Hartford Business Journal

14 Hartford Business Journal | March 22, 2021 | Women In Business S hanyelle L. Young is the broker/ owner of S Young Realty & Associates LLC. A graduate of the University of Connecticut, she has been a Realtor for 19 years. In 2016, she became a broker and opened her own firm. She now has a top- selling diverse sales team of eight Realtors who happen to be all women! Her team members pride themselves on operating with a high level of care, honesty and integrity, using skill, experience and innovation. Referrals make up 97% of the firm's business. Young's business motto is, "Giving and living in abundance." Perhaps her biggest accomplishment has been the raising of her children, 26-year-old twins Brent Jr., a chiropractor, Shaylyn, a board-certified applied behavior therapist; and Shane, 21, a financial analyst. What's your biggest professional accomplishment so far? Beyond being a top-producing company, it has been rewarding to have a diverse team of Realtors in ethnicity, race, sexual identity and age. More importantly, contributing and witnessing the professional and personal growth of the team, who all support each other in their work and uniqueness while working so hard for their clients, has been rewarding as well. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I'd love to open a non-profit organization to help underrepresented and disadvantaged youth in building self-esteem and confidence through life skills, mentorship and education. What is one of the biggest professional challenges you have overcome? Competing and being successful in a white, male-dominated industry like real estate here in Connecticut. Showing up in many circles where you are the only person of color reminds me to be true to myself, but also to work twice as hard, stay abreast of technology and real estate trends. It has paid off for me and my team, but more importantly, for my clients. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? You cannot come through this pandemic and be the same person you were pre- COVID-19. It has made me appreciate the basic values of God and family, and to celebrate and cherish life and loved ones in more abundance. I often say, "It's the best of times and the worst of times." It has helped me in my ministry, giving time to help the community. Since I am a seamstress, I made over 2,000 masks and gave them away. Who has been your most important mentor and why? One of my favorite quotes is, "Women are like teabags: You can't tell how strong they are until you throw them in hot water." I have witnessed this personally with all the women role models in my life. Starting with my mother, who, for a few years raised me and my sister as a young, divorced single mother. When times got hard, she worked even harder, never giving up on her faith or getting ahead in life as she put herself through college and worked full time. It's that spirituality, strength, work ethic and tenacity that have been some of the fundamentals of my life. Women In Business Awards 2021 N icole Wagner obtained her PhD in molecular and cell biology from the University of Connecticut in 2013. Her accolades include the Connecticut Technology Council's Women of Innovation Award, Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40, and the 2020 Women in Aerospace (WIA) Achievement Award. Wagner serves on the Board of Directors of the New England Women in Science Executives' Club, the Connecticut Technology Council, and recently joined the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab User Advisory Committee. Wagner is president and CEO of LambdaVision, successful in securing about $8.75 million in funding to accelerate the research, development and commercialization of LambdaVision's artificial retina. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? Translating the research that I did in graduate school into a product with the potential to restore vision to millions of people across the world has challenged me to constantly think on my feet, be resilient, adaptable and to always keep an open mind – it is my greatest professional accomplishment. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I get countless emails and phone calls from people who have been impacted by vision loss, and it is my personal goal to work as hard as I can to get LambdaVision's artificial retina technology into patients as soon as possible. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? As first-time CEO, it was difficult to overcome the hurdle of having limited experience in commercializing a technology. Fortunately, I had amazing mentors that helped me build an experienced team of consultants and advisors to support me in the development and execution of a strong research and development and business plan. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? As a scientist and entrepreneur, I am no stranger to unexpected challenges and the need to adapt and pivot quickly; however, COVID-19 has really forced me to take a step back and lead with empathy. We are all in this together and honest communication and flexibility in the workplace is essential. What are your keys to maintaining business success? I think it is important to work hard, be authentic and to create an environment that is centered around trust and open communication. It is critical to lead by example; if you aren't excited and passionate about what you do, it will be hard to get others to follow. Nicole Wagner Employer: LambdaVision Title: President & CEO Shanyelle Young Employer: S Young Realty & Associates Title: Broker & Owner Congratulations, Sharon Traficante! Thank you for your leadership and commitment to taking our airports to new heights. ctairports.org

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