Agent in the Spotlight: Cliona’s real estate prescription & why training makes all the difference
Our Agent in the Spotlight series shines a light on the passionate professionals who go above and beyond to protect our clients’ interests and secure the best the market has to offer. Join our Managing Director, Charlie Bannan, for a chat with the agents and people making things happen. In each conversation, you’ll hear real stories, market insights and the mindset behind consistent results in Dubai’s fast-moving real estate landscape.
This month, we’re doing a deep dive into the journey of Sales Trainer Cliona Loughnane, a former pharmacist turned powerhouse trainer who's helping shape haus & haus' in-house Training Department.
The trainer everyone turns to (even when they're sick)
In this episode, Charlie sits down with Cliona to explore the unconventional path that led her from dispensing prescriptions to delivering real estate success. After working as a pharmacist, Cliona moved to Dubai and became a leasing agent. Just seven months in, she was approached to become a trainer, a role she’s now excelled in for over three years as Trainer for the Residential Sales department.
Her background in pharmacy gave her natural strengths in guidance, clarity and problem-solving which have all become vital traits when helping agents navigate fast-paced client situations. Calm under pressure, Cliona brings that same composure to her training sessions, helping agents feel more confident and in control when it matters most.
Cliona shares how haus & haus agents, even those with years of market experience, consistently remark on how much they learn from the training programme. That feedback, she says, is a credit to the entire training team, who work collaboratively to fine tune everything down to the smallest details, whether it’s the course content or even how comfortable the chairs are during sessions.
Each of the four trainers on the team brings different strengths and experiences to the table as all have worked as agents themselves. That hands-on knowledge ensures that what they teach is grounded in real market experience.
Her number one piece of advice? "Always put your buyers and sellers first." Cliona emphasises that real connection is what drives repeat business and that clients can always sense insincerity. The best agents, she says, are those who truly care, show up for their clients and act with integrity. One great transaction can lead to many more if the service makes an impact.
If Cliona had to name her life after a book or film, it would be "Turn the Ship Around" by David Marquet, a leadership book that reflects the ethos of her team. For her, it's a reminder of how effective support and structure can completely turn around an agent’s confidence, performance and career path.
Watch the full interview to discover how Cliona’s unique journey from pharmacy to property is shaping the next generation of Dubai agents and why standout training really does make all the difference.
