Mastering Mentorship and Making Choices: Brad Kogut’s Journey in Career Mapping

Brad Kogut, a senior executive at Anywhere Real Estate, encourages junior employees to focus on building environments where people can engage in intellectual and curious discussions that lead to the best solutions. He shares his diverse career journey, which spans from roles in hotels and sports to his current position in real estate, including a leadership role in diversity, equity, and inclusion at WWE. A full-stack human resources professional, Brad’s experience includes talent acquisition, talent management, people analytics, diversity and inclusion, employee relations, and learning and development. Growing up, Brad dreamed of becoming a professional hockey player. He played the sport from a young age, attended a military boarding school where he first learned about servant leadership and went on to play college hockey on a full scholarship. After graduating with a degree in sports management, he began his career in hospitality and worked in various hotel roles before transitioning into HR. Starting his HR career as a coordinator at a resort in New Hampshire, Brad progressed through positions at Starwood and, eventually, Madison Square Garden. He credits an early career mentor, Lisa S, for teaching him about servant leadership and empowering his team. Brad believes in leading without a title and values emotional intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and agility. At Anywhere Real Estate, Brad emphasizes "work-life harmony" rather than balance and makes choices based on his priorities. Passionate about mentoring, he enjoys learning from other leaders and hosts a monthly HR roundtable with executive peers. He also values having a career map and a personal board of advisors for guidance. Brad’s career reflects his commitment to servant leadership and his focus on fostering an environment of growth and empowerment.