By age 30, Oana Sirbu had moved to five countries and eight cities. With each transition, she became more curious about how people find “home” and the role numbers, strategy and intuition plays in it.

That curiosity, combined with a move to Chicago while putting her fourth year of law school on pause, inspired her to pursue a career in real estate. “It turned out to be the perfect blend of business, lifestyle and connection,” she says, noting she holds a master’s degree in management. “What started as a pivot became a passion.”

Sirbu, a global real estate advisor with Jameson Sotheby’s International Real Estate, assists everyone from first-time buyers to professional athletes in Lakeshore East, Lincoln Park and the western suburbs.

“I always begin with a strategy session,” she says. “We talk through timelines, expectations, deal breakers and market dynamics. I want my clients to feel informed and confident before we make a single move.”

Sirbu’s international background and legal education give her a broad lens when it comes to contracts, strategy and clients’ emotions. Strategic, responsive and calm under pressure, she breaks down complex information, such as pricing and negotiations, in an easy-to-understand way. Clients often rave that she feels more like a partner than an agent; someone who’s truly on their side.

“Most of my business comes from referrals,” she says. “A sign that my clients trust me enough to recommend me to their family and friends, which is the highest compliment.”

A resident of Lakeshore East, she understands the city’s exquisite character, having explored its museums, lakefront paths and neighborhood events with her two sons. “I also ride motorcycles, which has given me a unique way to explore not just the city but the surrounding suburbs as well,” she says.