Episode 116

Building Wealth and Breaking Barriers with Brigitte Owens

Published on: 12th November, 2025

Today’s Performance Mindset Show features Brigitte Owens, a Louisville-based retired elementary school principal turned commercial real estate advisor. Brigitte is also a seasoned real estate investor with experience across multiple asset classes. With her unique background, she brings a blend of empathy, discipline, and business savvy to every deal. Brigitte entered the commercial real estate industry in 2022 and has been helping clients find the right property ever since.

Brigitte Owens treats every property as her own, understanding the needs of both buyers and sellers while building long-term relationships rooted in trust and communication. She is deeply involved in her community, serving as a member of the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors. She was recently appointed to the Property Valuation Committee as a commercial representative. Outside of real estate, Brigitte serves multiple boards, including AMPED Louisville, REBOUND Inc., the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation, the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums, and the Advisory Board for German American Bank.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  1. Brigitte Owens’s shift from her career as an elementary school principal to commercial real estate.
  2. Why she chose commercial real estate over residential, and her biggest surprise about the commercial real estate industry.
  3. The importance of opening doors for people of color and women in commercial real estate.
  4. Waiting for the right tenant to win the long-term game and empathizing with your clients to help them find what they want.
  5. How you can set yourself apart from your competition to gain and retain clients.
  6. Brigitte’s techniques for staying confident and grounded despite market changes.
  7. Tackling the tasks you don’t prefer but gaining momentum when you do.
  8. The importance of flexibility in meeting clients on their schedules.
  9. Lessons Brigitte took away from experiencing bad leadership.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Beyond Commercial - beyondcommercial.com/amy-calandrino-ccim

Amy Calandrino - linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Brigitte Owens:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/brigitte-owens-7b006016b

Email - brigitte@prgproperty.com

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About the Podcast

The Performance Mindset Show
Insights for high performers in business, leadership, and real estate.
The Performance Mindset Show is where high achievers come to grow. Hosted by commercial real estate advisor, entrepreneur, and author Amy Calandrino, each episode dives into the habits, strategies, and stories that help leaders think bigger, perform better, and build meaningful success in business and life.

Amy sits down with trailblazers across commercial real estate, entrepreneurship, investing, health, and personal development to uncover how they overcame obstacles, scaled their impact, and created lives built on intention. These conversations are honest, inspiring, and filled with practical insights you can apply immediately.

Whether you're a business owner, creator, investor, or someone who wants to operate at a higher level, this show will help you strengthen your mindset, sharpen your skills, and stay focused on what matters most.

If you want to grow, you’re in the right place.

About your host

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Amy Calandrino

Amy Calandrino, SIOR, CCIM, is a Director at Cushman & Wakefield with deep experience representing small and mid-sized businesses, family enterprises, and private investors throughout Central Florida and beyond. She is known for being a thoughtful listener, a creative problem-solver, and a strategic advisor who helps clients make informed decisions that support both their business goals and long-term wealth creation.

With a career rooted in guiding entrepreneurs and families through pivotal real estate moments, Amy brings clarity, structure, and actionable strategy to every assignment. She has completed hundreds of transactions across office, flex, and retail properties, and clients rely on her strong command of market trends, valuations, and space needs particularly within Winter Park and Greater Orlando. Her experience is backed by the SIOR and CCIM designations, reflecting her commitment to expertise and excellence in the industry.

In addition to her advisory work, Amy is the author of From Perfect to Real: Ditch Perfection, Shift Your Mindset, and Thrive on Your Terms, where she shares her SPORT Success System® for high performance. She is also the host of The Performance Mindset Show, a podcast featuring candid conversations with leaders in business, real estate, and entrepreneurship.

Committed to strengthening her community, Amy co-founded the Calandrino Foundation with her husband, Phil, to equip youth with the skills and mindset needed for entrepreneurship and financial empowerment. She also serves on the Park Avenue District Board in Winter Park.

Amy lives in Central Florida with her family. Outside of work, she enjoys golf, running, and staying active with her two children. Her faith, family, and dedication to helping others grow continue to guide her both personally and professionally.