Episode 11 - Where Are the Women? The Leadership Gap in Real Estate
Every year, it happens. The industry leadership lists drop, and I scan through the names, hoping—praying—to see more women. But once again, the majority of the names belong to men. And once again, I find myself asking: Where are all the women?
Women dominate real estate. We’re the majority of agents, we outsell, we outlast, and we run this industry. But when it comes to leadership positions, awards, and recognition? We’re noticeably absent.
I’ve been in this business long enough to know this isn’t just a coincidence. There are real, systemic reasons why women aren’t showing up on these lists—and in this episode of the Happy Agent Podcast, I’m breaking it all down.
That Time I Was the Only Woman in the Room (Again)
A couple of years ago, I was invited to a leadership roundtable in D.C.—one of those exclusive, invite-only events where top real estate executives gather to talk about the future of the industry. It was supposed to be a room full of visionaries. But when I sat down at my table, I quickly realized something was off.
I was the only woman there.
Actually, I was one of maybe ten women in a room of at least 150-200 men. It was… jarring.
And then, as if the universe wanted to prove a point, the brokerage owner sitting next to me leaned over and asked, "Do only women work at your brokerage?"
I was flabbergasted. But luckily, I had a quick response locked and loaded. I turned to him and said, "No, why would you ask that? Because I’m a woman?" And I made sure the whole table heard me.
Cue the awkward silence. He immediately backpedaled, and I moved on with my day—but the moment stuck with me. Because that’s the kind of casual, everyday underestimation that women in leadership deal with all the time.
Why Aren’t Women in Leadership? The Real Reasons We’re Missing From These Lists
This isn’t just about one clueless guy at a conference. There are deeper reasons why women aren’t being recognized as leaders in real estate, and I’m covering them all in this episode.
Here’s a sneak peek at what I’m unpacking:
🔹 The “Old Boys Club” is real. Many of these leadership lists are made by and for a specific network—if you’re not visible to that inner circle, you’re not making the cut.
🔹 Women don’t self-promote as aggressively as men. We’re less likely to nominate ourselves, less likely to brag, and less likely to chase visibility. And that matters when recognition is often a game of “who gets noticed first.”
🔹 We prioritize time and energy differently. Women are keenly aware of their return on investment—if a leadership position or an award chase doesn’t clearly add value to our lives or businesses, we’re not wasting our time.
🔹 The motherhood penalty is real. Many women step off the leadership track (or are pushed off) because of caregiving responsibilities. And even when they come back, the gap follows them.
🔹 Traditional success metrics don’t capture what we actually value. Most leadership lists are based on sales volume, transaction count, or company size. But what about impact? Work-life balance? Leadership that prioritizes people over profit?
How We Change the Game
So, what do we do about it? How do we get more women on these lists, in leadership, and recognized for the incredible work we’re already doing?
🔹 Visibility is everything. We need to celebrate and amplify the women who are leading—because if we don’t, who will?
🔹 Nominate yourself and other women. If you see an award, a speaking opportunity, or a leadership list—go for it. And if you don’t want to nominate yourself, have a friend or colleague do it for you.
🔹 Own your wins—loudly. Women need to start talking about their success unapologetically. It’s not bragging. It’s showing what’s possible.
🔹 Change the way we measure success. If traditional leadership lists don’t reflect what actually makes a great leader, let’s create our own.
Let’s Make Women Impossible to Ignore
Women are the backbone of this industry. It’s time the leadership lists reflect that.
If you’ve ever felt overlooked or underestimated in your real estate career, this episode is for you.
🎧 Tune in now to hear the full conversation.
And remember: If the industry won’t give us a seat at the table, we build our own damn table.
