered these as barriers to success. I later realized that I could view these instances as opportunities to shatter glass ceilings and become that for someone else someday.”
After years of grinding to prove herself, Britainny discovered that good health, work/life balance, and infusing good work into her work were paramount.
“Through Dual Agency, I can represent the best interests of the real estate industry by promoting philanthropy, environmental and social governance, and the community impact through myself and my clients to make a more significant effect.”
Her role model, professionally and personally, is her mother. As a prominent businesswoman, her mother taught her the value of independence, respect, and family.
“I believe mentorship is important in guiding youth and representing opportunities for them to excel in their careers,” Britainny states. “But it’s common for women to receive inadequate leadership or mentorship in their formative years to catapult their growth forward. A growth mindset can come from creation and positive leaders’ inspiration. I encourage those in leadership positions to recognize their influence and power for the next generation of the workforce and exercise it.”
She played hockey and volleyball most of her life and enjoys golf and cross-country skiing. “I travel, read, and spend time with my dog, Roxy.”
Wishing to live with integrity, optimism, and hope, she aspires to strengthen her determination and compassion for others.
Britainny states, “Navigating volatile market conditions for the last decade has had trials. The most vulnerable moments involve layoffs beyond one’s control and are difficult to confront. They often make you feel depressed, hopeless, lacking confidence, and anxious. It’s important to remember your worth, that everything happens for a reason, and that the next best thing is waiting for you. Leaders must remember how personal of an experience these instances can be for employees and treat it as delicate.”
She is aware that by not trying, one could be bound to fail. “I believe that not knowing and not being brave enough to bet on oneself is the ultimate form of failure. Success cultivates change, and change can be uncomfortable. But trust me, it’s worth it.”
Century Schoolbook’,serif; color: #0e101a;”>The most significant risk she has undertaken that helped her build confidence was starting her own company!
“You’re an inspiration to the youth,” she emphasizes. “I oversee various professional development and undergraduate initiatives that endorse female representation and diversity. I am always amazed by the bright young students and women eager to explore careers in commercial real estate and other male-dominated industries.”
Britainny successfully developed her leadership confidence and voice.
“Imitation is the ultimate form of flattery,” she relates. “I saw my mom as a confident businesswoman. From a young age, I was lucky enough to learn from her, watch her, and hereafter become her. There is enough leeway for progress via courage, risk-taking, resilience, and managing ambiguity. As Karl Jung once said, With more experience in my career, I will eventually evolve into a unique version of myself.”
Thus, Britainny emphasizes: “Leadership is vital to establishing trust and connection with employees. I believe employees quit poor managers, not poor companies, so if you can become the manager that your staff can dream with instead of dream of, that will impact the power of the team. Your network is your net worth; relationships extend further than most people think.”
Britainny’s advice to the next generation of young women on how to trudge the path to success in their careers:
“Be a sponge. Attend meetings. Take notes. Listen. Active listening was a vital part of my learning and development. Professional development in courses, education, certificates, etc., successfully adds value to your employer and yourself in the long run. Courage, risk-taking, resilience, and management lead to a more prominent role. They will earn you the respect you need when you act on it. Find a career where your passion is and in an environment that allows you to value, support, and treat others respectfully. Failing to find this place, create one for yourself.”
And you may ask: how does Britainny describe herself in a nutshell?
Brave. Ambitious. Confident.
