My Career: ‘Raising three small kids while working full-time was my biggest challenge’

Name: Johanna Victoria Murphy

Age: 55

Lives: Cobh, Co Cork (working across Cobh, Cork Harbour and Kinsale) – originally from Lower Montenotte, Cork – moved to Cobh 18 years ago.

Job title: CEO, director and licence holder of Johanna Murphy & Sons Ltd, Estate Agents, covering Cobh, Cork Harbour and Kinsale.

Salary bracket: Enough to be comfortable.

Education background: I attended Scoil Mhuire in Cork for my primary and secondary education, and then Skerry’s College in Cork where I completed a Diploma in Business Studies. I went on to qualify in Professional Auctioneering and Real Estate Agency with the IPAV (24), followed by a Tegova valuation course (last year), and I’m currently undertaking the Certificate in Chartered Directorship with the Institute of Directors (IoD) which I commenced in January this year.

Hobbies: Walking (especially by the sea), listening to music, sailing, and socialising with friends. I’d almost count business as a hobby too – I love keeping up with current affairs, seeing what’s going on in the world, and keeping my brain active.

Describe your job in five words: People-centred, strategic, demanding, rewarding, varied.

Describe yourself in five words: Resilient, practical, community-minded, honest, driven, and very determined.

Personality needed for this kind of work?

You need to be calm under pressure, genuinely interested in people and their stories, and comfortable having difficult conversations when large sums of money and big life decisions are involved. A strong work ethic, integrity, and a steady temperament are essential because you’re dealing with families, investors, and businesses at key turning points in their lives.

How long are you doing this job?

I’ve worked in estate agency since 1994 and have owned and led Johanna Murphy & Sons since 2001, so more than 30 years in the industry and 25 years as a business owner.

How did you get this job?

After Skerry’s College, I worked with Woodchester Insurance, where I gained experience in administration, telesales and client advisory work. One day, my mother, who was already an established auctioneer, rang to say she had bought a derelict building in Cobh and wanted me to do it up and open a sub-office of Victoria Murphy & Daughter Estate Agents. I was 24 at the time – I was working with her on my days off.

I took on the challenge, renovated the building and started running the Cobh office, learning every aspect of sales, lettings and valuations while being mentored by my mother. Over time, I was effectively running the business from Cobh, so it was a natural progression to buy it, rebrand it as Johanna Murphy & Sons and step fully into ownership with her blessing. Since then I’ve grown the agency through the highs and lows of the property market, expanded our services, and built a brand rooted in trust, community and long-term relationships around Cobh, Cork Harbour and Kinsale.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

To be an auctioneer and estate agent in Ireland, you need the appropriate PSRA licence and professional qualifications, along with an understanding of property law, valuation and regulation.

In reality, experience is just as important – years spent on the ground valuing property, negotiating deals and troubleshooting problems is what gives clients confidence that you know what you’re doing.

Describe a day at work:

No two days are the same. I tend to start with emails and calls, followed by property viewings, valuations or site visits around Cobh, Cork Harbour and Kinsale – this requires a lot of organisation as appointments are back to back.

In the office, my role is very much to oversee what’s happening; checking in with the team, making decisions and keeping an eye on how sales, lettings and valuations are progressing, rather than doing every task myself.

We also hold a team meeting once a week to make sure we have all areas covered – what’s working well, what’s not, and where we can improve. We’re very strategy-based as a business, always asking how we can raise our standards so that our customers get the best possible service from Johanna Murphy & Sons.

In between viewings and phone calls, real life is happening too. I’m still running a home, checking in on three boys (from 26 down to 18, including one doing his Leaving Cert at the moment), and making sure everyone is where they need to be. Family is very important to me, so I try to structure my day so that I’m there when it matters, and I’m lucky that my husband and I work as a really good team and I am extremely organised.

I also carve out time for biggerpicture thinking – planning marketing, reviewing finances and deciding where to take the business next – I am always acutely aware the economy can change in a heartbeat and I want my business to be sustainable so I am very much a lateral thinker.

How many hours do you work a week?

On paper, 50–60 hours a week, but like most small business owners it ebbs and flows – I am never really off, but Sunday is definitely my off day.

Is your industry male- or female-dominated?

When my mother started, estate agency was very male-dominated, especially at ownership level, but the landscape has changed hugely. Today I’d say it’s close to 50/50, which is very healthy for the industry.

Does this affect you in any particular way?

I find the current balance very positive – men and women are, in my experience, very supportive of each other in this business but it is a highly competitive space at the same time. Like every business, you will have your go-to people within the industry.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1–10:

It can be everything from a 3 to a 9, depending on the week. It’s people’s homes, investments and livelihoods, so there’s pressure to get it right and to hold things together when chains wobble or markets shift. I manage the stress by staying organised, communicating clearly, and keeping perspective. After three decades in property, you learn that markets move in cycles and most problems can be solved with patience and honesty. I always bear in mind I sell houses every day but most people only do it once in a lifetime and it can be stressful so I am very mindful of that.

Do you work with others or on your own?

I work with a small team in the office and work closely with photographers, solicitors, surveyors and other professionals, so it’s very much a team sport. That said, there is also a lot of independent work – site visits, valuations and the quiet thinking time needed to steer the business – a lot of thinking time in the car.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

I don’t have a fixed date in mind. I love what I do and see myself gradually stepping back from the day to day rather than stopping abruptly – perhaps moving more into advisory, valuations and board work now and increasing that side over time.

I would also like to act as a mentor for people opening up their own small business, by then I will certainly have a wealth of experience behind me to share.

Best bits:

Helping people move onto the next chapter of their lives – whether it’s a first-time buyer getting their keys, a family upsizing or downsizing, or an investor backing Cobh, Cork Harbour and Kinsale – is incredibly satisfying.

I also love playing a small part in the regeneration of the town and harbour, seeing buildings brought back to life and streetscapes improved. It’s important to give back to the community that gives to you.

Worst bits:

World shocks, from economic downturns to pandemics, can be tough when you are responsible for staff, overheads and your own income. It can also be emotionally draining when deals fall through at the last minute or when you’re supporting clients through stressful personal circumstances.

Raising three small kids while working as a full-time mum was my biggest challenge, and one I found the hardest. Heartstrings at their highest.

Advice to those who want your job?

Get as much practical experience as you can – start in admin, lettings or sales support and work your way up, learning every part of the process. Invest in your qualifications, but also in your reputation: be honest, follow through on what you say you’ll do, and remember word of mouth is everything in this business.

Finally, understand that it’s a marathon, not a sprint – resilience and consistency matter more than overnight success. It has taken me 33 years of hard work to get to where I am today and I never take it for granted.

Hard work pays off and listening is a big factor, and thankfully I surround myself around genuine people – positivity attracts positivity.

Any other comments?

Owning my own business has allowed me to build a career that fits both my family life and my commitment to Cobh, Cork Harbour and Kinsale.

I’m proud that a business I took over in my midtwenties is still here, still evolving, and still contributing to the local community more than 25 years on.

As my mother always says, life is not a dress rehearsal – live life and do what you enjoy, the world is your oyster, be the best version of you. But success can never be taken for granted; it is earned.

Be authentic, sincere, and mindful of others.