Before becoming top Austin Realtors, entrepreneurs, and business owners, Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim were navigating careers in corporate America, learning firsthand what worked, what didn’t, and what they ultimately wanted their lives and businesses to look like.

In the first episode of The Counter Offer, Meredith and Jenny share the personal stories and career pivots that led them into real estate — from burnout, ambition, and entrepreneurship to building modern brands rooted in authenticity, creativity, strategy, and long-term relationships. They discuss how their backgrounds outside of real estate shaped the way they approach marketing, leadership, client experience, branding, and business growth today.

The conversation also dives into why today’s real estate agents need to think beyond simply being agents at a brokerage and start operating like true business owners and entrepreneurs. From personal branding and social media to systems, relationships, and reputation, Meredith and Jenny unpack what it really takes to build a successful and sustainable real estate business in today’s market.

Whether you’re in real estate, considering a career pivot, building a business, or simply interested in entrepreneurship and personal growth, this episode offers an honest and relatable conversation about taking risks, building something meaningful, and redefining success on your own terms.

Topics include:

• Leaving corporate America for real estate

• Building a personal brand in Austin real estate

• Entrepreneurship and career pivots

• Real estate marketing and social media

• Why agents need to think like business owners

• Client experience and relationship-based business growth

• Lessons learned building modern real estate brands

• Leadership, burnout, and business growth

• What Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim wish they knew earlier

The Counter Offer is hosted by Meredith Alderson of The Heyday Group and Jenny Kim of June & Co. — two Austin entrepreneurs having candid conversations about real estate, business, branding, life, and everything happening behind the scenes.

Produced and edited by Adam Walding.