‘I Lead by Example’: RE/MAX Broker/Owners on Effective Leadership, Brokerage Growth

RE/MAX is a business that builds businesses – and many of those businesses, brokerages and offices built on the RE/MAX foundation are spearheaded by women.

With a presence in more than 110 countries and territories, the RE/MAX network is home to a wide array of empowering leaders shaping the real estate industry. Many of these leaders are franchise owners and run small businesses by way of the franchise structure, where each RE/MAX brokerage is independently owned and operated.

As of December 2021, approximately 47% of all RE/MAX franchise owners – and 52% of all RE/MAX agents – are female.

“When I became a RE/MAX Broker/Owner, it was a big accomplishment for me as a businesswoman. I’m very proud of what we’re building right now,” says Hejoma Garcia, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Diverse in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Like many leaders around the RE/MAX network, Garcia is on a mission to serve her community, grow her brokerage with passionate professionals, and drive the industry forward.

During National Women’s Small Business Month, Garcia and fellow RE/MAX Broker/Owners share how they blend expertise with intuition to run successful brokerages.

Using personal experience to help others

Kelly Raggio is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Central in Manalapan, New Jersey, a brokerage that has more than doubled in size since she stepped into her current role in 2015.

Choosing RE/MAX to continue the legacy of an existing brokerage was a decision that stemmed from Raggio’s own experience as an agent with the brand. And when the opportunity arose to buy the brokerage and take over leadership control, she jumped in with both feet.

“I believe in this company and I believe in the business model,” Raggio says.

Having been in the real estate business for over 16 years, Raggio credits her experience as a top-producing agent as the biggest driver of how she leads others building their careers.

“When I was an agent, I always did what was best for my clients. And now as a Broker/Owner, I always do what is best for my agents,” she explains, recalling how beneficial it was to have a close relationship with the office’s previous Broker/Owner. “I am always there for my agents and always try to answer their calls on the first ring. I’m very mindful of providing the best experience for them.”

Building a brokerage that impacts the community

Garcia, in Massachusetts, aligned with RE/MAX to start a brokerage committed to helping every homebuyer and seller achieve their real estate goals.

“I chose the name RE/MAX Diverse because of my background and the diverse community I serve,” Garcia says. “I’m an immigrant and I came to the U.S. from Dominican Republic. It’s a reminder that everything is possible, regardless of whether you start big or small.”

Garcia’s commitment to guiding others and passion for collaboration sets the framework for the culture within her office.

“I started with two agents and we’ve grown to 15 agents. I know RE/MAX Diverse is a smaller brokerage, but I think it’s a big accomplishment starting from where we came from,” she says. “It’s our motto to support one another – we don’t compete with each other – and I lead by example.”

Staying engrained in the community is key to Garcia’s brokerage being a household name for real estate consumers in Worcester.

“You have to be aware of what’s happening in your community. You have to build relationships with other real estate professionals in the area. And you have to know what’s happening in the market – nationally and locally – so that way you can best help the consumer,” Garcia says.

One way she has been able to create connections within the industry in the greater Worcester community is through involvement with outside organizations, like sitting on the Board of Directors for the local REALTOR® association, and affiliating with local chapters of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and the Women’s Council of REALTORS®.

“I want other women in the industry to see me and feel inspired to own their own real estate businesses,” Garcia says.

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