Committee of 100

Q&A Series – Next Generation Leaders: Judy Yi Zhou

31st January 2025

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker, Douglas Elliman Real Estate 

As a real estate agent in New York at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, a top three brokerage in the city, Judy finds joy and gratification in being a trustworthy advisor to people in life-changing events, guiding them to make decisions that will financially empower them and improve their quality of living. Through managing her family’s real estate portfolio and interacting with tenants, contractors, attorneys, and accountants, she is keen on problem-solving and has attentive listening skills. A real estate decision can be a deeply personal experience, and Judy is attuned to the emotions of not only her clients but the other parties as well, to ensure a smooth transaction. Judy has been a NGL since 2017 and volunteers at West Side Campaign Against Hunger and God’s Love We Deliver.  

At the age of 23, Judy built her own industry-recognized translation agency and ran it for over six years. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, media publications, international law firms, and publishing houses. She interpreted for Cixin Liu, the award-winning author of The Three-Body Problem, at the New York Asian Film Festival.

Connect with Judy on LinkedIn here, or on Instagram here.

Committee of 100: What inspired you to work in your professional field?

Judy: My mission is to improve people’s lives, which, according to my college professor James F. Gilligan, is the definition of love. I am inspired by the difference I am able to make in someone’s life by helping them find a home or move on to the next chapter in their lives. Of course, I am also inspired by the beautiful homes I get to relish! 

Committee of 100: What are some of the challenges you have encountered to become a leader in your respective field? Are Chinese Americans well-represented in your field, and what do you think are the reasons they are/aren’t well-represented?  

Judy: I appear young, and that has been an obstacle in being considered an expert in real estate when I am tasked with handling people’s most valuable assets. Chinese Americans are fairly active in my field, and there are some industry leaders who are Chinese American that I am inspired by. China’s strong economic development in the past two decades has led to many Chinese people purchasing real estate in the U.S., and Chinese American real estate brokers have an opportunity to gain the trust of these would-be buyers.

Committee of 100: What do you believe needs to be done so that more Chinese Americans feel empowered to follow and achieve their dreams? 

Judy: More mentorship of young Chinese Americans by Chinese American industry leaders. We learn that we can achieve more when we see people who look like us and our parents achieve new highs. I am forever grateful to my mentors, and I hope to give back in the same way in the years to come.  

Committee of 100: If applicable, how can your NGL community support you and your work? Do you have any recent or upcoming projects you’d like to highlight? 

Judy: I’d love to host an in-person seminar on all-things related to New York City real estate and invite the NGL community to come and ask me anything! I just hosted a buyer seminar with my alma mater, New York University, and over 100 alumni showed up! I busted some myths and shared some nuggets about the homebuying process. I would love to share what I know about the market and meet more NGLs!

Committee of 100: For those who just recently graduated college or are early in their careers, what advice would you give to them? 

Judy: Work as hard as you can and never stop learning. Ask questions, search for answers. Have a personal budget. Pay attention to your credit score. Invest your money. Grow your wealth. Treat people with sincerity, but have healthy boundaries. Stand up for yourself. Sit at the table. Speak up!  

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