T
o subscribe, click here.
For Dionne Clifton, being a good leader means balancing empathy and practicality. She learned to share successes and own failures, which has helped her grow as a business owner.
Clifton's journey began with a DJ gig at a Las Vegas hip-hop radio station in her early 20s. However, she soon realized that the job had no potential for growth or benefits, prompting her to invest in education and develop valuable skills. After earning degrees from the University of Illinois and USC, Clifton founded LIVE Real Estate Group in 2018.
As a senior lecturer at the UI's Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, Clifton teaches sales and marketing theory while bridging academia with industry. Her world travels have taken her to many exciting destinations, including Italy, where she'll soon fulfill a lifelong dream by visiting a private villa on the Amalfi coast.
Clifton's unbreakable rule in the workplace is maintaining a positive atmosphere, ensuring employees feel encouraged, productive, and happy. She believes that leaders should be empathetic and practical, sharing successes and owning failures. Clifton also values accessibility, using Apple products to stay connected while traveling.
When it comes to meetings, Clifton emphasizes their importance for building connections but warns against overusing them. She prioritizes necessary, brief, and informative meetings, incorporating training and social activities to keep employees engaged.
One of Clifton's favorite moments as a business owner was when a woman wearing her company's logo approached her in an Ulta store, making the experience feel real and tangible. Her staff would describe her as kind, innovative, and expert.
Clifton's office walls feature art from her first trip to Paris, serving as a reminder of her love for travel and exploration. She admires Oprah Winfrey, PJ Trautman, Victor Fuentes, and her parents as role models, citing their entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and humility.
During job interviews, Clifton asks candidates about one thing they do every day to understand their values and discipline. Her daily routine begins at 5 a.m., followed by greeting employees and asking about their well-being. She enjoys bringing lunch from home or dining at Sun Singer, and unwinds after work with her boyfriend over dinner and current events.
Clifton's exercise routine includes weight training, HIIT training, and pilates, which she does five times a week. Her first job was as a bank teller in 1999, and her last good book read was "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler. She recently indulged in a luxurious trip to Italy with friends.
Clifton knew real estate would be part of her career at age 32, and she continues to evolve in this field while loving what she does.
