In search of a better life, Ksenia Wurl immigrated from Russia to Chicago about a decade ago. A real estate broker with Dream Town Real Estate, she considers herself lucky to have found a city and vocation that aligns with reaching that goal.

“It fills me with joy to touch the lives of others so that they can enjoy life as well,” says Wurl, a broker with Dream Town Realty. She has assisted buyers and sellers in Lake Shore East/ New East Side, Streeterville, the South Loop, West Loop and Gold Coast for nine years.

“I left home at the age of 23 with no family, a few hundred dollars in my pocket and big hopes,” she says. “I knew very little English and that was only one of the challenges I had to overcome.” Working hard to assimilate and learn, she was relentless in her pursuit of success. That never-give-up attitude, she says, is among her core competencies.

Wurl has surpassed over $100 million in total sales and purchased a home for her mom. “I have a very strong business acumen and I enjoy helping people identify and bridge a pathway to their own dreams,” she says. “I also hold strong aesthetic sensibilities and appreciate the history of beautiful buildings. That’s why I was drawn to real estate.”

Like hospitality, tourism and retail, the industries she worked in prior to becoming a broker, real estate is focused on putting people first. “It’s all about connecting people with each other to help solve problems,” she explains. “White glove service and a keen understanding of what my clients want is how I win for them every time.”

By reframing each hurdle as an opportunity, Wurl maintains a positive attitude in the toughest of markets. “When you understand what clients need to accomplish,” she says. “You can find the intersection of opportunities to achieve it.”