From Pro Skier to Chronic Illness to $28 Million in Sales: Athena Brownson on Identity, Adversity, and Serving Through Real Estate

In this episode of From Adversity to Abundance, host Jamie Bateman sits down with Athena Brownson, a former professional skier turned powerhouse real estate agent, investor, and developer. Athena opens up about her journey through debilitating health struggles—including a career-ending injury, chronic Lyme disease, and eight surgeries—while simultaneously building a thriving real estate business in a challenging market.

But her story is much more than financial success. Athena shares how her identity shifted through career transitions, health crises, and mental health battles. What grounded her throughout? Long-term relationships and a commitment to serving others.

In a profession often marked by transactions, Athena’s emphasis on genuine human connection has paid off in both personal healing and professional abundance—closing $28 million in real estate deals in one year and earning $150,000 in a single month. This episode offers a powerful blend of vulnerability and strength, highlighting the role of mindset, purpose, and service in navigating adversity.

Guest Introduction: Athena Brownson

Athena Brownson is a former professional skier who transitioned into real estate after a career-ending injury and a series of serious health challenges. Now a top-producing agent, real estate investor, speaker, and author, Athena has achieved major milestones in her business, including $28 million in transactions in one year. She’s also entering the world of real estate development while continuing to advocate for authenticity, mental health, and long-term relationship-building in the industry.

Episode Highlights:

• From Athlete to Entrepreneur – How Athena transitioned from competitive skiing to real estate after a career-ending injury.
• Facing Chronic Illness – The personal and professional impact of battling chronic Lyme disease and recovering from eight surgeries.
• Redefining Identity – Athena reflects on the mental health challenges and identity crises that shaped her path.
• Relationships Over Transactions – Why building long-term relationships has been key to her success in a cutthroat industry.
• Breakthrough Moments – Earning $150K in a single month and closing $28M in a year, all while navigating adversity.
• Looking Ahead – Athena’s venture into real estate development and her mission to serve and uplift others.

Key Takeaways:

• Your greatest setbacks can become the source of your biggest breakthroughs.
• Health challenges, identity shifts, and mental adversity are part of many success stories.
• Real, lasting success in real estate isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people.
• Building long-term relationships and living authentically can create both abundance and fulfillment.
• You don’t have to choose between serving others and achieving financial success—they can go hand in hand.

Learn More about Athena Brownson:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenabrownsonrealtor/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/athenabrownsonrealtor/

.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}