After a 20-year career as a fashion and beauty executive at Estée Lauder and Yves Saint Laurent, Jill Clark is more than familiar with luxury and fine details. While she loved the corporate lifestyle of planes, trains and automobiles, Clark wanted a bit more flexibility in her work schedule. She also had a burning desire to build her own business.

Clark loved the notion of “finding the game within the game” — find what you love doing, and then find a way to win at it. Indeed, as a college basketball star herself, she set high goals for herself. Seventeen years later, Clark has never looked back, even if she does continue to use her fashion-forward and designer skills in the homes she showcases in the marketplace. “Transferring my expertise in fine details, visuals and textures to the real estate business was a seamless one,” she says. “I love being different.”

One of Clark’s favorite quotes is by Coco Chanel: “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” She tries to set herself apart by using social media to bring exposure to properties; always having movie tours, no matter the price point; staging properties in an appealing way; and offering exquisite brochures that tell buyers the story of the place.

Being a 26-year resident of Naperville, where she has lived in White Eagle Golf Club, is also a plus to Clark. “I love living in Naperville,” she says.“The schools are extraordinary, the downtown area features fine retail shops, restaurants, the library, riverwalk and so much more that you can enjoy. Our park district is one of the best in the country and offers so many events throughout the year. It’s truly a magical place to live.”

Clark and her husband, Tim, have raised all three of their children in Naperville. Recently, they celebrated the graduation of their youngest from the University of Wisconsin.