In this episode of Why REAL Broker with Ryan Sautman, Ryan sits down with Destinie Marshall, a high-performing real estate team leader out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to discuss her journey in the industry and what ultimately led her to join REAL Broker. Destinie shares her unique path, including early setbacks—being fired twice early in her career - and how those experiences shaped her resilience and leadership style. Through persistence and growth, she built a successful, “small but mighty” team that produced over 70 transactions annually, emphasizing the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and focusing on long-term development over short-term wins.

The conversation dives into the challenges of traditional brokerage models, particularly around culture, flexibility, and agent support. Destinie explains how misalignment in values and lack of true partnership pushed her to seek a better fit, ultimately leading her to REAL Broker. She highlights the freedom REAL provides team leaders to run their businesses their way, create customized compensation structures, and eliminate unnecessary fees that can hinder agent growth. The discussion also touches on the financial advantages of REAL, including revenue share and stock incentives, which Destinie describes as a “game changer” compared to traditional profit-sharing models.

Beyond brokerage structure, this episode delivers valuable insights for agents at all stages, especially those looking to build or scale a team. Destinie emphasizes the importance of having systems in place before hiring, avoiding ego-driven decisions, and focusing on delivering real value to team members. She encourages agents to think strategically about their business, remain open to change, and prioritize relationships over loyalty to a single brokerage. Overall, this episode is packed with practical advice, real-world experience, and a transparent look at what it takes to grow a sustainable real estate business in today’s evolving market.

On this episode of Why REAL Broker with Ryan Sautman, Ryan sits down with Philadelphia-area mega agent and team leader Will Holder to discuss his journey from banking into real estate and how he built a thriving, high-producing team. Will shares how he took a leap of faith early in his career, grinding through the early years before scaling his business through systems, support, and eventually team building. His story highlights the importance of consistency, mindset, and learning through mistakes while building a sustainable real estate business.

Will dives into the evolution of his team, which has grown to nearly 30 agents supported by a robust backend of administrative and virtual staff. He explains how creating an environment focused on agent success—through training, accountability, and operational support—has allowed his team members to reach new levels of production and income. Rather than a traditional “churn and burn” model, Will emphasizes building a culture where agents can thrive long-term, with goals of helping multiple agents reach six- and even seven-figure earnings.

The conversation also explores Will’s decision to transition from a traditional brokerage model to REAL, and how that move has accelerated his growth. From reduced cost structures and scalability to revenue share, stock opportunities, and a true sense of partnership, Will explains why the model aligns with his vision of building a business that benefits both himself and his agents. This episode offers valuable insight for agents and team leaders looking to scale, increase profitability, and rethink what’s possible in today’s real estate landscape.

On this episode of Why REAL Broker with Ryan Sautman, Ryan sits down with Illinois Managing Broker Jani Burke to explore her decades long journey through the real estate industry and what ultimately led her to REAL. With experience ranging from traditional brokerages to franchise ownership and executive leadership roles, Jani shares a candid perspective on how different models have evolved - and why she has always prioritized what’s truly best for agents and their long-term success.

Jani dives into what makes REAL different, highlighting the power of its technology, streamlined systems, and agent-first structure. From AI tools like Leo to the all-in-one reZEN platform, she explains how these systems simplify transactions, improve efficiency, and allow agents to focus on what matters most - serving clients and growing their business. She also emphasizes the importance of having accessible leadership and strong support, noting how REAL’s layered communication and compliance systems make it possible to effectively serve agents across an entire state.

The conversation also touches on culture, collaboration, and growth within REAL. Jani and Ryan discuss how the company’s focus on community, co-sponsorship, and shared success creates a more supportive and less competitive environment than traditional models. Whether you’re considering a brokerage change or simply looking to better understand how modern real estate models are evolving, this episode provides valuable insight into building a business that is both scalable and aligned with your personal goals.