At the intersection of Buckhead’s established luxury estates and the surging suburban landscape of Peachtree City in the state of Georgia, Charisse Smith has cultivated a reputation for going far beyond the mechanics of a typical real estate transaction. As a Sports + Entertainment Specialist with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, she views her work as a masterclass in the "elevated experience"—a philosophy she spent decades refining within the high-stakes environments of corporate America, long before entering the world of real estate.

Starting in corporate America

Before the "Sold" signs, Charisse’s professional life was defined by the high-pressure environment of corporate leadership. "I supported the vice presidents and president of a large company,” Charisse explained. “And I served as an assistant to the vice president of human resources."

The shift toward her future calling occurred when the firm’s headquarters moved south. "At one point, our corporate office relocated from Illinois to Peachtree City, Georgia," she recalled. "I was responsible for helping relocate our executives and leadership team." What began as an extension of her HR background quickly evolved into something more specialized. She was tasked with organizing the entire executive experience, from arranging agents and transportation to managing detailed schedules, ultimately expanding her skill set into high-level relocation planning.

Charisse not only managed the logistics, but also curated the experience specifically. "For each visit, I treated the relocation like an event," she said. "I scheduled their cars and limousines, arranged other transportation, coordinated their appointments with agents, and made sure everything ran smoothly from start to finish." Her attention to detail was granular and deeply personal. "I also paid attention to the small details—things like having coloring books in the cars for the kids, fruit baskets in hotel rooms, or making sure we knew their dietary preferences," she added.

This period of her life gave her great experience in providing high-end client service. "Over time, I really learned what it meant to take care of someone from the moment they stepped into the city," Charisse observed. The sheer volume of the move allowed her to perfect her methodology. "We relocated around 14 or 15 executives, along with many mid-level managers beneath them," she noted. "I developed systems and questions to help guide the process, and it became something I was very good at. I was involved every step of the way." It was in those long days of coordination that a new ambition began to take root. "At some point, I realized how much I loved this," she shared. "I thought, one day, I’m going to do this myself."

Living her best life

The transition from the corporate world to a career in real estate was a slow burn for Charisse, spanning over a decade of careful observation and personal reflection. "It’s funny, because that relocation experience lasted about seven years," Charisse noted. "During that time, I actually bought a real estate course—this was about 11 years ago—but I was still working full-time in corporate America." Despite having the materials in hand, the timing wasn't quite right. "I quickly realized I wasn’t much of an online learner," she explained. "I was still recruiting, scheduling, and handling all my HR responsibilities, so I never fully committed to it."

The catalyst for her departure finally arrived eight years later as her nest emptied. "My kids were grown and living their own lives after graduating college," she recalled. "One day, my son asked me, ‘When are you going to start living your best life?’ That really stuck with me." Galvanized by his words, she moved with remarkable speed. "I enrolled in a real estate class and started attending after work," Charisse explained. "I committed to it. Once I got my license, I resigned from my corporate job within 30 days. I joined Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, and I’ve been with them ever since."

The client that changed everything

Early in her career; she found the validation she needed through a high-profile, long-term client who had purchased 17 homes over their lifetime. After she sold a $1.6 million property for them, they offered a piece of feedback that solidified her approach. "One day they sat me down and said, ‘You’re really different,’" Charisse shared. "At first I didn’t know how to take that. ‘Different’ could be good or bad, so I asked them to be honest." Their answer confirmed that her HR-honed authenticity was her greatest asset.

Charisse remembered the directness of their first meeting, which had taken place on a veranda overlooking the water rather than in a stiff office setting. "I told them very directly, ‘You could choose anyone to work with, but there’s something different about working with me. I want you to choose me because you trust me—but I also have to choose you,’" she said. "I explained that I love what I do, but it’s important that the relationship works both ways."

From that, the established a blueprint for her entire career. "I didn’t come in with a scripted pitch or a stack of materials right away—I focused on the relationship first," Charisse noted. “I was only a couple of years into my real estate career at the time, but it reinforced something I believe strongly: clients and agents choose each other."

Working with high-profile clientele

When Charisse navigates the specialized world of high-profile real estate, she draws a direct line between the stadium lights and the corporate boardroom. "In some ways it’s different, but my overall approach is very similar," Charisse explained. "When you look at sports and entertainment figures, I often liken them to executives." She recognizes the unique atmosphere surrounding these clients. "These are people who walk into a room and everyone stands up or applauds—they’re used to being treated as special," she added.

While she acknowledges their status, she focuses on the human connection that exists behind the public persona. "There’s absolutely a place for that," Charisse noted. "You still treat them with a high level of care like any client, especially in how you show up, how transportation is handled, and how the overall experience is managed." However, her goal is always to find the quiet moments of authenticity. "Once the doors are closed and the cameras are off, it’s just us," she said. "That’s when we can talk honestly."

For Charisse, the most meaningful parts of the job aren't found in the headlines. "The most special moments happen when I get to see them simply as people—not as sports figures or public personalities," she shared. She recalled seeing this play out in her personal life. "For example, at my daughter’s wedding there were quite a few sports figures there, and when I look back at the video, everyone is just dancing and enjoying themselves," she added. “They still call me ‘Miss Charisse,’ which is actually very sweet, but I’ll sometimes laugh and think, ‘You probably don’t need to call me ‘Miss’ anything,’ but it shows how respectful they are."

To maintain that respect, Charisse treats privacy as a non-negotiable asset. “What they appreciate most is being able to relax and know that everything is confidential," she explained.

By asking upfront about their desired level of discretion, she creates a sanctuary where clients can finally set aside their public personas. "I’ll tell them, ‘If you want to be just you, let’s just be you—take off the glasses and relax.’" To bridge the gap between the public figure and the person, Charisse relies on "windshield time." By hiring a driver, she turns travel into a strategic space for relationship-building. "That time allows us to talk, laugh, or simply decompress," she shared. In the quiet of the car ride, she encourages a rare level of blunt honesty: "After a showing, I’ll hand them a water and say, ‘Look, just tell me if you hate it.’"

This level of intimacy and protection explains why her business in this sector is built almost exclusively on word-of-mouth. "Every client I’ve worked with in that space has come through a referral," Charisse confirmed. "Referrals are incredibly important in this space because trust is everything." These connections often span the country as players and executives transfer between teams and markets. "People in sports move around quite a bit, so while I may refer them to trusted agents in other states, those agents will also refer clients back to me," she said.

The strength of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices global network

Charisse’s choice of brokerage was far from accidental. "Before I officially got my license, I interviewed multiple brokerages," she explained, noting that her HR background turned the search into a research project. She sought a firm with a solid foundation, ultimately choosing Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties for its agent investment. "Within 24 hours of hanging my license there, I was already enrolled in a class provided by the company," she recalled.

That early experience set the tone for her tenure. Charisse credited the network's training, resources, and market data for setting her apart. She also valued the flexibility of working across various Georgia offices, from the mountains to Peachtree City. "No matter where I went, I was welcomed with open arms," she stated. This expansive footprint allowed her to meet clients wherever was most convenient for them.

For Charisse, the network’s greatest strength is its ability to turn a global brand into a local family. "My son is very involved in sports, and he’s also active military," she shared. "We’re a West Point family, so I now have children and connections all over the United States." This national reach has turned Charisse into a referral powerhouse, connecting young graduates and athletes with trusted professionals regardless of the ZIP Code. "I think I’m up to about 16 states now where I’ve made referrals,” she noted. She recalled how her very first referral was for her own mother. "My mom was selling an investment property in Florida, and I needed an agent there," she said. "I called a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices office to ask for a referral, did some research online, and connected her with one of the top agents in the area."

Ultimately, this interconnectedness fueled her identity as a "Forever Agent℠." "Being a Forever Agent℠ was a big deal to me," Charisse emphasized, explaining that her work was never just a short-term transaction. In an era of temporary gig work, she aimed to be a permanent anchor for her clients. "The relationship began long before a real estate transaction and continued well after it was finished," she stated. For Charisse, the measure of success isn't the closing date, but the longevity of the trust. "The door is always open," she concluded. "If you’ve truly impacted someone’s life, they’ll come back to you for advice—whether it’s business-related or not. That lasting connection is what being a Forever Agent℠ means to me.