From the U.S. Marine Corps to running one of California’s largest securities firms, Michelle Harrington’s leadership journey is anything but typical. Alongside marketing powerhouse Lauren Hens, whose career spans from Chanel to Compass, these two leaders are redefining what it means to build a modern, people-first brokerage firm.
In this episode of Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered, FirstTeam Real Estate’s Harrington (CEO) and Hens (VP of Marketing and Strategic Initiatives) reveal:
The power of discipline and organization (and how the military shaped Harrington’s career) The ‘Behind the Agent’ campaign and how it produces 90 percent retention and 32 percent conversion rates What most agents get wrong about branding, TikTok, and storytelling How to build a brokerage firm with vision, heart, and standards Why women remain underrepresented in real estate C-suites, and how that’s finally changing
This episode is packed with truth bombs, real laughs, private listings, Zillow, MLS reform, recruiting strategies, and a sharp look at what it really takes to grow a business that lasts.
highlights
Learn:
How to lead with empathy without sacrificing your standards Why storytelling beats sales pitches (and how agents can apply this today) The surprising benefits of saying no to the wrong hires Behind the scenes of the ‘Behind the Agent’ campaign What it means to quit roster building and start building your career
Learn more about private listings, the role of AI in real estate, the Zillow-Compass discussion, and why authenticity is the most underrated business strategy of 2025.
This is not just an episode of leadership. This is a roadmap for brokerages who want to expand with their souls and agents who want to build their businesses based on who they really are.
Connect with Michelle Harrington on LinkedIn. Connect with Lauren Hens on LinkedIn. Learn more about FirstTeam Real Estate on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest and online at firstteam.com.
Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered is currently available exclusively on Inman. Enjoy agent and team-focused content every Monday and leadership interviews every Wednesday. Listen on Apple or Spotify.
James Dwiggins is co-CEO of NextHome, Inc. and co-host of Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered.
Keith Robinson is co-CEO of NextHome, Inc. and co-host of Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered.
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