Spotlighting Women in Leadership: Vision, Voice & the Power of Possibility

Watauga Women in Leadership (WWIL) continues to cultivate space for connection, growth, and shared wisdom among women across the High Country. As part of our ongoing storytelling series, we’re highlighting the voices and experiences of local women who lead with intention and inspire those around them. These stories echo the themes explored at our WWIL Coffee Connections events and are a powerful reminder of the value of women showing up for one another.

Our most recent gathering was held Wednesday, May 21, centered on “Women & Wealth” led by Amanda White with First Horizon.

As always, we’re grateful to WWIL committee member Kayla Lasure for helping bring these stories to life. For this installment, Kayla worked closely with Stacie Pineda and Melody Pineda to help shape and structure this story. The result is a collaborative piece that blends thoughtful guidance with personal insight, and we’re honored to share it with you here.

Seeing the Potential: Stacie Pineda’s Path to Leadership Through Curiosity, Courage & Care

A self-made career, a lifelong learner’s mindset, and a people-first approach—Stacie Pineda’s journey shows us what’s possible when you lead with vision and heart.

Raised in rural western Arkansas, Stacie Pineda grew up in a family where college after high school wasn't a go-to and marriage was the default. She was eighteen when she wed and became the mother of four children. When she announced she was getting her real estate license in 1998, while still parenting her four young children, it was more than a career move, it was a bold step for her. “I wanted to do something I was proud of, something that would challenge me, I wanted to learn, and contribute to my own family.”

“I’ve always had this fascination with potential,” she said. “Not just in property, but in people, in life. I see what something could be — how small changes, a little light, a touch of creativity — can bring something to life. I suppose, as a 34 year-old mother of four, I saw potential in myself.” 

Years later, her older nieces would tell her how much that moment meant to them. One said, “You just seemed so bold and daring. You were the first woman we knew who went out and became a real professional.” Stacie didn’t set out to be a role model, she was independent in her motivations to push her own ability to grow, but she’s proud that her decision helped plant seeds of possibility in the next generation.

When she relocated to Boone in 2001, Stacie wanted to see her children graduate college and to build a career. She laughs lightly at the memory of her own determination to succeed, “I knew I could do it. I just knew it. I chased every lead, knocked on doors, delivered business cards and cookies. I drove Watauga County until I knew every road. I put in a lot of work without being paid because I knew that if I studied the market relentlessly and with great detail, I could guide clients into wise choices.” 

Stacie has been a top-producer in the High Country every year since she launched her Boone career. She consistently listed in the top 50 of REALTORS, landing in an impressive field of colleagues. With a tagline of “let’s begin a conversation,” Stacie’s first step with new clients is to understand their financial and personal priorities. “We can’t separate home from the financials in real estate. They are intrinsically linked. Families are building for the future. Second home owners are achieving their long-term dream goals. Some might prioritize access to kayaking while another prefers walking to restaurants. In each client, I see their potential, their goals, their individuality, and I review the market with their lens, then we find a solution that matches their individuality with the realities of market financials.” 

In 2019, Stacie opened an independent firm after 15 years with a national firm. Her prioritization of detail became even more important as an independent agent. “Do not think that it’s just about pretty houses,” Stacie said, “You are taking care of marketing, transactions, understanding trends, and preparing paperwork with legal ramifications. You need to know what you are selling and understand wells, well rights, road right of ways, and road access. I spend an inordinate amount of time with research. I feel really good when I close (a property).” 

It is clear that Stacie befriends her clients. She talks often about her lunches and dinner parties she loves to throw. Many of her clients spoke about the casseroles she brought them when they lost power during the flood or the meals she delivered during their first baby or
the surprise gift during a hard time. The relationships she develops have enriched her own life, she smiles sincerely with unabashed admiration of others, “I have learned so much from my young clients. I love how bold and brave they are. They see the world so differently that I do. And I love getting to learn about their new perspectives.”  

Her goal is simple and life-long, “I want to continue to grow and learn.” Learning about real estate is the cornerstone of her business and her life, as the cooking magazines pile up, while she tries yet another method for caramel making. She talked about a client who always mused out loud about her priorities for a paint studio. “I asked her if I could put color on a board or a canvas if I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Zero training. And she said absolutely. She said for me to start and to see where it took me.” She smiles with pride as she waves at her own colorful artwork decorating the walls of her cozy plant filled office on King Street. “Oh, plants,” she says, “that was another client who got me started on plants.” 

Her goal of detailed oriented learning ensures that she never relies on outdated data or historical knowledge to the exclusion of modernity. Stacie continually emphasized how essential it is to conduct her research on a property. “Sure, real estate might be flying off the shelves right now and at high prices, but I want to know how this property did when things were slow? Was it a house that lagged in a slow market? The market is not stagnant and decisions shouldn’t be made with only this moment in mind. Research is so important to ensuring clients that buy their first home with you come back to sell. I want to help people buy properties that I could sell with a clear conscience ten years later.” 

“I am my biggest competitor,” she says with pragmatism, “I saw the potential of my life and I believed in that. I’ve seen my children graduate college, my daughters become professionals and mothers, and my career succeed. I never set a financial goal, I set a goal of solving the problem in front of me, of doing the absolute best job on this house right now, and meeting the next client with the same determination to help them reach their goals through research, attention to detail, and a relentless effort to learn.” 

“Oh, one question for you,” she says as the interview is ending, “What are you reading?” 

For more information about Watauga Women in Leadership, visit the webpage or reach out to Lindsay Cook, our Director of Operations and WWIL Chamber liason.