You may be a star while you’re working at a company but how many people get glowing reviews from their former boss after they find a new job?

Karen Yolevski is “a delight to work with and I will miss her. In less than four years she has left a positive mark on our grand old company,” says Royal LePage Real Estate’s CEO Phil Soper. “Carson Dunlop will be lucky to have her leading their team.”

Yolevski, COO at Royal LePage, will join Carson Dunlop Home Inspections on Jan. 6 as its CEO.

Yolevski was based in Royal LePage’s head office in Toronto and happy, she says, to work with Soper, who is known as a stellar leader within the company and industry. During her time at Royal LePage, her portfolio included 21 corporately owned offices in Ontario, B.C. and Quebec. She also served as a key member of the executive team. 

A career built on versatility and vision

When she joined Royal LePage in 2021, she says her goal was to put “hands and arms around the business, drive innovation, drive brand and build on great services.”

The people-focused leader says she has implemented initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, integrate technology to improve service delivery and helped further solidify the company’s position as an industry leader. She worked to ensure corporate team members felt valued and heard and drove initiatives whether local or while travelling.

Yolevski says her background has followed a winding path. She is a lawyer by trade, having attended Osgoode Hall. As partner in law she specialized in real estate, corporate governance and strategic advisory services. She has held leadership roles in proptech platforms, title insurance and financial services, including Stewart Title Canada as vice president of Residential and Commercial Business Development and president of Nationwide Home Closing Services and Nationwide Recovery Services at Nationwide Appraisal Services.

Embracing the next chapter 

While working as vice president and chief legal counsel at Flexiti Financial, she found her love for the business and operational sides versus legal and her love for real estate.

Client service is at the centre of all she does. She says she is looking forward to “an exciting opportunity as CEO at Carson Dunlop, a company renowned in the industry for almost a half-century and that has a remarkable reputation,” she says.

Her first order of business is to start in “learning and listening mode, working toward goals, growth and innovation” at the Toronto-based home and residential inspection company and to increase the profile of its lesser-known education and software components.

Yolevski says the home inspection field has more males than females, but women buy homes, so it makes sense to have representation in all aspects of real estate transactions, from Realtor to inspection to aftercare. “It’s important and it’s good business.”

A champion for women in real estate

She values the opportunities she has had to mentor women to work toward their career goals and to provide mentorship and leadership and looks forward to continuing in that role.

Her career has given her the opportunity to travel. “It’s been a gift to do that as part of my work at Royal LePage and my past experience.”

Working with a Canadian company such as Royal LePage has allowed her to learn the nuances of the Canadian market, which varies from region to region. “It makes a difference to have Canadian leadership on the ground.”

Yolevski, who loves Toronto through and through, says her roots and heart are here. However, in a different life, she would have been a broadcaster. She says life took a turn and she has no regrets that she pursued a legal path first. “It’s very useful in business to have a legal background, to be able to absorb information,” says Yolevski, who has a communications undergrad and enjoys public speaking. She often shares her expertise at industry events and provides industry insights to national print, radio and television media.

Royal LePage CEO Phil Soper and COO Karen Yolevski

A bright future ahead

As for the glowing remarks from her past employer, she says “I think it’s a testament to the mutual admiration and respect for the people I worked with at Royal LePage. The feeling is mutual.”

She says Soper develops people into leaders and encourages them to use their skills in other opportunities, which shows the professionalism and excellent family-like environment at Royal LePage.

Soper is an “incredible leader, as those in the industry know. He’s the voice of Canadian real estate and has done an incredible job keeping Royal LePage at the forefront. It’s a great relationship to work for and work with him.” Royal LePage Corporate Brokerage is Canada’s oldest operating real estate company and the largest brokerage business by sales volume in the country.

Yolevski is also getting accolades from her new employers. Alan Carson, president and CEO of Carson Dunlop, says, “Karen brings exceptional experience and enthusiasm, and I am excited to support her in her leadership of Carson Dunlop on the next chapter of this home services company.”