I recently went one-on-one with Bianca D’Alessio, star of HBO Max’s Selling the Hamptons. Bianca is the founder and CEO of The Masters Division and Managing Director of Nest Seekers Development Marketing, where she oversees a $10 billion international real estate portfolio, and is the author of the new book, Mastering Intentions: 10 Practices to Amplify Your Power and Lead with Lasting Impact.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Bianca: My journey here has been defined by adversity, growth, and relentless intention. I didn’t grow up in the boardroom, and no one handed me a playbook for how to succeed in this business. I started my career with big aspirations but very little practical experience, and in my first year as a real estate broker, I earned just $11,000. That was humbling. When you’re young and ambitious, you think you’ll break into the industry and immediately soar. Instead, I found myself questioning if I had chosen the wrong path entirely. But rather than letting that early failure define me, I used it as fuel to learn everything I could, not just about the craft of sales, but about myself.
One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was being underestimated. As a young woman in a fiercely competitive, male-dominated industry, there were many rooms I walked into where people assumed I didn’t belong. That can shake your confidence if you let it, but instead, I made a decision. I wasn’t going to try to be what others expected of me. I wasn’t going to dilute my presence to fit in or play small to make others comfortable. I focused on becoming the most prepared, the most disciplined, and the most authentic version of myself. I let my results speak for me, and slowly, those same people who doubted me started calling me for advice.
I’ve also experienced my share of professional missteps. Early in my career, I entered into a partnership that ultimately fell apart, and with it, the business I was building at the time. I was forced to start over from scratch, rebuild my reputation, and earn back the trust of my peers and clients. That season of my life taught me more than any success ever could. I learned how to make hard decisions quickly. I learned that no matter how far you fall, you can always rise again if you stay focused on your core values.
Each setback became a defining moment because it reinforced the power of intentionality. I learned that you don’t just rebuild by working harder, you rebuild by working smarter. You rebuild by aligning your actions with your values and refusing to let temporary failures dictate your future. That mindset and that discipline to keep moving forward, to grow through what you go through, is what’s allowed me to build a business, a team, and a brand that I’m deeply proud of today.
Adam: What is the most surprising thing about reality TV and being on a reality TV show?
Bianca: The most surprising thing was how much it forced me to confront myself. Reality TV gives the world permission to write your narrative, unless you have the courage to own it yourself. At first, I was hesitant to share my vulnerabilities on camera. There’s this temptation to portray perfection, to protect yourself from judgment by only showing the polished parts of your life. But I learned quickly that perfection is forgettable; authenticity is what resonates.
Being on Selling the Hamptons taught me that leaning into your story and your values, even when it feels uncomfortable, is the most powerful thing you can do. When you open up and let people see the real you — the challenges, the grit, the growth — you inspire others to do the same. And that’s when real connection happens, which is what leadership, and even business, is all about.
Adam: What are your best tips on the topics of sales?
Bianca: Sales is about service, not persuasion. That’s the mistake many people make, thinking the loudest voice wins. But the best salespeople listen more than they talk, understand the deeper need behind the client’s words, and build trust through consistent follow-through.
Three principles I live by:
Be obsessively prepared. Know your product, your client, and your market better than anyone else. Preparation gives you confidence and allows you to show up as the expert they need.
Build relationships, not transactions. People don’t just buy what you’re selling, they buy you. Trust is earned through honesty and integrity, not gimmicks.
Stay persistent with grace. Don’t fear the “no” — it’s just a step closer to the “yes.” The key is to remain respectful, professional, and consistent without being pushy.
At its core, sales is about solving problems and creating value for the person on the other side of the table.
Adam: What is your best advice on marketing and branding?
Bianca: Your brand is your reputation at scale. It’s not just what you say, it’s what people feel when they interact with you. Whether you’re building a personal or a business brand, clarity and consistency are non-negotiable.
First, know your values and let them guide every decision. Then, make sure those values come through in every touchpoint, from your social media presence to how you greet a client. Branding is not just visual; it’s behavioral. It’s how you make people feel.
And don’t shy away from telling your story. Vulnerability is what makes a brand relatable and magnetic. People connect to real stories, not curated perfection.
Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Bianca: An effective leader is resilient, authentic, and deeply committed to empowering others. Resilient enough to navigate adversity without losing sight of their vision. Authentic enough to inspire trust through vulnerability and transparency. And committed enough to the growth of others to elevate their team beyond what they thought was possible.
If you want to take your leadership to the next level, start with self-awareness. Reflect on your purpose every day, seek honest feedback from people you trust, and continually work on developing your character alongside your competence. Leadership is not just about what you know; it’s about who you are when no one’s watching.
Adam: What do you hope readers take away from your new book?
Bianca: Mastering Intentions is a call to action to stop living reactively and start living with clarity, purpose, and fulfillment. Too many people let their lives be dictated by circumstances or other people’s expectations. I want readers to walk away knowing they have the power to write their own story, no matter where they’re starting from.
It’s about understanding what truly matters to you, aligning your actions with your values, and building a life and career of impact. My hope is that readers see that setbacks are not the end; they are the raw material from which resilience, growth, and greatness are built.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Bianca: Lead yourself first. You cannot lead others effectively if you’re not aligned with your own values and vision. The best leaders are deeply intentional about who they are and what they stand for.
Foster collaboration over competition. Success is a team sport. Empower others to shine, and you create a culture of trust and innovation that benefits everyone.
Play the long game. Build for sustainability, not just short-term wins. Trust, reputation, and relationships are your greatest currency, and they take time to cultivate.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Bianca: “You can tell your story your way, or you can let the world tell it for you.” That reminder from my producer changed everything for me. It gave me permission to stop waiting for someone else to validate me and start owning my narrative, flaws and all. It’s a philosophy I carry into everything I do, from business decisions to personal branding to how I show up for my team.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Bianca: Just this: no matter how chaotic or competitive life feels, you always have the ability to pause, realign, and act with intention. Success isn’t just about what you accomplish; it’s about who you become in the process.
The most fulfilled leaders I know are the ones who never stop growing, who stay grounded in their purpose, and who measure their success not just by what they achieve, but by the impact they have on the people around them. That’s the kind of legacy worth building.
