German Roots to Brooklyn Dreams

In Germany, the unspoken rule is crystal clear: if there's no law allowing it, don’t even think about it (or, as we Brooklynites like to say, Fuggedaboudit). It's a land with the utmost respect for crosswalk signals. My philosophy? If there’s no rule against it, why not go for it?

That mindset didn’t exactly mesh with my German roots, so I packed my bags, along with my trusty German traits—honesty, pragmatism, and thoughtfulness—and made my way to New York City, where the only rule is to follow your dreams. Married Marc, my punctual, hardworking, dependable German husband. And what girl wouldn’t want to walk down the on-ramp of the Brooklyn Bridge with the love of her life?

— Gabriele Sewtz

My New York Beginning

When we first got to NYC, we had just $5 to our name. Two-thirds of our paycheck went straight to rent, leaving nothing for fun. I grabbed a used Pentax K1000 and started telling the story of my city in small, vivid moments—what I came to call "NYC Vignettes.” I took an assistant gig at the International Center of Photography to fund my darkroom time.

My first U.S. job was a wild ride in the dot-com world. Back in Germany, I was all set—I had an MBA from the University of Hamburg, where I apparently couldn’t pick just one major, so I went for five: Industrial Organization, Logistics, Economics, Industrial Production, and Business Administration (because why not?). That put me straight into top management at Germany’s largest publisher, overseeing high-profile projects and making big-picture decisions.

Enter my Working Girl moment in NYC—cardboard box in hand, walking out the door after making the rookie mistake of reminding my employer they owed me a few paychecks. Lesson learned: Ask for what you’re owed and be ready to move on. I did, and soon found myself at Time Inc., where I fit right in with the creative powerhouse brands Time Magazine and People—and I didn’t miss a beat keeping up with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models.

Every Dream Has Its Twists and Turns

We chased the American Dream and bought a co-op in Park Slope. It was "for sale by owner," so, of course, everything went wrong. After closing, we had to shower with a garden hose for two weeks while we waited for the next paycheck to pay the plumber. We bought two investment properties, but when I found a third, my husband said, “I want my Sundays back!” That’s when I turned my passion into a career and became the honest, reliable real estate agent I’d been looking for.

You know the drill: two kids, a Golden Retriever, a house, and a Porsche convertible. And then, why settle for boring when you can surprise the world with an unexpected career move? I took a bold leap, becoming the first Brooklyn agent at Compass—staking my claim as an OG in a small startup that skyrocketed to become the country's number one real estate company.

I lived happily ever after, that is, until menopause hit, and I’m like, “Excuse me, I didn’t sign up for this!” Come along for my stand-up comedy show, 'I Have Menopause Superpowers,' where nothing says 'I’ve got this' like stepping on stage in front of 300 people at Gotham Comedy Club... opening for Jim Gaffigan.

Whether you're here to pursue your American Dream of homeownership, share a laugh, or enjoy life's little moments captured through a lens,  I'm thrilled to have you! Let's make every moment count.

Until next time,