Champions of Success: A Mother-Daughter Duo Redefining Real Estate Education
While the calendar might mark a slight delay in our celebratory wishes, the spirit of Mother’s Day continues to resonate deeply within our community, especially when acknowledging remarkable mother-daughter partnerships. This week, we shine a spotlight on the extraordinary synergy between mothers and daughters navigating the dynamic world of real estate. What better way to commence this tribute than by featuring a powerhouse duo who not only embody success but also empower countless others in the industry through their unparalleled real estate education programs?
We are speaking, of course, about Rita Santamaria and her daughter, Kimberly Dydalewicz, the visionary forces behind Champions School of Real Estate. Founded by Rita in 1983, this institution has grown from humble beginnings to become a dominant name in real estate education across Texas. Kimberly joined the family enterprise directly after college, taking on the role of a career counselor. Her dedication over the past 17 years has been instrumental in firmly establishing the Champions School of Real Estate brand and its sterling reputation throughout the Lone Star State.
A significant milestone arrived in 2014, more than three decades after the school’s inception, when Kimberly Dydalewicz was appointed President of the company. Under their combined leadership, Champions School of Real Estate has not only cemented its position as a leader in Texas but has also set its sights on an ambitious new frontier: taking Champions School of Real Estate national. This bold vision reflects their unwavering commitment to excellence and their desire to impact the real estate education landscape on a much broader scale.
We recently had the distinct privilege of sitting down with this dynamic mother-daughter duo to gain insights into their journey. In their own words, they shared what they believe has been pivotal to their remarkable success, offered invaluable advice for others aspiring to thrive in a family-run business, and articulated their expansive goals for the future of Champions School of Real Estate.
Building a Legacy: The Journey of Champions School of Real Estate
CD: Rita, when you first began building Champions School of Real Estate, what expectations did you have for your children potentially joining you in the business as they grew up?
Rita Santamaria: When I initially embarked on the journey to establish Champions School of Real Estate, I honestly never envisioned any of my children becoming involved in its operations. The early years were incredibly challenging; it took a substantial amount of time and effort merely to break even, let alone turn a profit. My primary desire for them was to have a “better advantage” in life, which meant pursuing their degrees and forging their own unique paths in the business world. I wanted them to explore diverse opportunities and discover their own passions, rather than feeling obligated to join the family venture.
CD: Kim, can you recall the specific moment you realized you were going to work for Champions School of Real Estate?
Kimberly Dydalewicz: When my mom first opened Champions in 1983, I was just seven years old. I vividly remember spending countless hours at our original campus, absorbing the energy and learning environment around me. It truly felt like a second home from a very young age.
After graduating from Louisiana Tech, I began the rigorous application process to kickstart my career. I secured two promising interviews with two very large, reputable companies, which was incredibly exciting. However, as I prepared for these opportunities, I found myself grappling with a sense of missing “passion” for those specific roles. Coincidentally, at that exact time, an opening arose at our Champions campus – we only had one campus back then. Without hesitation, I submitted my application. After a thorough interview process with my mom – and yes, she genuinely interviewed me with the same professionalism she would any other candidate – I felt incredibly blessed to begin my career at Champions School of Real Estate in September of 1998. To this day, not a single day passes where I don’t count my blessings for having been given this amazing opportunity to contribute to and grow within a company I deeply care about.
CD: Rita, what qualities do you observe in Kim that you believe best equip her to be an exceptional leader within Champions School of Real Estate?
Rita Santamaria: Kimberly possesses an extraordinary ability to listen to our employees with both an open mind and genuine kindness in her heart. She approaches every interaction with the intention of fostering understanding and collaboration, never to offend. At the same time, she maintains a clear expectation of accountability for tasks and tangible results. This balance of empathy and expectation is crucial. She proactively takes on responsibilities, sets clear timelines, and expects measurable outcomes, and we both hold our entire team to these same high standards. If something doesn’t proceed as planned, our approach is to inquire, understand the root cause, implement solutions, and move forward constructively. She holds no grudges, which is a rare and invaluable leadership trait. Kimberly is a fundamentally happy and fair person, and her unwavering desire and remarkable talents to consistently make Champions the absolute best and the undisputed leader in real estate education have been a primary driver of our significant growth.
CD: Was there any particular moment during Kim’s upbringing when you recognized her potential to be a great fit to work alongside you at Champions School of Real Estate?
Rita Santamaria: Kimberly truly is a natural-born salesperson and marketer. Her aptitude for promotion became evident at a very early age, even when she was just creating outfits for her elementary choir’s Christmas program. She consistently demonstrated an innate understanding of sales and marketing principles. When she graduated from Louisiana Tech and interviewed with me for a position at Champions, I knew deep down that it was only a matter of time before I would say yes to her joining the company. There is no greater joy, and indeed no greater challenge, than having your own family members contribute to the success and growth of your company. It brings a unique layer of dedication and shared vision.
CD: Could you describe a moment with Kim when you felt particularly proud of her achievements as a leader within Champions School of Real Estate?
Rita Santamaria: One moment that stands out profoundly was when Kim understood my long-held aspiration to open a campus in San Antonio. Without a second thought, she voluntarily offered to sell her house in Sugar Land and relocate herself and her family to San Antonio specifically to spearhead the establishment of that new campus. She began working out of a small, temporary office, diligently going office-to-office, personally promoting our brand and correspondence courses. This tireless, ground-level effort continued for eight months until our permanent San Antonio campus was finally ready to open its doors. By the time the campus launched, thanks to Kim’s relentless networking and outreach, companies in the area already knew about us, and brokers were already familiar with Kim. She essentially operated as a one-woman show in San Antonio, yet she managed the business with the professionalism and impact of someone running a large, fully operational campus. Her dedication and entrepreneurial spirit during that period filled me with immense pride.
Intergenerational Wisdom: Lessons and Shared Visions
CD: Kim, what do you consider to be the most significant lessons you’ve learned from your mother regarding what it truly takes to be an effective leader for Champions School of Real Estate?
Kimberly Dydalewicz: My mother taught me profound lessons about empathetic leadership. She firmly believes in not micromanaging our employees, but rather empowering them. Crucially, she instilled in me the understanding that our employees are human beings, and “life happens.” We acknowledge and support that reality. Our team members are incredibly valuable to our success, and it’s paramount that each of them feels appreciated and knows their worth. We’ve learned not to “sweat the small stuff” – focusing on the bigger picture and overarching goals. A key lesson is to “be out there” – truly know your employees, understand what’s happening in their lives, and genuinely connect with them. It’s vital to pause, say hello, and engage in a brief chat. And perhaps most importantly, always acknowledge our team members for a job exceptionally well done. These principles foster a loyal, motivated, and highly effective workforce.
CD: You’ve expressed pride in your mother on numerous occasions – what qualities or aspects of Rita do you admire most and aspire to emulate?
Kimberly Dydalewicz: What I admire most about my mom, and what I strive to emulate, is her incredible ability to be a full-time working “mom” and still be completely present and there for her children. Growing up, my mom worked tirelessly all day, and often well into the evenings, yet she consistently carved out quality time for my siblings and me. She mastered the art of balancing her demanding career with her family responsibilities, making it all seem effortless. This has been the single biggest lesson for me as a mommy raising my own precious boys. My mom always used to say, “Work Hard – Play Hard,” and I find myself repeating that mantra to my boys all the time. It’s about giving your all in your professional life and then fully immersing yourself in your personal life. I realize I have to be a leader in the office and equally a leader in my home, and remarkably, it works! I feel incredibly blessed to have learned this vital balance from her.
CD: What are the biggest benefits you experience from working together as a mother-daughter duo?
Rita Santamaria: The benefits of working with Kimberly are immeasurable. I have the profound assurance that she is always vigilantly looking out for the best interests of our family business. Our daily collaboration provides me with an invaluable opportunity to talk through, discuss, and strategize on issues, future goals, and new ideas. She possesses a deep understanding of what I’m communicating and offers sincere, honest, and constructive feedback, which is crucial for growth. We share so much in common, both on a personal and professional level, that having her by my side all these years has been nothing short of a true gift in life. Our synergy allows us to move forward with confidence and unity.
Kimberly Dydalewicz: We serve as an indispensable sounding board for each other every single day. How truly blessed am I to have the opportunity to work alongside my mom? To be able to simply look at my intercom system, press a four-digit code, and instantly hear her voice – to ask her anything, discuss an idea or a new direction, or even just to say hello. I absolutely cherish working with my mom. Our minds often think so much alike that there are moments when we instinctively finish each other’s sentences, which is a testament to our deep connection and shared vision. This level of understanding and immediate access is a tremendous advantage in our fast-paced industry.
CD: If you could offer one piece of advice to another mother-daughter entrepreneurial duo, what would it be?
Rita Santamaria: My advice would be twofold. First, always remember that “at the end of the work day, always be the mother, not the employer.” It’s vital to transition back into the family role and nurture that relationship above all else. Second, understand that your daughter will likely be keenly aware that other employees might perceive her as receiving preferential treatment. This awareness often compels her to feel the need to jump higher and longer than anyone else to continually prove her merit. This can be a daunting and emotionally taxing situation for your daughter. Therefore, it is crucial to be there for her, offering unwavering support and reassurance, as she works tirelessly to prove to herself and to others that she is the capable leader you have groomed and that she has meticulously developed through her hard work, dedication, and consistent follow-through. Your belief in her is paramount.
Kimberly Dydalewicz: Truly, I believe it is incredibly important to stay grounded. When all is said and done at the end of the day, my mom is still the most amazing, nurturing mother who absolutely adores her family and grandchildren. And I, in turn, am still her daughter who would do anything in the world for her. This core family bond must remain paramount, transcending professional roles.
Also – and my mom will undoubtedly love this one – decide from the very beginning what you will call your mom in the office. One month it might be “Rita,” then the next it’s “Mom,” or it could very well be a blend of “Rita and Mom” even within the same conversation! It’s a funny little internal joke we share, but it highlights the unique blend of our professional and personal identities, and finding your comfort zone with it is essential for clarity and smooth communication.
Navigating the Challenges of a Family Business
CD: What are some of the biggest challenges that arise from working together in a family business?
Rita Santamaria: One inherent challenge is the natural instinct to “talk shop” even when we’re away from the business, rather than simply enjoying our roles as mother and daughter. However, we consciously addressed and naturally rectified that a few years back. Now, we strictly compartmentalize: we discuss business matters during working days, and after hours, our conversations pivot entirely to mom-and-daughter topics. This separation has been crucial for maintaining a healthy balance. We have consistently connected on our growth direction and always reach a meeting of the minds regarding where we are headed and precisely how we intend to get there. While challenges are an inevitable part of any venture, our mutual respect for each other’s input and decisions has allowed us to overcome them effectively.
Kimberly Dydalewicz: Ha! The biggest challenge, without a doubt, is that we literally never stop talking about Champions – morning, noon, and night, including weekends and holidays! It’s deeply ingrained in us. Beyond that, a significant challenge throughout my tenure has been the pervasive public misconception about family-owned businesses. There’s often an idea that being part of a family business is a “free” ticket to success, implying less effort or automatic privilege. This couldn’t be further from the truth! In reality, it often demands even more dedication, hard work, and a constant drive to prove oneself, precisely because of those external perceptions.
CD: Disagreements often occur on both a business and personal level, particularly in family enterprises. What’s your trick to ensure your business relationship and personal relationship aren’t negatively affected by tensions from either side?
Rita Santamaria: Our primary trick is that we simply do not go silent and stop communicating. Open communication and a genuine understanding of the other person’s opinion are absolutely key, whether in personal or business relationships. We have a steadfast rule: we never allow a disagreement to interrupt the flow of respect and love we have for each other. We even have a little script we often use: “I may disagree with you on this point, but I love you and respect you, my daughter.” This simple affirmation helps us maintain perspective and prioritize our bond above any temporary professional friction.
Kimberly Dydalewicz: In our 17 years of working together, we’ve certainly had our share of disagreements, as is natural in any close relationship, especially one combining family and business. However, we have cultivated the ability to always see past them. We both instinctively agree on what is most important to our fundamental mother-daughter relationship, and by extension, what will ultimately benefit our company in the long run. It’s also worth noting that we hail from very different generations, so sometimes it takes a few in-depth conversations between my mom and me to fully understand the rationale behind certain decisions and why they would be truly beneficial for Champions. But I genuinely believe we have become quite the masters at balancing and navigating the complexities of our personal versus professional relationship, maintaining harmony on both fronts.
CD: Kim, do you have any expectations for your children to join you in the business you grew up in?
Kimberly Dydalewicz: Oh goodness, it would truly be the greatest joy and a dream come true for any parent to work alongside their children. However, my husband Kevin and I are committed to supporting our boys’ individual aspirations. We have a fourteen-year-old who is passionately working hard towards his dream of becoming an MLB pitcher, and our three-year-old, with his adventurous spirit, seems destined to be either a NASCAR driver or perhaps even a train conductor! Who knows what the future holds for them. My most important expectation is simply for my boys to be happy, passionate, and proud of whatever path they ultimately choose in life, whether it leads them into the family business or to entirely different horizons.
CD: What five words would each of you use to describe the other?
Rita Santamaria: This is tough to limit to just five, but the first words that spring to mind for Kimberly are: Beautiful, Fun, Honest, Loyal, Dynamic, Intelligent, Driven, Loving, and Peppy. I just can’t narrow it down to five when describing such a multifaceted person!
Kimberly Dydalewicz: For my mom, Rita, I would choose: Selfless, Beautiful, Leader, Smart, and Rock. She truly embodies each of these qualities in every aspect of her life.
Achieving Excellence and Envisioning the Future
CD: Since embarking on your journey with Champions School of Real Estate, what do you consider to be your biggest achievement thus far?
Rita Santamaria: Without a doubt, my biggest achievement has been our organic growth to seven distinct locations, strategically covering approximately 80% of the vast Texas population. To put this into perspective, Texas is geographically as large as 13 individual states combined! It has been an enormous undertaking to meticulously locate, build, and train staff for each regional investment, ensuring that every single one is fully operational and consistently growing without requiring my personal, constant presence. This ability to decentralize and empower regional teams while maintaining our core values and standards is something I am incredibly proud of.
Kimberly Dydalewicz: I have dedicated my entire career since graduating from Louisiana Tech University to passionately promote, grow, and expand the Champions School of Real Estate and Champions School of Business Etiquette brands. I am immensely proud of the collective achievements we’ve been able to realize. However, I truly feel that being promoted to President of Champions School of Real Estate stands out as my proudest individual moment. It represented the culmination of countless hours, significant personal sacrifice, and a journey filled with plenty of blood, sweat, and tears over the past 17 years to reach this pivotal point in my professional life. It’s a testament to sustained effort and unwavering commitment.
CD: Where do you envision Champions School of Real Estate being in the next ten years?
Rita Santamaria: Champions School of Real Estate is strategically positioning itself to become a preeminent national real estate school. Our ambitious goal is to have comprehensively covered the entire U.S. market, or even evolved into a global real estate education provider, within the next decade. Our core direction each year is marked by continuous expansion, sustained growth, and embracing new challenges head-on. The real estate industry is constantly evolving, and Champions remains consistently focused not only on expanding our reach and becoming a large institution but also, and critically, on maintaining our reputation as an excellent provider of comprehensive education across real estate, loan origination, appraisal, and inspection services. We aim for both scale and unparalleled quality.
Kimberly Dydalewicz: Our vision is clear: growing national! We are already well on our way to achieving this goal, having assembled some of the smartest, most creative curriculum development and online learning teams in the industry. We are investing heavily in innovative educational methodologies to ensure our programs are accessible and effective across different markets. So, watch out, USA, because Champions School of Real Estate is coming your way with a commitment to excellence and a passion for empowering future real estate professionals nationwide!