Some say the world of real estate is a man’s world, but Ayo Haynes proves it would be nothing without a woman who is on top of her game! With a background as an actress and voice-over artist, a BA in Business Communications and a MBA in Marketing, Ayo is definitely making her mark in the world of real estate. As a Real Estate Broker in NYC for 13 years, she is now breaking into the Connecticut market and loving it! She is dedicated to helping her clients find the perfect place where home and wellness meet!

Definition of Success:

Success for me is when people call to ask me to be their exclusive agent or to work with them as a buyer without me having to go pitch them; your talent and experience speak for themselves. Pitches are like auditions in acting. You know you’ve made it when someone says here’s the listing. 

I love this time in my career because I can make my own schedule which is especially needed as a single mom. Initially, getting into the business you work about fifty to sixty hours a week, especially if you’re on a busy team like I was. Starting out you have to be prepared to not get a check three or four months which can be hard for most people. People see these reality shows and think that real estate is easy and that you only work with a client for a few days.

The real reality is that it is difficult, requires a lot of continuous education and experience, and is very time consuming. Sometimes the time you put in doesn’t match up with your commission check. You have to be willing to put in the work and be persistent. Most importantly you have to love working with and helping people.

Healthy Self Esteem:

I am a true believer in guarding what I take in whether it’s what I’m watching or listening to. I’m in two industries that require people to pick you based on your personality and experience. I need/require positivity around me all the time. If you are coming to the table with something heavy on you and being negative, it will affect your bottom line. 

I also think it is important to use trusted friends and mentors as your mirror, from time to time, when needed. I can be hard on myself so I have to remind myself to treat me like a client and to be gentle with myself. We all have insecurities – physical or other.  If someone I trust can be the voice of reason I listen or at least take what they are saying into consideration.

Speaking of a voice of reason, my 4 year old daughter keeps it real with me all the time. Her bluntness is hilarious but insightful. She’s lucky she’s cute and my daughter! But seriously, I learn so much from her. How she gets over things quickly, she speaks her truth without malice, she’s kind, she apologizes when she’s in the wrong, she shares and she easily tells the important people in her life how much she loves them. I try to take a page out of her book all the time!

Dating Advice:

I probably should be the one taking advice but I think if you are on the fence about someone,  go on three dates to see if there is really something there. Nowadays three dates can take weeks or months to happen so you have to rely on your instincts to gauge if the spaced out dates are happening naturally or because someone is playing a game of avoidance. We are living in a swipe left – swipe right world based mostly on pictures. Pictures don’t tell the whole story. I say the same to my clients when I show them what I know to be a great home but they dismiss it because the pictures didn’t grab them. Sometimes we have to slow down, go deeper, and take things offline when we normally wouldn’t.

What’s in the future:

My business partner and I are working hard on crafting our brand which is all about where Home and Life meet Wellness. For us, that point is WELLNEST. We work with our clients on finding all the ways to make their home and all the other NESTS of their lives as comfortable, healthy, green and empowering as they want or need to be. 

I’m excited to be expanding my 13 years of experience in real estate to the Connecticut market. It’s been a fun challenge to learn a suburban market compared to New York City. My team partner, Ivonne, will be doing the same in New Jersey so the Haynes-Velasquez Team will be able to work with clients in the New York Tri-state area. That, of course, will mean adding to the team which is exciting.

I am also looking forward to more opportunities where my acting and real estate worlds get to play off each other. I recently was asked by the executives at my firm to co-host our semi-annual meeting at the Apollo Theater – it was amazing and a dream come true that I never would have never expected to come from my work in real estate. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next on that front and developing a few ideas of my own. A woman’s work is never done!

Favorite Shade of Lipstick:

I’m more of a gloss person versus lipstick. But for special occasions and business meetings that’s when I put on lipstick. For me, I like a red that has a touch of brown. There is one from Arbonne I love called Dahlia and it’s the perfect combination of gloss and lipstick. Their products aren’t tested on animals, and are paraben and phthalates free which is all right up my alley! 

To contact or learn more about Ayo please visit

https://www.halstead.com/real-estate-agent/ayo-haynes

Wife, mother, career woman, one -third member of one of my favorite female R&B groups 702, LeMisha “Misha” Fields, is proof to us ladies that with hard work and dedication yes we can have it all. I recently got the chance to chat with Misha to get her perspective on success and how she makes it all work.

Definition of success:

The most accurate definition of success is Happiness!  I don’t believe it has anything to do with how much money you have in your pocket. I don’t feel like it’s about how much time you put in the office, how many accolades you have, or how high you climb up a ladder. Happiness starts with yourself. 

It has been a tough road for me. For a while it was tough balancing  my career and my kids, then adding on 702 made it even harder. I have to remember to stay grounded and stay centered. To me happiness is definitely the definition of success.

Advice to young women aspiring to be in the music industry: 

Keep people in your circle that you can trust.  When you have a vision you need to ensure the people around you still have your same vision and on the same page as you. This is important especially for younger artists. A lot of times record labels try to mold you into what they think you are. That’s not what an artist is. An artist should be able to mold themselves, and reflect what other people are going through. The only way you can do that is to be yourself. You shouldn’t have more than three or four people in your circle that are really tight. 

Self esteem: 

The biggest thing for me right now is meditation. I meditate a lot. I created my own little mediation area in my home recently.  I also read. There is this book that I would like to tell all ladies about. It’s called “The Power of Now.” The author is Eckhart Tollee. It basically teaches you how to keep yourself in the present moment. If we keep ourselves dwelling on the past and looking to the future, we are never going to get anywhere or be content with ourselves.  

If you are in the present space you will realize that there is nothing wrong with you right now. 

Years and years ago I used to look at past pictures of myself and say man I am so fat. Now I look at myself  in pictures and say why did I use to be so skinny? I was skinny as heck what was I thinking? It teaches you to be happy where you are because now I’m about twenty pounds heavier than I was then. It makes you look at yourself and say what was I so mad about I should have just been happy. It’s about loving the skin you’re in and realize that there’s nothing wrong with me. I’m beautiful, I’m happy, and I can’t find anything to really complain about. When you stay in the present moment you can get a place where you can really find the love in you. 

Dating advice: 

Take your time. Don’t rush it. That’s probably the biggest advice I can give to women. A lot of times we are looking for that love and we want it so bad that we settle. You can never change a man and you shouldn’t want to. If a man is not living up to your standards from the jump then he ain’t the one. Take your time. If you keep the right people in your circle and have the right energy around you, they will come to you. 

I haven’t dated in so long. I’ve been off the market for a very very long time.  Me and my husband are junior high school sweethearts and have been married for twenty years. What I have noticed a lot about this newer generation is that they rush into these relationships and try to fix a man. If he didn’t come out right by his mama nine times out of ten you can’t help him either. 

What’s in the future:

Right now my kids will always be our main focus. My son plays football for the University of Arizona and my daughter is in high school on the varsity cheer squad. On top of that she wants to sing and model. This may sound real cliche but I’ve lived my life, but now the focus is to make sure my kids work on their goals and we pray that they reach them.  At the end of the day I’m going to do what I can to mold them into being a great young woman and great young man. 

I would love to continue to work with 702 and keep working with the girls. As long as I can keep it all going in the same way I have been able to so far.

Favorite shade of lipstick:

I don’t have it on me right now and can’t remember the name, but it’s a nude color by M.A.C. You know I’m super light skinned so finding the perfect shade of nude is hard.