Innovation

Alex Abad attributes his success in real estate and entrepreneurship to his “5 Pistons:” being likable, knowledgeable, desirable, trustable, and charitable. Alex has to compete with over 500 real estate agents in the South Bay, and he thinks these attributes he’s attained over the years helps him keep the edge. “If you’re not likable, no one is going to give you an opportunity,” Alex says; to be likable means to be someone people enjoy being around, and who they are willing to take a chance on. For Alex, being knowledgeable doesn’t mean just knowing things, it means “...having something someone needs, that they don’t have, that you can provide.” In combining likability and knowledge, one can now become desirable to the world, and share what they are selling.

The next two pistons include trustability and charity. Being trusted means to be “seen who you really are.” Finally, being charitable means to give back, not only to the community, but to yourself, and your loved ones. In combining these 5 Pistons, Alex can not only afford to be the premier spaghetti sauce in a supermarket aisle full of tomato sauces, as he so eloquently puts it, but it has also allowed him to donate 100% of his proceeds from his business, as well as merchandise such as hats with the Tower 60 logo on them, toward the El Segundo education system and City of Hope. In being a philanthropic realtor, Alex separates himself from the pack due to his experience, likable nature, and giving back to the community.

All in all, Alex's business helps solve the UN SDGs of "Quality Education" and "Life Below Water" because Alex dedicates 100% of his real estate realty proceeds to maintain El Segundo's excellent education system, and has created the Tower60 Foundation to fundraise toward the cause of ocean preservation. Due to these direct causes, Alex also contributes to the UN SDG of "Decent Work and Economic Growth" because of his commitment to have El Segundo produce charitable and thoughtful leaders of the future - and this is all thanks to his "5 Pistons."

Inspiration

Alex would be the first to tell people he was a slacker in high school but when children came into the picture, his attitude adjusted. “But as I got older, I became very streetwise, and I wouldn’t allow my kids to make the same mistakes that I made, because you can’t fool me.” In pushing his children to be the very best versions of themselves, it ended up with his daughter, Amie Abad, co-leading the real estate business with him, and his son, Alex Abad Jr., pursuing flight in his teens, becoming a professional pilot flying celebrities across the globe, to settling down in El Segundo working in the family business. To say the least, Alex admits that “You learn from your mistakes, and you take those lessons to create a better road for your children ahead.”

Not only did Alex pursue education for his children, but for El Segundo as a whole. “The quality of education and real estate are closely tied together,” Alex says, “...because El Segundo is a mecca for high tech, and contains the highest density of PhDs in America outside of San Francisco. Knowledgeable people want to live and settle in El Segundo, and want to send their kids to highly rated schools.” Alex isn’t shy to share the praise of his community, and so he recognizes the quality of education in El Segundo as very high. To maintain this educational strength, Alex donates his profits to ensuring that El Segundo’s school system remains one of the best in California.

Overall impact

Given his long history in El Segundo, it’s no surprise Alex has already reaped the rewards his philanthropy produced. For example, being part of the El Segundo Education Foundation, Alex works with other members of the community, ranging from individual families to businesses, in donating a continuous flow of support into the El Segundo public school system. Just in the 2019-2020 school year, the El Segundo Education Foundation pledged $1.8 million to the El Segundo Unified School District, ensuring their continued success, as well as pushing for smaller class sizes and academic counseling.

Recently, Alex has also founded the Tower60 Foundation, named after the notable lifeguard station on Manhattan Beach. In fact, Alex’s real estate company really took off after he posted a beautiful photo of Tower60 at sunset onto Facebook, becoming locally viral and bringing his name into the community. According to Tower60’s website, “Alex has harnessed the power of The Guard to both raise funds and elevate awareness for ocean therapy-related causes.” While this article has sung Alex’s praises in improving education in El Segundo, it is admirable that he’s developing an ocean preservation organization at the same time.

Business benefit

Because Alex leads his business by his 5 Pistons, he remains one of the most successful real estate agents in the South Bay, and a trusted member of the community. US Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings has called Alex “...truly an exceptional realtor; he is an exceptional man…He stands out amongst the rest and I cannot refer to him strongly enough.” Though Alex is evidently a great man in and of himself, the services his business offers aids him in selling houses by Manhattan Beach valuing millions of dollars. His business offers digital and social marketing, as well as promotional videos of houses to be sold. In going the extra mile, Alex presents sellers’ homes as beautiful as they can be, which rakes in the highest bidders.

While Alex is satisfied with his business, his heart is in his philanthropy. “I live by this statement: your greatest achievement is the things you do for others.” Regardless of how successful the real estate business is for himself, the thing he’s going to remember from the ordeal will be how he leveraged it for the good of the community. Alex also has other ventures in El Segundo, including a steakhouse, Porterhouse, as well as the aforementioned Tower60 Foundation, dedicated toward ocean preservation.

Social and environmental benefit

Through his philanthropic efforts, Alex Abad has significantly contributed to enhancing the quality of education in his community. By supporting local schools and educational initiatives, he has created opportunities for students, enabling them to access better resources, extracurricular activities, and enhanced learning experiences. Alex's dedication to giving back has empowered his community members. By funding educational programs, scholarships, and other community-focused initiatives, he has inspired individuals to believe in their potential and pursue their goals, fostering a sense of pride and unity within the community.

Alex Abad's contributions extend beyond education. By supporting organizations like the City of Hope in their cancer research and prevention efforts, he promotes health and wellness within the community. Furthermore, Alex is also pursuing environmental preservation through Tower60, actively working to reduce ocean pollution and making the ocean a better place for its inhabitants as well as the beach cities of the South Bay.

Interview

Alex Abad, Founder