We recently heard that Denise Williams aka Denise the Broker had landed in Dubai and was making some *major* real estate waves. Always one to support a gal in business, we had to find out more about this succcessful broker. Turns out, she’s full of wisdom and her story is servin’ us a dose of heavy inspiration. Keep reading to find out more about this international entrepreneur.
via Instagram @denisethebroker
Cosmo ME: Tell us about your background. Who is Denise Williams?
Denise Williams: I was born and raised in the small town of Hinesville, Georgia, and am a country girl through and through. A true Georgia peach. I come from very humble beginnings. There were not a lot of businesses, thriving companies, or headquarters in Hinesville and we didn’t have much. I am one of six children and we struggled.
Considering my upbringing, my accomplishments are a miracle. I am the first person to graduate college in my family and the first person to start a business in the real estate space. I did it without any mentorship as I didn’t have people to look up to and learn from. I’m really grateful for God’s gift of ambition and for giving me a vision of not allowing where I’m from to determine where I am going.
Cosmo ME: Why did you decide to get into real estate?
Denise Williams: I decided to get into real estate because I was working at a corporate America job that I absolutely hated. It wasn’t necessarily about it being a nine to five, but it was because I worked in an industry that was doing predatory lending. I had a hard time selling their products.
At the time, I thought to myself, I have a degree in finance, I graduated with a high GPA and I pledged in a sorority, why am I struggling to find a great corporate job? So I got back online and started to study. Every millionaire and billionaire I looked at were all involved in real estate in some way. It sparked a huge interest in me.
I decided to get my real estate license because it was going to provide me with the flexibility that I needed to be a single mom. Real estate allows me to have unlimited income potential and it gives me the freedom to be able to make my own schedule.
via Instagram @denisethebroker
In 2012, I became a licensed realtor, by 2016 I was a licensed broker, and by 2018 I had started my own real estate company in Atlanta, Georgia. By 2022, I opened my first international branch in Dubai.
Cosmo ME: Why did you decide to open a brokerage in Dubai?
Denise Williams: I opened a brokerage in Dubai for several reasons. When I started my company, I named it Williams & Co. International Realty. I always had an international vision for my brand. When I visited Dubai, I fell in love with the city itself. After doing more research, I learned that it was an emerging real estate market and was booming. I realised there were not many Americans doing real estate at a high level in Dubai. That meant an opportunity was there to be able to be a liaison between the US and the UAE in the real estate sector.
Since I already have proof of concept and experience in the real estate market, I knew I could use the same skill set in a new location that provides safety, luxury, no taxes, and so many other benefits in this region. I’m here to educate Americans and expats alike on how amazing this real estate market is for investing and even relocation.
Cosmo ME: Can you explain what a brokerage is and how you make money?
Denise Williams: A real estate brokerage is a real estate firm that allows real estate agents to affiliate their license under a broker and conduct real estate transactions for the public. I make money by hiring agents to work under my real estate license and earn a percentage of every transaction that those agents closed. It’s a great concept from the perspective of growth and scale, however, I’m responsible for liability, overhead, and compliance.
Cosmo ME: How does it feel to be Denise Williams, the first Black American woman to own a global brokerage in Dubai?
Denise Williams: It feels incredible to be the first Black American woman to open an international independent real estate firm in Dubai because it’s historic. It will inspire so many others to think bigger. My mantra is I am not a local brand, I am a global brand. That’s one of the legacies that I want to leave- you don’t have to worry about where you started, because it’s all about how you finish.
Selling my first property in Dubai was such an incredible feeling, because it solidified my vision. Having the vision to relocate to Dubai to sell real estate was such an audacious move and closing my first deal really made me feel like I was on top of the world.
Cosmo ME: Can you share three tips for women who want to make it in real estate?
Denise Williams:
1. Be consistent. Consistently marketing yourself and prospecting for new business is so important. The worst thing that you could do is get caught up on one or two deals, and then not prospect on any new business whilst you’re negotiating those transactions. In real estate, you have to account for fall out.
via Instagram @denisethebroker
2. Be authentically yourself. Don’t try to be anyone else. You may admire other agents in the industry, or may be inspired by them, but you want to be as authentic as possible. If people don’t trust you, you will not close many deals in this business because it’s a relationship-oriented business.
3. Push through the fear. There are going to be times and situations where you feel like you can’t get a huge listing, or there might be times where you feel like you might not have all the answers. Lean on your team and get questions answered, but don’t sit on your hands and not go after your dreams. Don’t let anything stop you from pursuing big deals, because you’re a big deal sis, go for it.
Cosmo ME: Lastly, just for fun, what are your favourite spots in Dubai?
Denise Williams: My favorite restaurants in Dubai are Ce La Vie, Nammos, and Nice Guy. My favorite mall is the Mall of Emirates because it has a great mix of luxury and designer. My favorite hotels are The Five Palm and the Five Jumeirah. I’ve stayed at both and they’re truly a vibe. I had my own pool and the service at both hotels were phenomenal.
My fav salon is the Glasshouse by Caroline Brooks. Caroline is one of my dear friends and she has an incredible salon here in Dubai which I absolutely adore. I go there for my hair, nails, and massages. The service is impeccable and I highly recommend it.
Want to get in touch with Denise Williams? Head over to denisethebroker.com and follow her on all platforms @denisethebroker.