Three REMAX Leaders Recognized as ‘Women of Influence’ Share Their Advice for Success

HousingWire named three leaders from the REMAX® network to the 2026 Women of Influence list, an award honoring women whose leadership, innovation and impact are helping shape the future of the housing industry.  

This year's honorees include Debra Beagle, Managing Broker/Co-Owner and CEO of The Ashton Real Estate Group of REMAX Advantage in Nashville, Tennessee; Stephenie Flood, COO & Vice President of Operations of Gold Nation and REMAX Gold in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Oregon; and Rebecca Zimmerman, VP of Operations of REMAX Advantage – Team Zimmerman in Port Orange, Florida. 

While each followed a different path to success, common themes emerged when we asked them about the decisions that shaped their careers, the habits successful leaders share and what this recognition means to them. 

Q: Looking back on your career, what was one decision, habit or mindset shift that made the biggest difference in your success? 

Debra Beagle: 

"It is hard to settle on just one thing, as I truly see it as a combination of pivots and changes over time. One big shift came when I started treating the business like the analytical discipline it is, reviewing metrics consistently and understanding how decisions affected our agents and staff. More recently, I stopped measuring success by how much we sold and started measuring it by whether the business was actually healthy. Once I made that shift, everything got stronger, including retention, culture and profitability." 

Stephenie Flood: 

"I think what's made the biggest difference is saying yes before I felt ready. I started with REMAX Gold in 1997 as a receptionist, and every step from there happened because I raised my hand for opportunities I hadn't done before and trusted I'd figure them out. The front desk turned out to be the best training ground because I learned every piece of how a brokerage actually runs. I've never looked back and still can't remember a time I said no to an opportunity." 

Rebecca Zimmerman: 

"For me, it was the shift from doing everything myself to building a team and systems that allowed us to scale. Once we invested in processes, documentation and the right people to own them, we were able to grow in a way that individual effort never could. Bringing in a business coach was also a big part of that shift. I think a lot of agents try to figure it all out alone, and that's usually the slowest path to growth." 

Q: What's one piece of advice you'd give agents who want to grow their business and influence in today's market? 

Debra Beagle: 

"Build systems before you build a bigger book of business. Success and influence follow consistency, not hustle. Agents who scale and sustain are the ones who've documented their processes, leaned into a CRM that actually works for them and built support around them so they can lead instead of just produce." 

Stephenie Flood: 

"Stop waiting for things to get easier, because they won't. I've been through the Great Recession and the current downturn, and the pattern is always the same. The agents who succeed aren't the ones waiting for rates to drop or inventory to improve. They're the ones who adapt and grow while others seem frozen. Learn to handle hard better." 

Rebecca Zimmerman: 

"Stop trying to do more and start trying to do the right things more consistently. The agents who grow fastest are the ones who've identified the few high-leverage activities that move the needle and show up ready to address those activities every single day. And don't try to do it alone – find a coach or mentor. Someone else may already have the blueprint." 

Q: What's one thing successful agents and leaders do consistently that others often overlook? 

Debra Beagle: 

"They follow up relentlessly, long after most people would've given up. Everyone loves closings; almost nobody loves the repetitive work of staying in touch, checking in and showing up for people who aren't ready yet. The agents who win the most business over time are the ones who never let a relationship go cold." 

Stephenie Flood: 

 "It's a combination of staying the course and changing. Successful leaders know when to stick with the activities that work over time – marketing outreach, phone calls, the long game – and when to recognize something is no longer producing results and have the courage to try something new." 

Rebecca Zimmerman: 

"They know their numbers. Most agents operate on gut feeling and hope, but top performers treat their business like a business. Knowing your numbers gives you a clear path forward. You know exactly what to fix, where to invest and what to do next instead of guessing." 

Q: HousingWire's Women of Influence recognition celebrates leadership and industry impact. What does this recognition mean to you, and what do you hope other women in real estate take away from it? 

Debra Beagle: 

"It's meaningful because it's a reminder that there's a seat at the table for women leading at every level of our industry – not just producing. I hope other women take permission to lead loudly: run for boards, build brands, and take a seat in rooms where real estate policy and strategy get decided. Keep building, keep leading and keep making room for others to rise with you." 

Stephenie Flood: 

"It means a great deal because of where I started. Nearly 30 years ago, I was sitting at the front desk. The important thing I want other women to know is that there isn't just one way into leadership. You don't need a perfect résumé or a specific background. Be brave, learn everything you can, take on the work nobody else wants and find people who will champion you. The front desk can lead to the corner office. Mine did." 

Rebecca Zimmerman: 

"This recognition means a lot because it reflects not just individual success, but the impact of building something bigger than myself – an amazing team, culture and systems that help other agents thrive. If there's one thing I hope other women take away, it's that leadership doesn't require waiting for permission or a perfect résumé. It comes from stepping up, building the thing you wish existed and bringing others along with you." 

— 

Different careers. Different journeys. One shared message: meaningful success comes from continuously learning, adapting and investing in others. It's a lesson that has shaped these leaders' careers and one that can help any agent build lasting influence of their own.