Leading with Style

Alexandra Victoria Bonte, a trailblazing entrepreneur in luxury real estate. With a strong finance background and a passion for connecting people, she has excelled in emerging markets like Portugal, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. Alexandra shares her journey, key milestones, and vision for the future, focusing on empowering women and creating sustainable value in real estate

 

L'Officiel Arabia : What inspired you to get into this field? 

Alexandra Victoria Bonte : My path into luxury real estate was a natural convergence of my finance background and my passion for connecting people. I love that this field allows me to leverage both my analytical skills in evaluating investments and my natural ability to network and build relationships across cultures. 

What really drives me is creating value - both for myself and others. There's something incredibly satisfying about helping investors identify opportunities, especially in emerging markets like Portugal where we entered early. The combination of being able to socialize meaningfully while generating significant financial returns makes this field perfect for my skillset and personality. 

My finance background helps me understand the numbers, but it's my love for networking and building relationships that has really helped me succeed in luxury real estate. It's not just about selling properties - it's about understanding people's needs and helping them create value through smart investments.

How did you start your career? 

I began my real estate journey by personally investing in run-down properties in Portugal, which gave me invaluable hands-on experience in the market. Being naturally sociable, I quickly identified a significant opportunity in the expatriate market, particularly due to Portugal's attractive tax regime. 

I saw that expats needed more than just a property - they needed someone who understood both the local market and their international perspective. With my own experience as an expat and my finance background, I started helping international investors relocate to Lisbon, finding them homes and identifying high-potential investment opportunities. This niche focus on serving the expatriate community while working with developers on investment properties became the foundation for what would grow into Bonte Filipidis 

 

When did you start it? 

I started my real estate agency in 2014.

What gap are you trying to bridge? 

As a female entrepreneur in real estate, I'm bridging several crucial gaps. Through my involvement with Hera City, I'm creating pathways for women in international business. But beyond that, I'm connecting diverse markets and perspectives. As an expatriate myself, I understand the unique challenges of cross-border investment, which helps me connect European investors with opportunities in Portugal, Ibiza, and transformative projects like Eko Atlantic in Nigeria. My approach combines luxury real estate expertise with sustainable development, showing that premium properties can also serve a greater purpose. 

 

What makes you unique? 

What makes me unique is my ability to bridge different worlds through communication and cultural understanding. As an expatriate entrepreneur who speaks multiple languages, I naturally connect with international investors and understand their needs. I've built a strong media presence through YouTube and Instagram, where I educate and guide people about living and investing in Portugal, making complex market information accessible and engaging. 

My diplomatic skills and sociability have been crucial in managing diverse stakeholders across my ventures - from luxury real estate with Bonte Filipidis to raising capital for transformative projects like Eko Atlantic. I can seamlessly switch between different cultural contexts, whether I'm working with European investors, developing sustainable projects, or expanding into new markets like Ibiza, Nigeria or Saudi Arabia. 

This combination of strong communication skills, media influence, and multicultural expertise, coupled with my deep understanding of luxury real estate and sustainable development, allows me to create unique value. I don't just sell properties - I help people understand and navigate new markets, cultures, and opportunities, while building communities that combine luxury with purpose. 

How do you decide your projects? 

'm drawn to pioneering opportunities in emerging markets. I recognized Portugal's potential early on, establishing Bonte Filipidis when the market was just beginning to attract international attention. I look for markets and projects where I can be among the first movers and create significant impact - whether it's developing sustainable luxury properties in Portugal, expanding into Ibiza's premium market, or working on transformative projects like Eko Atlantic in Nigeria, which has the potential to become Africa's Silicon Valley or becoming one of the first international real estate agencies in Saudi Arabia. 

I evaluate opportunities based on their potential for innovation and sustainable growth. Being an early entrant in emerging markets allows me to shape developments that not only deliver premium experiences but also contribute to the market's evolution. This pioneering approach has proven successful in Portugal, where we've been involved in landmark projects like the Hilton- branded residence in Carcavelos, and it continues to guide my decision-making as I explore new opportunities globally.

What motivates you the most? 

Success, for me, is about leaving a meaningful imprint on people and society. It's not just about developing luxury properties or closing deals - it's about creating lasting impact. When I see how our developments transform communities, how our sustainable initiatives contribute to a better future, or how my work inspires other women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, that's true success. 

It's deeply satisfying to look at our developments and know that we're not just building buildings - we're creating environments that enhance people's lives. Success means knowing that I've made a real difference, whether through mentoring the next generation of female leaders, pioneering sustainable luxury developments, or helping international investors find their place in new markets. 

It's about the legacy we leave behind - not just in physical structures, but in the positive changes we bring to communities and the people we inspire along the way.