Meet Heidi Kuker

Hi Heidi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Ok! So, I always wanted to be a hairdresser growing up. It was an unpopular career choice in my house. My parents wanted me to go to business school, get married + settle down… Everything you’re “supposed to do”

They temporarily won that battle. I desperately wanted to graduate early + get out of my tiny little one horse town. I never felt like I belonged there. The only way to graduate early was by enrolling in college. So, University of Iowa business school it was. I got accepted by the end of my junior year. I took every credit possible while I was in school + graduated 6 months early with 30 college credits under my belt. I was offered to do an accelerated degree and be able to have my bachelors in just two years.

That all sounds great – but going to college at 17, in the middle of the year, far away from all my friends came with its own challenges. I partied way too hard, too often + dropped out a year later to pursue cosmetology. I wanted to help people look + feel beautiful. I loved the math + science component of it too. After working in Omaha for a few years, I was ready for a new challenge. I found an internship with Aveda in Denver and moved here in May 2013. I learned so much + started to build a network. Fast forward to 2015, I was approached to launch a colour line with KEVIN.MURPHY as a local educator. This was a huge win for my career. Rapidly rising through the ranks of a grass-roots luxury hair care brand! I eventually became a COLOR.MASTER for them and traveled full time teaching colour classes all over the country in 2019. Part of an elite global team of artists. My DREAM job.

But something wasn’t right. It felt so empty. I had everything I ever asked for and I was absolutely miserable…

So I stepped down from my role as a COLOR.MASTER + stayed on as a local educator early in 2020. Two months after I decided to go back to working with clients + rebuild my business, the entire world shut down. And I was at home trying to figure out how to pay my rent + if I’d ever be able to do hair again.

I did a lot of soul searching, and something I had thought about before came to mind… Real estate. This is an idea I had been floating for a few years now. I started to think about it more seriously during this time. I had made a friend in my building who had been an aesthetician before getting into real estate. Seeing her in her first year really inspired me! Change was coming but, I wasn’t there yet. I was letting fear hold me back from creating a new life. So I waited.

We got to get back into the salon + see clients in May, I was STACKED. Busier than I had ever been. Colour corrections left + right. Real estate was still in the back of my mind, but like… way in the back at this point. Things started to slow to a more normal pace in the salon, so I went home to Iowa for my dad’s birthday. He was in good spirits, but we noticed him having a hard time breathing + not eating much. We were obviously worried about covid at the time, so we went to the hospital. He had had a small, undetected heart attack about 10 days prior. There was a hole in his heart. Atrial fibrillation. He was 81, a stent wasn’t guaranteed to work + open heart surgery was a big risk. He decided to forego any procedures. From there, my family really had to pull together because my dad didn’t have a will in place whatsoever. We scrambled to protect his life’s work – as a farmer, he had built a size-able estate from the ground up. Millions of dollars in land + investments. It was in danger of being seized in probate court if we didn’t get everything done quickly. We had about 8 weeks with him from that point forward. He signed the final paperwork 7 hours before he passed on 8.21.20.

I asked him about 2 weeks before he passed, “Dad, did you get to do everything you wanted to in your life?” He simply shook his head and said, “No.”

I got back to Denver after his funeral + all at once – all the things I was lacking came flooding into plain view. Absolutely crushing me. I was in a TOXIC relationship, my passion for hair was gone + I was letting my business fail in front of my eyes. I could barely get out of bed to walk my dog daily. I felt like I was following in his footsteps + I didn’t want that life. I wanted to LIVE my life. Not just exist. To enjoy it, not spend all my time working. My dad was a great man, and he did so much for us, but he rarely took a day off, or planned a trip. He never made it to Germany, like he had been talking about my entire life. I know he missed out on so much because he was sacrificing to give me a better life. So I decided to honor him + his life by living mine more fully.

I wish I could say at this point, I left my toxic relationship. But I didn’t. They say it takes 6 breakups to get out of a toxic relationship. I believe it.

December 2020, I signed up for Kaplan. My classes started January 5. My breakup followed shortly after. It was worse than I had ever imagined. After 3 years, I accepted that I had been letting this relationship derail me from my goals for far too long. I quickly moved in with a generous friend, finished real estate school + got my license in March. Through all of this I had been interviewing different brokerages. I knew I wanted something smaller. I like the grass roots companies. I just find the people to be more genuine and have a lot of integrity. I wanted mentorship + somewhere that really gave a shit about my success, so I signed on with 360dwellings in early April.

This company has been absolutely amazing. It’s exactly what I was looking for + I am very happy there! In my first 3 months of real estate, I have managed to host a women’s networking event – Women In Power, close on two homes totaling $2million in sales + move into my own place again. And that’s only the beginning.  I’m absolutely flattered to be a guest on “There’s a Hack For That” podcast in September + this article! I highly recommend taking a chance on yourself + realizing your own potential. There’s nothing quite like it.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
This road has been nothing short of treacherous + I wouldn’t have it any other way. All these wins – big + small have gotten me to where I am today. They have helped me build confidence + strengthen my relationship with myself and others. If it weren’t for all the tough times, the good times wouldn’t feel so damn good either. Your mindset matters. I believe that challenges are meant to make you stronger, faster + more creative.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a creative business person. An artistic entrepreneur. Creative solutionist. A connector. Intuitive.

As a hairdresser, I spent the last 12 years absorbing every piece of knowledge I could find on hair colour + extensions. My passion for knowledge led me to become an educator 6 years ago. I’ve spent so much time since then sharing my knowledge and helping stylists everywhere to level up and be able to create their client’s DREAM hair. I love watching people have “ah-ha!” moments in my classes. Refining their skills little by little. There is so much to learn from each other, even when you’ve “mastered” something.

I’m bringing my passion for collaboration + education with me into real estate. I love being able to read between the lines + help people create solutions to problems.

My goal when working with clients is to create their DREAM life! Bring their vision to reality. To move with intention + find a house they can truly call home. I want them to be close to the things they love to do and far away from the things they can live without.

I’m also here to make the home-buying process simple, seamless + FUN. It doesn’t have to be complicated, intimidating, or overwhelming. I take the time to educate people throughout the process of buying or selling a home. My clients are welcome to ask questions! Real estate, money, etc. can feel heavy + daunting. I like to keep things light while we move through a transaction. I know this market is moving fast, and I fiercely advocate for my clients + make sure their best interests are #1 in every move I make.  I’m very direct and performance driven. I also have an extensive network of badass women in my corner. You need a tax attorney, contractor, designer, lender, etc. – I’ve got one for you. I love connecting people.

Better yet – come to my next Women In Power event in October, I’ll connect you in person.

What were you like growing up?
I have always been insanely friendly. My mom said as soon as I could, I would wave + say “Hi” to anyone who came my way. I’ve also been known to be quick witted. My dad usd to say, “You’ve got a tongue so sharp it’s a wonder you don’t cut your own lips.”

I was about 3 years old. One time, we went to meet my dad for dinner, he was sitting at the bar making friends, as usual.

This woman leans down as I walk up and says, “You must be Heidi! I’ve heard so much about you!”
I looked her straight in the eye and said, “My dad’s married, he’s already got a wife.”
Needless to say she was a little taken aback. My parents thought it was hilarious. Mom really appreciated me protecting her. Lol.

I grew up doing competitive dance, playing piano, choir, soccer, volleyball, band. Kinda tried everything. I stuck with dance + later cheerleading through high school. I started working out in high school + liked it, but more recently have gotten serious about health + fitness. I love comedy. I tend to think I’m hilarious + like to crack jokes at inappropriate times.

I am very curious , independent + unorthodox. I do most things a little differently. I’m the psychedelic sheep in my family. I’m too colorful to be the black sheep. I am the most rebellious person in my family. I still have that side to me. I like to think outside of the box + form my own opinions. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. I believe that and try to live by this philosophy daily. Growing up curious has led me down a path of continuous growth + expansion. Which, ultimately is what got me here today.

Thank you so much for having me!

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