ISABELLA LUTHJE
Meet the Beautiful Queen of Real Estate, Isabella Luthje!
MIHM-Tell us a little bit about you, where are you from and what inspired you to pursue a career in the real estate field?
IL-My first job when I was eight years old, living in Denmark every day I’d bike to my pony, Moonlight, and I’d pass this big strawberry field. I started picking strawberries and selling them in the neighborhood, but soon after the owner of the field noticed and offered me an actual job picking strawberries. This was my first job and I was so excited that I was determined to do it well. I wanted to be the fastest, and pick more strawberries than anyone! Every evening I would count how much money I made, and I’d feel like I could do anything. I still have that feeling.
17 years ago, I moved to the US from Denmark with my family, my two boys. I’d wanted to move to LA ever since I was 12 years old, watching Baywatch on my TV every night. It’s what inspired me to come to Los Angeles.
I became involved in real estate because it felt like my calling. All my professional life I had been a salesperson, working freelance to give me the flexibility a typical work schedule would not. I’ve always liked real estate, and have worked with multiple developers through the years in LA. When one of my friends recommended, I get a real estate license, I started studying right away, because it was then I realized that I would love it, and I definitely do.
MIHM-Tell us about your real estate company and what services do you offer.
IL-We are a full-service, luxury real estate team and lifestyle company representing clients worldwide in a broad spectrum of classes, including residential, new development, resort real estate, residential leasing and luxury vacation rentals.
The emerging luxury consumer desires a home to fit their lifestyle interest from waterfront, to metropolitan and historic. We constantly innovate through media and engaging content creation, leveraging data, branding and amplification to redefine the paths in which buyers and sellers connect. It puts our properties in front of more people than anyone else globally. We’re providing an elevated service experience that positions our clients as partners for success. Our legacy and luxury heritage identifies with that.
MIHM-You are an experienced business executive with expertise in financial management, strategic planning and client relationship management also working with IBM, Price Water House, Grontmij, McKinsey, Microsoft, Bang & Olufsen and Land Rover. Tell us more.
IL-I got inspired to get both my degrees in BA in Business Administration and MSc in International Marketing & Management. I met the youngest son of an amazing successful family in my local town in Denmark while I was working as a cashier at a local supermarket part-time while attending High School. I loved their beautiful, new, modern home they had just built. They were such a loving, inviting, and inclusive family. I wanted that lifestyle. I just took it all in. Their youngest son became a good friend and when he attended University, I wanted to do the same as him. After a year of boredom as an intern at a German bank, I started the process of obtaining my degree. I took the same classes he did. If he took them, it must be the right way to success. It was the time when computers were becoming more common. I was looking to buy one, but I got offered a job selling computers. I quickly rose to become the top salesperson in the company, selling the most IBM computers. That led me to an interview at corporate, and after that interview my career blossomed.
Today I have my MSc, a wealth of experience of all levels in Europe as well the USA. I have always pursued companies that identified with my personality including Bang & Olufsen that filled my passion for interior design. This all led me to real estate, and I’m still utilizing these skills today for remodeling, new constructions and showcasing many luxury homes.
MIHM-If you could work with somebody you admire, celebrity, politician, musician, leader or anybody else who would it be and why?
IL-I have many people I would love to work with. There are so many inspirational, amazing people out there that all are impacting this world in different ways. I would love to get involved with BYND CEO Ethan Brown, the fact he is shifting the American diet away from factory farming is amazing. It would be so cool to sell an apartment to Elon Musk. A guy that decided to reinvent the way we drive, live and now traveling into space. It would be crazy to meet Marc Zuckerberg and Richard Branson, sell them each an island. Jeff Bezos the richest man in the world, so that would be pretty awesome. Cause he can buy a place or two.
Would love to work with world champion Alexey Molchanov the Ambassador of the Ocean, world record holder of freediving, and actively involved in environmental issues and water purification all over the world. That’s just so cool. Having tea with Oprah Winfrey to get the genesis of her story and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark would be pretty awesome too.
MIHM- You have a big heart for animals, we heard you have few cats, tell us more.
IL-I have white Russian Siberians with blue eyes. I got them a few years back, and ever since then coming home to relax has been the highlight of my day. After a busy day, there’s nothing better than coming home to the most cuddly, affectionate cats ever. I talk to so many people that when I come home, I love that it’s so quiet, and I still get to cuddle with a pet when I go to sleep. Even their purring alone can make me fall asleep.
MIHM- How are you dealing with the quarantine and current pandemic?
IL-The quarantine and the pandemic has changed our day-to-day routine for most of us. I strongly believe in routine and order. I focus more on structure that gives us a sense of security that aligns with our lifestyle before the pandemic. Take care of yourself, get dressed daily even if you are only leaving the house to check your mail, but also have days where you are in your PJ all day if that makes you feel good, eat a healthy diet, exercise daily, sleep enough and reduce all other sources of stress. I dedicate time to activities that improve my mood. I love listening to an inspiring podcast that will motivate me, watching a good show or film, and reading good books. I also took up a new hobby learning about local wineries and have been visiting a few the last year.
Be proactive in your community, I started a monthly Coffee and Cake of neighbors to truly get to know who actually lives in my community. I love it and it makes me so happy to see people connecting and arriving with a big smile.
MIHM-Define what success means to you?
IL-Creating wealth for my family and myself every day. Not just financial, but a fulfilling and a happy life. Where we are able to do what we truly love every day. Every day I wake up wanting more personal and professional success. In order to be successful and have true happiness in your life you have to know yourself and show people who you are. Be genuine. You can accomplish absolutely anything. Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, abilities and inabilities.
For me it’s a mindset too, if I want something bad enough, I will find a way. I decided years ago that I want to wake up every day happy and I am very thankful for everything I had and currently have in my life.
Daily I focus on maximizing the positive and minimizing the negative in my life. Say Yes and figure it out later is my mantra. My first consulting gig was just like that. Go read a book over the weekend. I am never scared of new challenges. I have learned that there is always a way. Even if I don’t see it now, if I trust the process, I know I’ll be able to achieve my goals.
MIHM-What other projects are you working on right now?
IL-I just started a local meetup group once a month to bring the community closer together by introducing them to the “Danish Hygge” by inviting neighbors to Coffee & Cake. I met so many who barely know anyone, even though they’ve lived here for many years. I want to get the sense of community back where we get excited to go out and meet our neighbors.
Further I am researching nonprofit organizations. I want to get involved more by donating my time and energy to organizations that focus primarily on animal welfare, homelessness, children in poverty and the environment.
