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Next in our International Women's Day lineup is Sonya Grosso, the beating heart of our Rural team and a true Ray White stalwart with an astonishing 27-year journey with the Group. The quintessential fixer, she's built her legacy as the calm, confident presence everyone gravitates toward when clarity is needed.
Her remarkable tenure has spanned multiple business units—from Loan Market to the NSW Corporate team before finding her home in Rural—where she's consistently leveraged her diverse experience to tackle complex challenges. As her colleagues note, "She's the kind of person who makes everything run smoothly behind the scenes, even when no one notices," solving problems before most people even realise they exist.With her gift for effortlessly juggling life's demands and her knack for elevating standards across the board, she combines quiet wisdom with unmistakable warmth that's transformed countless careers along the way.
The spotlight's yours, Sonya.
What piece of advice would you tell your younger self or someone just starting out? I have been lucky enough to work in the Ray White Group for a long period of time. The reason for that is that I have been able to move across different business units, including Loan Market (or Ray White Financial Services back then) to the NSW Corporate team and now Rural.
My skill set and knowledge base has grown with each role and department. When you are continually growing and learning you never get bored. As a mortgage broker, I used to attend training that Mark McLeod ran for sales agents regularly. Most of the time, I was the only broker there. I learned so much about agency practice that meant my referrers and customers had much better service.
My advice is, get to know what our business has to offer. Participate in anything that you can. We are a big company with many different facets and loads of opportunities for those that want to take advantage of them - seek them out.
Over your nearly 27(!) years here, what moments or achievements have made you most proud to be part of this organisation? I'm always proud to be a part of this organisation! Whilst there have been personal achievements along the way, it's not those that I think about when it comes to what I am most proud of.
What I really love is seeing people that I have helped along the way in their career, do well. Being here for so long means many of these people are not just colleagues or members but also friends. One of those started out as P Plate driving 17 year old punk, I helped him to buy his first home, and now he's off to Bali with the Chairman's Elite group. I feel like a proud mum! That's just one example, I can think of many.
Seeing people grow and achieve amazing results is the most gratifying part of being in Ray White and being here so long, I have been able to see that growth over time. Whether it's a corporate team member or business leader or a salesperson that we have helped to develop, watching them achieve their goals is really rewarding to me.
I also think that I have strong relationships and a good reputation with our group. I still have past team members and franchisees / sales people call me for advice or just to get things done. I think that means that they trust me to do what I say I will and I am proud of that. What’s the number one challenge you’ve faced, as a woman, in your exceptional career? I have never thought about challenges being gender based - they're just challenges. Travelling for work can be a challenge. It adds a level of complexity into life. You just have to work out what your priorities are. If that's family, kids, sport, personal well being, make time for it. Make a plan b for the things that are not priorities. I'm much better at prioritising what's important now than I was 20 years ago. This International Women's Day, what message would you like to share with other women about building a long-term career they love?
Think about what it is that you love to do and do more of that.
I was given a scratchy (lottery ticket) recently that had a prize of $20,000 a month for life. That's not enough money to stop working but it's enough to give you freedom and choices around what you do. I asked myself, what would I do if I won. It was clear to me that I would keep doing exactly what I do now.
How lucky are we - we work for a wonderful family company, in beautiful offices. I work with members that are predominantly country people. They are the most warm, endearing and humble members. They are a pleasure to work with.
I've also got a pretty good boss (don't tell him!). I've worked with Stephen for a long time. He told me very early on that 'power is taken not given'. That gave me licence to run with our projects, campaigns and tasks. He doesn't micro-manage, I know that he trusts me to do what needs to be done.
Ask yourself the same question: Do I want to keep doing what I do now? If you don't, figure out what you have to do to move into the field or area you really want to be in. We spend a lot of our lives at work, so make it enjoyable and rewarding!
In their words...
Sonya is the kind of person who makes everything run smoothly behind the scenes, even when no one notices. She’s the quiet problem-solver, always fixing things before anyone even knows there’s an issue. She’s the team member that gives you a sense of calm and confidence that things are under control. Whether it’s solving problems, implementing new strategies, smoothing over team tensions, or just lending a hand when needed, Sonya is the one who makes the Rural team and network function effortlessly
There’s more than one, but the most valuable piece of advice she’s given me is probably "what's the one thing?" It's so relevant to nearly every aspect of work and life, helping you cut through the noise in any situation. Sonya has this incredible way of guiding you to prioritise, simplify, and focus on the bigger picture. She’s the voice of reason that so many people turn to, which is why everyone relies on her so much.
Sonya’s superpower is definitely her empathy! With an incredible 27-year tenure at Ray White, she’s seen it all, built countless relationships, and become the wisest person in the room. Her experience gives her a unique ability to connect with people and understand their needs like no one else.
- Sophie Murphy, network marketing executive
I've known Sonya forever and a day. She's arguably the most capable person I've ever met. When you give her a task, she not only ensures it gets done, but done properly—and she holds everyone accountable to fulfill their part of the bargain. That's what makes her so exceptional at her role.
Sonya knows the little things that make a difference - she makes a point of greeting everyone when she arrives each day. But what's truly remarkable is her clever ability to seamlessly manage and blend her personal and professional life. She's pretty special.
- Stephen Nell, CEO Rural
About the series...
In recognition of International Women's Day on Saturday 8 March, we are spotlighting women in our (corporate) business who are setting an example of determination, growth and success for all of us.
In this exclusive interview series throughout March, we will be learning directly from our female leaders about their journeys, advice and secrets for success in their careers and in real estate, as well as a behind-the-curtain take from those that know them best.
