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manda Howard's real estate career took off 22 years ago when she brought her vision and drive to Huntsville, laying the groundwork for one of North Alabama's most successful brokerages. After relocating from Chicago with two young daughters, Howard started over in a new city with few local connections. She employed a grassroots approach, visiting homes for sale by owners and hosting open houses, earning Rookie of the Year in her first year as an independent agent.

    Howard opened Amanda Howard Real Estate in 2009 with a team-centric model, achieving immediate success with a 30% growth rate in the first year. In 2018, Sotheby's International Realty recognized the strength of her brand and Huntsville's potential as an emerging luxury market, leading to a partnership that aligned with the prestigious Sotheby's brand.

    Today, Amanda Howard Sotheby's International Realty operates as a midsize independent brokerage with around 50 productive agents. In a recent interview with the Huntsville Business Journal, Howard shared insights into her journey and lessons learned throughout her career in real estate.

    As a business owner, Howard enjoys controlling her schedule and life, supporting others, and seeing their goals and dreams come to fruition. She emphasizes that finding one's own rhythm is key to balancing personal and professional life, rather than trying to fit into an unrealistic ideal.

    For those starting their own businesses, Howard advises identifying their "why" – the problem they're solving or solution they're providing – and formulating a plan accordingly. Having a mission statement and core values is also crucial, as well as consistency in showing up every day, even when tired or sick.

    Howard has faced challenges with people being her greatest asset and challenge, but she's learned that while systems are important, about 95% of the time, the issue lies with another human not aligning with the vision or process. She attributes her success to unwavering consistency, a deep commitment to serving others, and staying teachable and open to growth.