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Written In Partnership With Kelin Dillon
Establishing oneself in the cut-throat world of U.S. business is no easy feat – an accomplishment that only becomes increasingly more difficult the farther away one is from being white, a natural-born citizen, or male. According to 2020 statistics from Mercer, more than 64 percent of entry-level workers in the United States are white, boosting to 85 percent when looking specifically at executive leadership.
When it comes to women, the numbers are even grimmer; 81 percent of women in executive roles are white, compared to 6 percent and 3 percent respective representation for black and Latina women. As cries for gender and racial equity increase across the U.S. business community, it seems there’s still a long way to go before these goals are met – but fortunately, a few key leaders in the American corporate world are leading the charge toward a new era of workplace diversity.
As one of the figureheads behind Miami-based development firm Shoma Group alongside her husband Masoud Shojaee, Stephanie Shojaee has put on a masterclass in breaking barriers in the real estate industry for both women and immigrants alike since joining the group in 2014. Using her keen marketing savvy and a sharp mind for business, Stephanie has seamlessly bolstered Shoma Groups’ annual revenue by more than 30 percent and sold out numerous 9-figure projects – like Oasis Park Square and Sanctuary Doral Park – all while fostering a more equitable and diverse workplace along the way.
Born in the U.S. to parents that originally hail from Colombia, Stephanie knows just how difficult it is for foreigners to break into the U.S. business world – especially when it comes to executive leadership. With no family connections in the country, and first learning to speak English at the age of 10, Stephanie’s upbringing quickly taught her the importance of earning her own way in life through hard work and determination – a feeling many children of immigrants to the U.S. can resonate with. While highly-visible immigrant CEOs like Elon may have made transplant leadership a hot topic of popular culture, the real figures starkly defer from the public optics; according to statistics from 2020, only 11 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs hail from countries outside the United States, a number that only continues to decline when stratifying the numbers by gender. Uniquely positioned in her role as Shoma Group’s president, Stephanie hopes to empower immigrants to the United States and their first-generation offspring to learn from her successes and go after their goals with full force.
“I want every immigrant and child of immigrants to know that they can dream big,” says Stephanie. “Often the best things in life don’t come easily, but hard work really does pay off. Do whatever it takes to reach your goals, and do not let people’s opinions, bullying, or skepticism discourage you or lead you astray. Only you can decide your future.”
Shoma Group itself was built on the back of an immigrant work ethic; Stephanie’s husband, Shoma Groups CEO and Chairman of the Board Masoud Shojaee, hails from Iran. Working in collaboration to keep building the multi-billion-dollar development firm to new heights of success, the power couple’s similar backgrounds pervade the day-to-day operations of the Shoma Group empire.
“Both of our native cultures are very family-oriented, which is super important to both of us,” says Stephanie. “Masoud was very close with his parents and feels like he is continuing the legacy of his father, who was in construction, through Shoma. I have a very close relationship with my parents too and I feel extremely lucky that Masoud loves my parents and enjoys traveling with them. His Spanish is excellent because he speaks it with them. We both have a really strong work ethic which I think in some ways can be attributed to both of our backgrounds as immigrants.”
Always looking to champion the unheard, Stephanie extends this same line of thought into her trailblazing gender equity measures instilled at Shoma Group. As the creator and leader behind the development firm’s first-ever all-female marketing team, Stephanie hand-picks women with bright potential straight out of college to work for Shoma Group, nurturing their careers through her nuanced expertise and helping them establish a robust resume for future professional opportunities. For those unable to directly benefit from Stephanie’s proven leadership skills, the barrier-breaking Shoma Group president still has some sage words of advice for women looking to make a name for themselves in real estate.
“Take advantage of opportunities that offer a ton of hands-on experience and learning and with strong leadership that’s keen on promoting from within the company,” adds Stephanie. “Also, be open-minded. Sometimes people pigeonhole themselves and miss out on great opportunities as a result. It’s important to know who you are and know your worth, while also being nimble.”
Stephanie has similarly been a champion for women in the workplace through the authentic embracement of her femininity and love for fashion, a passion well-documented on the real estate leader’s ever-growing Instagram account. Whether front row at the latest Dior show or giving an inside look at her enviable collection of Hermes handbags, Stephanie regularly proves that inherent womanhood does not need to be sacrificed for the sake of pandering to men in the workplace.
Acting as a role model for women, immigrants, and business aspirants hailing from all walks of life, Shoma Group President Stephanie Shojaee is a living and breathing example of the American dream, showing that hard work and dedication really does pay off – and not to mention, that you can look good doing it.
For more on Stephanie, visit her Instagram or Shoma Group’s website for the latest updates.
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