Teresa Alessandro is a real estate broker in New York and a reference figure for the Italian-American community. Between Manhattan, Westchester and its roots in Salerno, he built a solid career based on competence, integrity and personal relationships, succeeding in combining professional success with a strong bond with his own culture and family. We interviewed her for IlNewyorkese.
As you have maintained the link with Italy despite you were born and raised in New York.
I’m a real New Yorker, born and raised in Westchester. My father is from Salerno and my mother from Queens, so my life has always been a balance between two cultures. Every summer we return to Italy, in Salerno, especially for the Festa di San Rocco: for us is a true pilgrimage. I learned Italian there, between my family and travel, but growing in New York inevitably becomes more American than Italian. This mix still accompanies me today, especially in the work and community I belong to. This love for Italian culture and roots is something I try to convey every day, both in personal life and in work. New York, today, is the real Italy for us: here the Italians are creating, innovating and carrying on traditions and culture in ways that in Italy perhaps lack. ”
How did you get to real estate and what is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
After the university, where I studied economics and Italian, and an experience in Rome, I started working for NBC in television marketing. It was interesting, but I felt I missed something: I wanted to work with something concrete, tangible. So I went to the real summer. There you can see the value of things, work has a real impact on people’s lives. Each building has a history and meaning, and this is what fascinates me: help someone find the perfect place to build their own life, where to put roots and create dreams. The best part of my work, for me, is the encounter with people. In New York, customers are international: young creatives, professionals, inventors, each with a different story. It is stimulating to work with them, understand their goals and accompany them in important choices, often related to the whole life or to significant investments. It is a huge satisfaction to see a family settle in the house of their dreams and know that they have contributed significantly. I don’t just work with Italian or Italian-American customers, although there is a natural connection with my community: I collaborate with people of all origins, from Japanese to Chinese, to European customers. But the guiding thread is always the same: helping people make smart investments, respecting their money and their lives.
What are the biggest challenges you have encountered in your career and how can you balance work and personal life?
The main challenges are related to network construction. As the first generation, I had to work hard in the last 10-15 years to create solid relationships. It is a continuous process, because the city and the market constantly change. It is also important for me to maintain a balance between work and private life. New York can be very intense and hectic, and without family and strong friends, risk of getting lost in chaos. I give time to my family, friends and community: This not only helps me stay focused, but it shows customers that I respect their lives and their times, just as I want them to respect mine. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is to see the concrete impact it has in people’s lives. When we help a family find the right house, invest wisely and build their future, that is the real reward. It’s not just a sale, it’s a shared route, a story we accompany together. My approach is based on integrity: I never push customers, I don’t try to take advantage of them. I want every person I work with to feel that I have a sincere guide to his side, especially because they often invest everything they have saved in life. This is a value I learned from my family: respect for money, dreams and people’s choices.
How important is it for you to be involved in the Italian community and what neighborhoods in New York City you prefer?
I am very active in the Italian-American community of New York: from Palm Sunday to parades, to the Vespa Club of the city. It is important to keep cultural ties alive and transmit values and traditions far from Italy. As for the city, I love Manhattan, but my heart beats to the West Village: historical, romantic, with a unique charm. I also work in Brooklyn and Queens, where I find the best solutions for my clients. Staten Island and Bronx do not fall into my working areas, but I like to know every neighborhood, understand its dynamics and recommend it to the best. New York offers unique opportunities for those who want to invest, build a life and create communities. The city is challenging, yes, but those who know how to move with care and attention can find incredible spaces, houses with unique stories and a direct contact with passionate and creative people.
What are the greatest satisfactions that give you your job and how do these affect your personal life?
The greatest satisfactions come when I see the concrete impact of my work on people’s lives. It is exciting when a family enters the house of their dreams, knowing that I led them to an intelligent investment that changes their lives. For me it is not only a matter of selling property, but of accompanying people in a personal and financial process. This work also allows me to practice fundamental values that I have learned in the family: respect for money, dreams and choices of others. It is gratifying to see customers who, thanks to my guide, manage to achieve goals that seemed distant or impossible. At the same time, this professional gratification affects my personal life. It reminds me how important it is to maintain balance, devote time to family, friends and community. New York may be intense, but knowing to make a difference in someone’s life, and at the same time cultivating sincere and profound relationships in my private life, makes everything more meaningful.
L’articolo Teresa Alessandro: real estate, Italian identity and community in New York proviene da IlNewyorkese.
