Buying a home is likely the most significant purchase you will make in your life. Because of this, the process demands a high level of expertise, care and attention from those guiding you along the way.

Coronis Group is not unique in being a real estate company that understands the importance of providing this high level of service to its customers. But what does differentiate the company from its competitors is that it treats its employees with the same level of care and attention that they provide to its customers.

According to Coronis Group CEO Karuna Mazzocchi, who was a finalist for CEO of the Year Property Development & Real Estate at The CEO Magazine’s 2024 Executive of the Year Awards, the company does this because its executive leadership is aware first-hand of the invaluable contribution its agents provide.

“Our business, and my role, is nothing without the people that make Coronis,” she says. “I’ve been with the company for 20 years now, and it has been an amazing, exciting and challenging journey.”

Mazzocchi is one of the first female CEOs in a national real estate brand, having initially joined the company at entry level as an on-the-job training agent. Her rise to the helm of Coronis Group is evidence of a company that provides opportunities for individuals to grow and progress.

“One of the things I love most about this group is that we are willing to give people a try, an opportunity. They support you when you fail, so that you can truly grow,” she says.

“We can take someone who’s got no real estate experience, and grow them into an agent and then a business owner. It’s amazing to be able to invest in people, and be able to change their lives for the better.”

Strategic changes

Mazzocchi assumed the role of CEO of Coronis Group in February 2023 from Founder Andrew Coronis, who moved into the role of Chair. She has since wasted no time in making her mark, embarking on a bold new direction.

“The company has undergone significant changes in the last 18 months,” she says. “We have pivoted our business and opened 10 franchises, which have all been incredibly successful.”

She shares that performance metrics across the business are impressively high. “Our corporate agencies are also performing extremely well and have multiple agents, business development managers and property managers performing at career-best levels,” she says.

Coronis Group continues to invest in its future, ensuring that this period of success is sustained.

“We’re also elevating our brand and continuously looking for ways to improve our systems and processes,” Mazzocchi says. “We’ve expanded our support center, which has allowed our business to blossom further.

“It’s such an exciting time to be a part of Coronis, and the future only looks brighter.”

Leading the industry

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, housing in Australia has experienced a boom in value, with overall home values surging by 35 percent. Despite constant murmurings of an impending crash, experts predict that prices are unlikely to dive anytime soon, even if the government is successful in its plan to build 1.2 million new homes.

“The real estate market has been unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my 20 years in the industry,” Mazzocchi says. “Prices in so many capitals, including Brisbane, are at an all-time high, and I’m not sure they’ll ever come down.”

Despite the eye-watering figures that are being made in the industry, Mazzocchi is wary that too often agents do not achieve long-term financial stability.

“I’ve seen far too many agents make millions in the industry, yet leave with next to nothing to show for it,” she says. “The real estate industry is great at teaching people how to make money, but it’s terrible at teaching them how to keep it.”

Coronis Group is helping employees in ways such as acquire their own rent rolls, which Mazzocchi says will help prepare them for a life after real estate.

“My goal is to continue having Coronis blaze a trail for the industry, establishing a partnership and franchise model that helps team members create independent and sustainable wealth for themselves,” she reveals.

Another concerning trend she wants to buck is poor succession planning.

“The industry is notoriously bad at succession planning. I’ve seen so many businesses thrive under one leader, but falter as soon as that leader leaves because no-one has been taught how to take their place,” she says.

“At Coronis, I want to change this. I want to empower my team to run successful businesses, create sustainable assets for themselves and have the skills and tools to properly succession plan. Just because this isn’t the industry norm doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”

Culture-driven success

Helping employees plan for their futures is indicative of a wider corporate culture of mutual respect and compassion at Coronis Group, which Mazzocchi credits as the foundation of the company’s success.

“I’m extremely proud of the culture we have at Coronis. It is a culture of support and genuine care for one another,” she confirms. “You can feel it in the room whenever we come together as a team, especially for our in-house quarterly and annual awards.”

The 2024 Coronis Annual Awards took place on Saturday, 27 July 2024 at one of Brisbane’s premier venues for corporate events, Cloudland in Fortitude Valley.

The Awards reflected Coronis Group’s broad scope within the sector, recognizing support teams, mortgage brokers, conveyancing, customer service, property management, business development and sales.

“Something truly special happens when the Coronis Team comes together. Real estate isn’t about property, it’s about people, and I am so proud and delighted that we were able to celebrate our people,” Mazzocchi said following the ceremony.

Her eagerness to celebrate the achievements of others is an attitude shared by many in the company

“Every award winner is celebrated by the team with cheers, screams and genuine elation for their success,” she says. “It is incredibly special and leaves the entire team feeling proud to be part of something unique.

“Offices and franchises understand they are part of the journey together, we all get along and want each other to succeed. That is something I am incredibly proud of. The contribution of our great culture to our business is enormous.”

Mazzocchi will continue putting her faith in her employees, which she says is the key to having a sustainable and productive culture that drives long-term success.

“I invest in people so that they feel safe, secure, confident and competent to make their own decisions,” she explains. “I want to give my team the framework to be confident in their decisions, and the tools to succeed.

“As a leader, my role is not to limit employees, but rather to help them unlock their limitless potential.”