With a successful and well-established home-staging company with more than $250 million in staged properties, Keki Cannon was on top of the world. Then COVID hit. Soon, real estate agents were considered essential workers, but of course, home stagers were not. “We reached a point as a family where I not only had to step up, but wanted to,” Cannon remembers. “While my husband took on school Zoom duties, I started studying for the exam.”

Because she was already working in the real estate business as a home stager, Cannon enjoyed a smooth transition to her new role as an agent. Her relationships with other agents, her deep experience in preparing homes for sale, and her position as a social media influencer in the staging space all combined for immediate success. She was even nominated for Chicago Agent’s 2021 Rookie of the Year award and received the @properties Impact Award in 2022. “In just three years, I’ve built my career from the ground up and can confidently say that I’ve achieved everything 100% on my own, much like my parents, who immigrated to this country and began their own service business,” Cannon says. “It’s an emotional experience to look at my dad and say, ‘Me, too,’ knowing that I’ve achieved this through my own hard work and determination.”

Cannon says she treats her clients like family, prioritizing honesty and personal connections and going the extra mile to ensure satisfaction. Her business style combines approachability, professionalism and perseverance. She is known for her collaborative spirit, but also  knows when to be strategic and assertive to ensure a positive outcome for her clients.

Hobbies are currently on the back burner as Cannon focuses on building her real estate business, but she’s always up for a game of pickleball with her family. She is also a sponsor of the Ouilmette Foundation, which supports the Wilmette Park District and supports a variety of local action groups and Latina organizations.