Connie Buna will be one of the featured speakers at the upcoming Women in the Spotlight Dinner presented by Pink Velvet Couch Productions and Pamela Chatry at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville in Vancouver, BC on September 27th.

How did you know you wanted to become a realtor and a lead singer?

Music has always been a part of my life. I come from a musical family where singing and playing music together was an almost daily occurrence. To be honest, prior to singing in Queer As Funk, I’d never been in a band. This experience has come about out of a series of serendipitous events paving the way to a really incredible opportunity.

When I purchased by first home I was 25 years old and had recently graduated university with an ever-so-marketable Political Science degree. I was working at Bell Canada in a sales capacity and was really impressed by the care and diligence of our Realtor. What occurred to me at the time was that he was doing a job that clearly required a high degree of skill and care, however I too could do this work. Being a Realtor has allowed me to take complete control of my career and my opportunities as an entrepreneur.

How do you juggle the two passions while maintaining a family?

Juggling is the perfect analogy to describe the balance between owning a brokerage, running a real estate team, singing in a band and being a mother and wife. One word: leverage, makes this possible. I have surrounded myself with people who believe in a shared vision and together we can handle all of the work that is required to keep these areas healthy, successful and thriving. Very truly none of this would be possible without the unwavering support of my wife Taryn who is my closest confidant. She genuinely keeps our keeps our ship sailing on an even keel. This stability allows everything else to be possible.

What’s your biggest achievement in your business?

Keller Williams Realty is the largest Real Estate Company in the world. My biggest business achievement thus far has been opening the first Keller Williams brokerage in Vancouver, BC.

What are the most important skills to have in leading and motivating people?

Talk less, listen more and lead by example.

What is your goal for your real estate dreams?

I have a number of different goals with respect to real estate. For our brokerage, we will be the agency of choice for Realtors that want to build a stable and reliable real estate business build on a foundation of cutting-edge technology and continual education. For our real estate practice, to continue to service our clients with the utmost still and care, while pushing the industry in a direction where we can all be proud of the professionalism and expertise we offer to the marketplace.

What inspires you to keep going in your day-to-day business life?

My inspiration is in the people around me who share my vision. We are working hard together to make an impact on our families, our community and our industry.

Are you currently reading any books that inspire you?

I’m reading an excellent book right now called “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss. It’s a fantastic book by a former hostage negotiator and FBI agent that shares practical negotiation tools that you can use from the boardroom table to the kitchen table.

On social media, who do you follow?

I’m all over the map with who I follow on Social Media. I love Frances Bula, Imani Gandy, Lanefab, Roxane Gay, Anna Kendrick, VancouverIsAwesome, and Scout Magazine to name a few.

If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself before entering the world of business?

Set BIG GOALS! Focus on abundance, not scarcity.

What’s your favorite business quote?

“Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls– family, health, friends, integrity– are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.” Gary Keller

How has failure helped you?

Failure is an amazing teacher. It keeps me humble, focused and determined. We are failing forward every day.

Tell us a little about how your band came to be.

Our band came together as a few good friends getting together for drinks and laughing about an audacious idea. At my wedding, around that same time, I sang a song to my wife. It was a song and a style of singing totally out of my comfort zone and to the surprise of all of my friends and family (and me too frankly) I can really belt out a tune. And the rest, as they say, is history.

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Connie is an entrepreneur with a passion for housing stability, LGBTQ/2S rights and social justice. As a brokerage owner she is changing the business of Real Estate in Vancouver one agent at a time. Keller Williams Realty is built upon a foundation of education, ethical business practice and collaboration.

As a Realtor, Connie is best known for her integrity, strategic insight and commitment to the best interest of her clients above all else. Connie is also an entertainer in the popular Vancouver-based cover band Queer as Funk and delights in getting a room off their feet, dancing and singing to soulful tunes both old and new. Connie lives in Vancouver with her wife Taryn and their daughter Maelle. 

Join us September 27th at the Women in the Spotlight Dinner at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville and hear more from Lori Joyce and Connie Buna!