In our ‘Nine questions with’ series we sit down with influential, passionate women within the real estate industry. For this one, we sat down with First American Title VP, Louisette Geiss to ask her ‘nine questions’.
- What is your earliest memory?
I clearly remember singing “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” and sitting on my father’s shoulders as a kid. Based on this memory and where we lived at the time, I was 4 or younger. - What is your most embarrassing moment?
My 3 year old daughter did my make up one day. I forgot about it and went out to the store later that day. I couldn’t figure out why everyone was staring at me until I realised I looked like a crazy clown who got loose. - What is your most treasured possession?
My baby girls, Teegan and Delaney, are by far my favourite people and my favourite possession is an opal ring I got from my godmother who was one seriously fierce female. She was a nun for 40 years and married after the love of her life for 30 years. She was the kindest woman I know and I thank her for helping my family raise me to be a genuine, generous, kind human. She also taught me how to spell well which is quite a talent these days. - Who would play you in the film of your life?
I think I may still be young enough to play myself! I will need a good make up artist though. All those years of acting could finally pay off. - What is your favourite smell?
My baby’s head is my favourite smell. Maybe it is instinctual but I remember my Mom telling me the same thing. I am still breast feeding a few times a day and there is nothing better than kissing and smelling my baby. - What is your guiltiest pleasure?
I have alone dates, an hour of therapy and an hour and a half massage a couple times a month or when needed. I am OK being alone and I think it’s important to take care of myself mentally and physically. Since I am alone, I sometimes even meet new, wonderful people. - What does love feel like to you?
Not feeling regretful or too cautious, being myself is true love with myself or with anyone else. I honour money and nice things but I don’t want to hug a bag of money when I go to sleep. Real love is feeling peaceful and happy with whomever I am hugging. - What is the worst job you’ve ever had?
Aside from my Harvey Weinstein experience? That was hell and he is not alone, so as much as I liked the entertainment business, I hated how I was treated. That said, when I was in my late 30s, I heard of a little girl who needed a home. I became a legal guardian/foster mom to her and the day the court gave me rights to help this little girl, I was let go from my prominent job. Our whole division was dissolved. I was left with nothing and now a 7 year old to care for. It was super stressful. I scrambled and the only job I could get was doing sales and social media for a clothing line in Downtown LA. The owner didn’t want to pay us appropriately and treated us all very poorly but I did learn that I could do just about anything when I had a child to care for. The beauty was the next jobs to follow were amazing so the yin and yang of life is important. - What do you love most about Catch Up With The Property Girls?
I think it is incredibly important to hold each other up. I love the support and camaraderie we share whether we live next door or an ocean away. Education and genuine support of each and every woman in our lives is true success. We can only do better and rise when we hold each other up, up, up!