"You really can have it all, and you don’t have to have it all figured out at twenty-two," says REALTORⓇ-on-the-rise Samantha Ross of Keller Williams Experience in Downers Grove. “You can figure out your life in your thirties, too.” While she took an indirect route to the industry, she figured out that her ideal career is real estate. 

Raised in Lemont, Illinois, Samantha grew up watching her mother balance multiple roles: career mom, entrepreneur, disciplinarian, best friend, and boss. Samantha often reflects on her mom, deeming her an example to strive for.

"My mom is everything," she says. "She showed me what hard work looks like, and when she and my stepdad opened a pizzeria, she became my first boss. There’s no calling in sick when your mom is the owner, so I developed a strong work ethic at a very young age." 

Samantha’s early exposure to entrepreneurship planted the seeds for independence and a drive that would later pull her to real estate. After high school, Samantha struggled to decide on a career. "I didn’t know who I wanted to be for a long while,” she shares. She attended five different colleges over seven years before earning her bachelor’s degree in marketing from North Central College. 

Samantha’s time in sales and marketing helped shape her perspective, giving her a well-rounded foundation that would prove invaluable in her future career: after college she worked for several years in the beer industry, initially for Two Brothers Brewing Company then Allagash Brewing Company. But in 2018, she found herself at a crossroads. 

"I wanted a family someday, so I knew I didn’t want to keep working such long hours or have to be in and out of bars all day,” says Samantha. “My aunt was a REALTORⓇ, and I saw that she never missed anything with her kids. I wanted that flexibility, too." 

So Samantha took the leap, quitting her job to become a full-time REALTORⓇ. She could have eased into it by starting off part-time and slowly transition while she learned the ropes, but she felt like the all-in approach would help her focus.

"I didn’t give myself a safety net," Samantha says. "I told myself that if I didn’t sell a house, I didn’t eat. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made.”

The pressure pushed her to work tirelessly, network, and say yes to every opportunity. 

"I go to everything," Samantha says "Lunches, baby showers, birthday parties—everything. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been introduced as ‘my REALTORⓇ’ before I ever got to say my name. People won’t think of you if they don’t know you’re in real estate."

Samantha’s relentless drive has paid off. Soon after making the switch to real estate, she wasn’t just surviving, she was thriving. And since then, she’s built a business largely based on referrals, forming deep relationships with clients that extend beyond the closing table. 

"The most rewarding part of my business and life is the people—from friends to acquaintances to complete strangers—I get to build that trust with people, and they then come to realize they're stuck with me for life," she says with a smile.

Samantha’s passion for real estate extends beyond her business. Dedicated to helping others succeed, until she became a mother, she coached new agents, providing them with the support and knowledge she wished she had starting out. 

"It felt so fulfilling to help them see their potential and be their safe space," she says. "I still get calls from them with questions or about wins in their careers; it reminds me why I love what I do."

Beyond real estate, Samantha’s life is centered around her family. She and her husband, Zachary, have two daughters: Charlotte (2) and Savannah (6 months). Thanks to real estate, she’s able to be active in their lives and have a rewarding career.

“Yes, I take phone calls at every family function and go on vacation with my laptop, but I can be there for every breakfast with my daughters,” she says. “And when they’re older, I’ll be able to pick them up from school. As busy as I am with my children, I’ve never smiled or laughed more in my life. If I could tell my younger self that I’d have this wonderful life one day, I wouldn’t have believed it."

"I’ll be in this profession until they bury me," Samantha claims. "This is who I was born to be. Some days are gut-wrenchingly hard. But success is about getting up, wiping the tears, and getting back to work."

"You just have to be consistent, stay visible, and stay connected," she adds. "Most importantly, don’t be afraid to take the leap. The best things in life happen when you bet on yourself."