Catherine Thompson is a Chicago-based real estate professional, lifestyle entrepreneur, and community advocate whose work is rooted in one core belief: access to knowledge changes lives. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Catherine developed an early passion for finance, entrepreneurship, and education. She began her career in banking at 17 and went on to become a licensed banker, financial analyst, and award-winning lending and insurance professional.

After resigning from Citigroup in 2008, she spent the next 18 years gaining leadership experience in a multi-million-dollar high-end wine and spirits distribution company. There she took on roles that expanded her passion for travel and private estates. Catherine mastered strategies for luxury travel on a budget. Her journey into real estate investing began as a retirement strategy, but quickly became transformational after navigating a challenging early rehab experience. That experience almost led to a $250K loss. Her determination to succeed, required her to become hands-on in construction and rehab lending.