Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Lashay Israel.
Hi Julia Lashay , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I became a licensed real estate agent at 18 years old. By 19, I bought my first home, and by 23, I owned six properties and ran my own property management company. But when the housing market collapsed in 2008, I lost almost everything – my tenants, my income, and eventually all but one of those homes. I filed for bankruptcy and got a job as a broker making $40,000 a year while raising two kids.
Shortly after, I got married, returned to Keller Williams Realty as the office administrator, launched a nonprofit called Umoja Community Development Corporation that helped over 200 families buy homes, and helped launched the Signature Group, a top-producing real estate team.
In 2019, I planned to move to Dallas to expand into luxury real estate, but my oldest son was diagnosed with stage-four cancer. I became his full-time caretaker until he passed away four months later in November 2019. I still moved to Dallas with my youngest son, only to face a painful divorce, his struggles with grief, and then the pandemic.
While quarantined, I started writing more courses and created REFOCUS Training and Consulting and created The Color of Real Estate, a course about the history of housing discrimination and equitable homeownership that has since taught over 45,000 real estate agents. That class led to my role as the Head of Inclusion and Belonging for Keller Williams where I oversaw the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for 800 franchises in 58 countries. In the last year I have released my first book, The Color of Real Estate – Unlocking the Secrets to Generational Wealth, delivered a TEDx talk, and become the Operating Principal of Keller Williams Integrity Lakes and Keller Williams Integrity Roseville.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Far from it. My journey has been marked by deep loss and major pivots.
I’ve lost businesses, homes, and even both of my sons – one to cancer and one to the penitentiary. I’ve faced bankruptcy, divorce, single motherhood, and moments when I didn’t know how I’d keep going. But through every challenge, I made a choice to keep building.
Those painful seasons taught me resilience, faith, and purpose. I learned that success isn’t built in a moment, it’s built brick by brick. Failure and hardship didn’t end my story; they refined it. Every time life knocked me down, I rebuilt stronger and with a clearer sense of mission—to help others build generational wealth and unlock their own potential through real estate.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Keller Williams Integrity Lakes in Minneapolis and Keller Williams Integrity Roseville are full-service real estate brokerages built on collaboration, productivity, and community. Together, we serve hundreds of agents and clients across the Twin Cities, providing world-class training, coaching, and technology to help real estate professionals grow thriving, sustainable businesses.
We specialize in residential and investment real estate, helping clients build generational wealth through homeownership. Our offices are known for our culture – where entrepreneurs thrive, collaboration replaces competition, and agents are empowered to reach their full potential.
What sets us apart is our commitment to developing business owners, not just salespeople. We combine proven models, mentorship, and cutting-edge systems to help agents increase profitability, efficiency, and impact. Brand-wise, we’re most proud of the integrity and inclusivity that define us – we create spaces where every agent and client feels valued and supported.
At Keller Williams Integrity Lakes and Roseville, we’re not just helping people buy and sell homes, we’re helping them build lives by design.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters to me most is helping people build wealth, purpose, and freedom through real estate. I believe homeownership is one of the most powerful tools for changing lives and breaking generational cycles, and I’m passionate about teaching others how to use it to create stability and legacy.
Equally important to me is creating inclusive spaces – places where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to succeed no matter where they start. I care deeply about leadership that lifts others, business that builds people, and a life that leaves something meaningful behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.julialashay.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjulialashay/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growwithjulia
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julialashay/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JuliaLashay
