When Elliott looked back on his childhood, one constant stood out: his mum, Michelle, coming home from a long day in real estate. Tired, yes, but beaming with pride and purpose.

“I do,” he said. “I remember how hard you worked. You came home after a long day, excited, enthusiastic. You talked about your clients, the deals, and how much people respected your effort.”

“If you weren’t happy with the photos, or the styling of a property, you'd go back and fix it. Your attention to detail was incredible.”

That Elliott had paid so much attention to Michelle’s work in those early years was touching.

“They're very fond memories,” she said. “I love that you picked all that up.”

For Elliott, those early memories of his mum’s hustle left a lasting impression. And for Michelle, his curiosity started early.

“Every day when I came home in those early months, you’d ask, ‘Did you sell something today?’,” she said. “ And I’d have to say, ‘not yet, but I’ll let you know when I do.’”

The cycle continued with the next generation.

“That’s actually really funny, because when I come home now, the first thing Remy asks is, ‘did you, Dad? Did you sell something?’,” Elliott said.

“The apple doesn’t fall far,” Michelle said.

Michelle hadn’t chosen real estate for the glamour or the glory.

“I got into real estate more out of necessity than want,” she explained. “We’d bought and sold a few houses, and I thought I could give it a go. But really, it was a financial decision; to keep you both in private school, which was important to us.”

When Michelle started in 1992, the real estate world then looked very different, especially for a woman.

“They told me I could try, but if it didn’t work out, that would be it.”

But despite being up against it, by the end of her first year, Michelle had been named Rookie of the Year at Century 21. “It was a struggle, but it was so rewarding,” she said.

That quiet determination left a legacy.

“You were a powerhouse, Mum,” Elliott said. “Even now, people in the industry know what you did. You were an inspiration, especially for other women. You changed the game.”

Michelle shrugged modestly. “It was just something I decided to try. And I succeeded.”

Years later, their stories would intertwine again.

“Tell me when you decided to try real estate?” she asked.

“It wasn’t my choice!” Elliott chuckled. “I wanted to open a café. You told me to try real estate during the day, maybe just to make calls. And I thought, well, who's going to disagree with their mum?”

He gave it a shot and something clicked.

“Thank you, Mum.”

“My pleasure. But remember, you were my PA for three weeks before you started telling me how to do it better,” she said.

“That’s when I suggested you find a job as a PA in the Eastern Suburbs, and the rest is history.”

When they described each other, their words came easily.

“Compassionate,” Michelle said of Elliott.

“Tenacious,” he offered in return.

Michelle elaborated: “in real estate, you need compassion. You’re a counsellor, a decorator, a stylist; you do it all. But most of all, you need heart.”

She had always been clear about the kind of agent, and person, she hoped her son would become.

“Be humble with your success. There are a lot of egos in our industry. But staying true to yourself; that’s what matters.”

“Thanks, Mum. I'm so beautiful.” Elliott joked, and they both laughed again.

But behind the memories were sacrifices. Elliott remembered  evenings on the basketball court.

“I used to finish basketball and watch everyone else get picked up at 4:30, and I’d wait,” he said. “4:40, 4:45… And you couldn’t call in those days. But I always believed you were coming. And you always did. You always did.”

“Resilience,” he said. “That’s what you taught me.”

As the conversation shifted to advice for working mums, Michelle was honest.

“I’d tell them what I didn’t always do myself; find a balance,” she said. “Take time for your family. And for yourself.”

Elliott agreed, saying, “that balance is always evolving. There are moments where work takes over. But there are also moments where you can choose to switch off. It’s a challenge, but worth working on.”

 “And thank God we’re not brain surgeons,” Michelle added with a smile. “If we don’t answer the phone, nothing terrible is going to happen.”

Michelle had always led with integrity and she’s proud of the leader her son has become.

“It’s amazing what you’ve turned your company into,” she said. “The number of staff you lead, and the way they speak about you. They say you’re fair. They say you give everyone time.”

 “I love you because you’ve given me the foundations for success,” Elliott responded. “You’ve always done everything for me and now for my own family. You care. You’re always there. I love you.”

 “I love you right back,” Michelle said. “You are a wonderful father, a wonderful husband, and the most wonderful son. I couldn’t be prouder.”