2007 Fordham Law Graduate, Julie Leonhardt LaTorre talked with Thrive Global about her high power career in real estate and the journey to her current role as Chief Operating Officer for Sotheby’s International.
Thank you so much for doing this with us Julie! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
The thought, “I’ll just stay put,” was never part of my mindset. I began my career teaching in California and while I loved my students, I was itching for something different. I ended up moving to New York City after falling in love with the city’s fast-paced energy. I didn’t have a job yet or an apartment — I just showed up. I started off at a non-profit and then enrolled into law school. While at law school, I was drawn to the property classes and became interested in all aspects of real estate — city planning, architecture, and how the industry shapes our lives.
I became a commercial real estate finance attorney during the peak of the global financial crisis, but I persevered and became a junior attorney to one of the law partners at my firm. Soon after, I assumed the senior vice president role at Christie’s and moved to London. From there, I moved back to New York for my current position with Sotheby’s International Realty. It was a no-brainer for me to make the change. Sotheby’s International Realty is one of the strongest brands in the world — in luxury and real estate — and I wanted to be part of something unmatched in the market.