We’re looking forward to introducing you to Danielle Mio Sogno. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Danielle , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Oh, I am definitely wandering. I spent decades in my early and mid-career in real estate, following a clearly defined path. That path was marked by aggressive production goals, “collecting” industry designations, earning achievement awards and recognition, and eventually becoming the owner of a brokerage firm.
Looking back, I put myself on a hamster wheel—selling, marketing, and working nearly 24/7. I don’t regret it, but it did require putting other things on the back burner. Ultimately, I grew a business that has afforded me the luxury of freedom, one of the greatest perks of entrepreneurship.
This era of my life is about focusing on what truly matters and learning to say “no.” Along the way, I’ve gathered a few hard-earned truths: not every internet lead needs to become a client; having a string of letters after my name doesn’t equal respect; and my time is valuable, too. I now choose my clients, and from here on, it’s quality over quantity.
I give myself the creative freedom to pursue meaningful projects and limitless endeavors. I take educational workshops when inspired, refining my artistic skills and often venturing into new mediums. I’ve expanded both my real estate practice and my public art projects into multiple states—an experience that has been both exciting and deeply fulfilling.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a visual artist, muralist, and graphic designer. I am very active in the public art space, both in DFW and nationwide. Many of my projects throughout the year will have a charitable component, which is always rewarding. I enjoy taking on unique art projects – I seek them out, or they find me, and whether working solo or alongside fellow artist friends, it’s always fun. Mural festivals are a staple in my life, and I make new friends and learn new techniques every time I paint with new artists.
My mediums of choice are acrylic, watercolor with ink (my favorite), pen and ink, mosaic, and mixed media collage. The MIO SOGNO brand is my latest endeavor. People can look forward to unique, creative art and writing workshops for all ages, designed to ignite the artistic process while forming community.
I also own a boutique residential real estate brokerage servicing DFW and Austin, and am dually-licensed in Chicago. One of my favorite niches in the real estate world is helping clients develop investment portfolios, specifically focused on short-term rental properties. I not only identify and procure the sales, but also enjoy decorating them (especially with art!) and then managing them as a co-host.
I was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois, a few blocks from the infamous home and studio of architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the childhood home of Ernest Hemingway. I teach art and creative writing to children of all ages and adults, and am a licensed foster parent. I have two dogs and two cats, and am a huge animal advocate. Whether human children or animals, we must advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.
The greatest gift I can give is to bring people together through my art, and it is my purpose.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Without overthinking it, I’ll go with the first thing that came to mind: junior high. I won a gifted-writer talent competition for a poem I wrote called “Cool Dude.” It followed a kid headed down a path of destruction and crime, all under the guise of popularity. I seemed to pull it out of nowhere—I still have no idea where the inspiration came from—but the words poured out effortlessly and without hesitation.
I remember standing on the podium, flanked by two of my friends and classmates, Kate and Jessica, who also won for their entries. The adrenaline rush, paired with the deep satisfaction of knowing my art was well-received and genuinely moved others, was everything. It was a pivotal moment I’ll never forget—and one that continues to inspire me to this day.
And now, for perspective: Jessica is a world-renowned author and writer for Vogue, and Kate was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her historical fiction. Looks like I need to step up my game…
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self a bunch of things: use moisturizer and sunscreen, always know your worth – in business and in personal endeavors, and don’t live to work.
As a child, my mind was free from the clutter of worry and self-doubt. Creatively, I was exposed to many art forms—visual art, music, and writing—and I was free to design, with reckless abandon, whatever I could dream up. I never worried about whether others would like what I made or if it would please them. I didn’t wait for critique, and I didn’t question my skill level. I got lost in my art—or in my music, while playing the violin or the organ—and lived entirely in the moment. It is in this magical, peaceful place that masterpieces are born. Second-guessing finger or bow placement during a solo performance, backtracking a watercolor brushstroke, or refining a poem to the point of monotonous perfection only hinders the process.
For me, the artistic process works best when I’m not overthinking it. It needs to flow, without a prescribed route to the finish line (there’s that “wandering” again). As an adult, my mind is cluttered with daily responsibilities—finances, errands, deadlines—and the persistent noise of self-doubt.
Now, I make a conscious effort to return to my childhood roots of creative play and world-building. Eventually, I slip “into the zone,” and my imagination takes over. The only real difference between then and now is that I have to chase this uninhibited, undistracted state of being, where it used to occur more naturally.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe everyone experiences impostor syndrome to some degree. I can’t prove it, and many people likely wouldn’t even admit it to themselves. Still, I suspect it’s far more prevalent than we realize—and that no one is entirely immune.
I came to this conclusion in grad school. I was seated across from the editor-in-chief of The Harvard Review, alongside a small group of classmates from every corner of the earth. We were pitching novel ideas and receiving blunt, often scathing critiques in return. Some people were so nervous they were vomiting in the bathrooms; others sat visibly agitated around the conference table. As I scanned the room—which, incidentally, resembled the library at Hogwarts—false confidence masquerading as arrogance was palpable. The unspoken goal of the day was not only to impress the powerful woman leading the meeting, but also to outshine one another. I hated every minute of it, even though I knew it was an invaluable learning experience.
Later, as many of us picnicked on campus—as we did nearly every day—one brave soul admitted to feeling stupid during the meeting. Another quickly agreed. One by one, we all confessed to feeling like impostors, convinced we didn’t truly belong there. And yet, we had each been accepted into our dream Ivy League program on our own merits. Despite that, we felt like failures and losers.
I looked around at my classmates: famous actors and musicians, accomplished authors from all over the world, and a cornucopia of some of the most brilliant minds I’d ever encountered. In that moment, I felt a calm and grounding sense of strength that has never left me. If people like this could doubt themselves, anyone could. Self-doubt, I realized, is human—and strangely, it binds us together.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
My generosity of spirit would remain. It’s a trait I look for in others, and one that is at the very core of who I am. Character matters more than a name, possessions don’t love you back, and people do remember how you made them feel (thinking of one of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes). I want my mark on this world to be one of kindness, beauty (of the artwork), unity (in how I bring people together for the common good through art), and helping people achieve their dreams (whether that’s buying a house or learning an art form). My last name, Mio Sogno, literally translates to “my dream” in Italian, after all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mio-sogno.com/
- Instagram: @danielle_mio_sogno
- Facebook: Danielle Mio Sogno
- Other: https://www.networkrealestatepartners.com/
Image Credits
Z. Tehrani, Paxton Maroney
