Empowering Women in Real Estate® - The Podcast with Karen Cooper

Hosted by Karen Cooper

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Empowering Women in Real Estate®. Listen in as I share stories and tips from my life and business, and interview some of my favorite people.

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September 30, 2026Episode 42530 min

425: 5 Lessons I'm Taking Into the Next 90 Days

What if your quarterly review wasn't just about the numbers? As we close out Q3, I'm doing things a little differently. Instead of looking only at what I accomplished, what I didn't, or whether I hit my goals, I've been thinking about what the last 90 days have taught me—and how those lessons can shape the next 90. On today's episode of Empowering Women in Real Estate® – The Podcast, I'm sharing five lessons I'm taking with me into Q4: • Growth and complexity don't have to be synonymous. • Participation tells you something. • You don't have to monetize everything you know. • Success can feel "meh" even when nothing is wrong. • Good ideas can still be distractions. I'm sharing the real-life experiences behind each one—from simplifying as my team continues to grow, to finally letting go of something I had built for seven years, to recognizing that sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is pay attention to what's working and resist the urge to add something new. If this quarter hasn't looked exactly the way you hoped it would, don't skip the reflection because you don't love the numbers. There is still so much you can take from the last 90 days. What got easier? What felt unnecessarily complicated? What did you enjoy? What are you ready to release? And what did you learn that could change how you approach what comes next? Listen in, then give yourself a little time to reflect on the lessons you want to carry into your next 90 days. Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 42,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference

September 23, 2026Episode 42442 min

424: Success Has Seasons, and Your Business Should Too

We readily accept that our lives have seasons, but we often expect our businesses to keep looking the same year after year. In this episode, I'm sharing my conversation with Krista and Brian Demcher of She Sells, He Sells about what it means to allow your definition of success—and the way you work—to evolve. I share my journey from selling 50–60 homes a year and running with my hair on fire, to stepping into a managing broker role that turned out to be a colossal mistake, to ultimately rebuilding my business around the life I actually wanted to live. We talk about the identity and grief that can come with letting go of a version of yourself that once made you successful, why not all money is good money, and how to create longevity in your business without sacrificing your quality of life. You'll also learn about the "pressure audit," a simple exercise that can help you identify what gives you energy, what drains you, and what your next season could look like. Because if you don't want to walk away from the business you've worked so hard to build, you have to be willing to evolve it. Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 42,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference

September 16, 2026Episode 42336 min

423: The Simple Habit That Changed Her Business with Abby Drobinski

What if the thing that changes your business isn't a new lead source, a new strategy, or another program—but simply showing up consistently for the work you already know you need to do? On this episode of Empowering Women in Real Estate® – The Podcast, I'm joined by Abby Drobinski, a Delaware real estate agent whose business growth over the past few years tells a pretty incredible story. For years, Abby consistently averaged around $6 million in annual sales. Then 2023 was an especially challenging year, and her production dropped to $3.4 million. During the fourth quarter of that year, Abby was invited to join a simple accountability Zoom: two hours each morning, Monday through Thursday, with other agents quietly working alongside one another on the activities that build their businesses. No scripts. No complicated system. No new lead source. She simply started showing up—and kept showing up. In 2024, Abby closed $5.6 million. In 2025, she nearly doubled that and finished just shy of $10 million. And now, in 2026, she's on track to nearly double her business again and reach $20 million in sales. In this conversation, Abby shares exactly what she does during those two-hour blocks, how she structures each day of the week, why accountability has been such a powerful tool for her, and how she protects this time even when the demands of real estate try to pull her in another direction. We also talk about something many of us struggle with: constantly chasing the next strategy instead of staying committed to what is already working. Abby's approach is refreshingly simple—stay connected to your people, follow up, nurture your relationships, protect the time to do the work, and repeat. If your business feels slower than you want it to be, or you've been wondering what you need to add, this episode might be the reminder that the answer isn't always more. Sometimes, it's choosing one simple thing—and doing it consistently. You can connect with Abby on Instagram, @abbylovesdelaware You can join in the Daily Business Building for Realtors that Abby does, Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 11 am EST here: https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/88984489009 Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 42,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference

September 9, 2026Episode 42225 min

422: What's Working Right Now on Social Media with Alyssa Stalker of Coffee & Contracts

Social media has changed—a lot. And if you're still approaching it the same way you did a few years ago, you may be putting in a whole lot of effort without seeing much return. On today's episode of Empowering Women in Real Estate® – The Podcast, I'm joined by Alyssa Stalker, Head of Member Education at Coffee & Contracts, for a behind-the-scenes look at what's actually working on social media right now. With more than 6,000 real estate agents using Coffee & Contracts, Alyssa and her team have a unique view into what agents are doing, where they're struggling, and what's getting results. And one of their biggest findings? The challenge isn't necessarily knowing what to post anymore—it's knowing how to turn your content into actual business. We're talking about why raw, real content is outperforming overly polished content, the rise of "comfort content," why your audience probably doesn't want another real estate educational post, and how AI can help you find and refine your voice without replacing it. We also dig into something I think a lot of agents need to hear: more content, more templates, and more ideas aren't necessarily the answer. Without strategy and intention behind what you're doing, more can simply create more overwhelm. If social media has been feeling harder, noisier, or less effective lately, this conversation will help you think differently about how you're showing up—and hopefully take a little pressure off in the process. You can listen to Episode 422, "What's Working Right Now on Social Media with Alyssa Stalker of Coffee & Contracts," on your favorite podcast app. If you want to learn more about using Coffee & Contracts, click here: https://get.coffeecontracts. com/6uzjk3fj8c3m Join Alyssa and I for a FREE Empowering Women in Real Estate® Growth Session on this topic coming up on September 17, 2026 at 1 pm EST! Use this link to register: https://bit.ly/ EWREGrowthSession Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 42,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference

September 2, 2026Episode 42134 min

421: The Clarity Workshop

Clarity sounds simple, but for so many of us, it can be surprisingly hard to answer one question: What do I actually want? In Episode 421 of Empowering Women in Real Estate® – The Podcast, I'm wrapping up our conference speaker series by introducing my own session, The Clarity Workshop . In this episode I'm sharing why clarity has become so important to me personally, how it has shaped some of the biggest shifts in my 24-year real estate career, and why I believe so many women spend years operating on autopilot without stopping long enough to ask whether the business and life they've built still fit who they are today. We're talking about the difference between wanting more simply for the sake of more and intentionally deciding what you actually want more—and less—of. I share some of the choices I've made around motherhood, production, leadership, my mornings, my business, and even the things I had to stop doing simply because I had always done them. And perhaps most importantly, we talk about this idea: You can't choose an option you don't know exists. Sometimes clarity doesn't mean having the whole next chapter figured out. It might simply mean recognizing what you no longer want, questioning something you've always assumed was a given, or identifying one small shift that moves you closer to the life you want. If you're joining us at the Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference, this episode is a preview of the work we'll do together during our final 90 minutes. And if you won't be there, I hope it inspires you to make an appointment with yourself, get quiet, and start asking some of these questions anyway. Because five or ten years are going to pass either way. The question is whether you'll be any closer to the life you actually want when they do. Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 42,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference

August 26, 2026Episode 42034 min

420: Reconnecting with Your Database

If your business has felt a little quiet this summer, resist the urge to panic, buy more leads, or completely reinvent your marketing. Start by reconnecting with the people you already know. In this episode of Empowering Women in Real Estate® – The Podcast, Karen shares practical, relationship-focused ways to re-engage your database as summer winds down and routines begin again. From simple text messages and handwritten notes to showing up on social media, asking better questions, and completing a full database refresh, these ideas will help you rebuild momentum without making every interaction about real estate. Karen also shares why reconnecting should never be a disguised sales pitch, how small and consistent touches can keep relationships alive for decades, and the story of a client she had not heard from in more than 20 years who still remembered her when it was time to make a referral. Your database doesn't need constant attention or perfect marketing. They simply need to know that you are still here, still in business, and still ready to help. Listen in for simple ways to reconnect, create momentum, and begin preparing your business now for the spring market ahead. This is also the topic of our September Empowering Women in Real Estate® Meet Ups. Check out the Local Leader Directory here if you are looking for in-person: https:// empoweringwomeninrealestate. com/local-leader-directory/ ,or register here for the Virtual Monthly Meet Up on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 1 pm EST https://bit.ly/vmuregistration Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 41,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference

August 19, 2026Episode 41934 min

419: The 6 Keys of Empowerment with Soni Graves

What does it really take to become self-managed—and why do so many capable people struggle to follow through on what they already know? On today's episode of Empowering Women in Real Estate® – The Podcast, I'm joined by Soni Graves and Steve Rigby of New Wings Consulting for a conversation about relationships, accountability, self-management, and the choices that shape both our success and our quality of life. Soni shares how more than 35 years in sales and leadership taught her that business has always been—and will always be—about people. We also talk about why asking for support does not mean giving up control, the role accountability plays in helping us grow, and why success without a meaningful life is not really success at all. Soni also gives us a preview of her keynote at the 2026 Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference, The 6 Keys of Empowerment. She walks us through the questions that help us move from where we are now to where we want to be: what, where, why, when, how, and who—along with the seventh key that ultimately determines everything: which choice will you make? Listen in for an honest and practical conversation about moving beyond knowledge, choosing excellence, and creating a life and business where you are supported, accountable, and empowered to follow through. Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 41,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference

August 12, 2026Episode 41828 min

418: Keeping Promises to Yourself with Rosemary Lewis

What happens when you keep every promise you make to everyone else—but repeatedly break the ones you make to yourself? In this episode of Empowering Women in Real Estate® – The Podcast , Karen sits down with Rosemary Lewis, associate broker, coach, and "real estate bestie," for an honest conversation about self-trust, faith, vulnerability, and the small commitments that shape who we become. Rosemary shares how a nudge to "go help" led her from teaching into real estate, how success and loss changed the way she views business, and why no amount of striving can fill the places that require deeper healing and faith. Together, Karen and Rosemary explore how repeatedly putting yourself last can quietly erode your confidence—and how keeping even one meaningful promise to yourself can begin to rebuild trust, unlock courage, and change the way you show up in your life, relationships, and business. You'll also hear why asking for help is not a sign of weakness, the importance of being vulnerable in the right rooms, and Rosemary's encouragement for any woman who feels discouraged by her year so far: focus on what you can do today. The basics may be boring, but they work. This conversation is a powerful reminder that you do not have to outwork your pain, hide in plain sight, or keep removing yourself from your own priority list. Listen to Episode 418: Keeping Promises to Yourself with Rosemary Lewis . Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 41,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference

August 5, 2026Episode 41727 min

417: The Hidden Financial Stress of Successful Women with Michelle Jacobik

You can be successful, earn a strong income, and still feel financially stressed. For many women in real estate, the problem isn't the ability to make money. It's that no one ever taught us how to manage inconsistent income, prepare for taxes, create financial stability, or run the business side of the business. In this episode of Empowering Women in Real Estate® – The Podcast, Karen sits down with business strategist and bestselling author Michelle Jacobik to talk about the hidden financial pressure successful women often carry—and why earning more money doesn't automatically create more peace. Michelle shares why revenue without a system can actually make the financial gaps in your business bigger, how financial avoidance erodes self-trust, and what it takes to build real clarity, confidence, and stability in both your business and personal finances. They also talk about shifting from "what-if worry" to "what-if possibility," Michelle's standing Friday appointment with her voice of doubt, and how one courageous investment led to an extraordinary opportunity with Ed Mylett. Michelle will also be speaking at the 2026 Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference, where she'll help attendees uncover the financial stress hiding beneath their success and begin creating a path toward greater profit and personal peace. Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 41,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference

July 29, 2026Episode 41645 min

416: What Having a Front-Row Seat to Thousands of Women in Real Estate Taught Me

For the past 12 years, Karen Cooper has had a front-row seat to the experiences of tens of thousands of women in real estate through her community, Empowering Women in Real Estate®. And across every level of success, certain patterns continue to appear. Every woman questions herself. Every woman loses clients, makes mistakes, and considers quitting at some point. The women with the most staying power are not the ones who avoid hard seasons, but the ones who learn how to recover, evolve, and build their businesses in a way that can evolve with them. And so much more. In this special anniversary episode, Karen shares what 12 years of Empowering Women in Real Estate® has taught her about mindset, consistency, comparison, relationships, ego, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who expand what you believe is possible. You'll hear why there is no substitute for doing the work, why connecting with people matters more than your CRM or branding, and why there is no single right way to build a successful real estate business. Most of all, this episode is a reminder that you are not the only one navigating doubt, disappointment, change, or uncertainty—and you are allowed to create a business that supports the life you want now. Click subscribe to be notified every Wednesday when our latest episode is released, and be sure to check out our group on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomeninrealestate We are 41,000 members strong and we want you to join us! And if you want to follow me on Instagram , that's where I'm having the most fun right now. https://www.instagram.com/karen.w.cooper/ Tickets are now available for our 6th Annual Empowering Women in Real Estate® Conference! The conference is on September 29-30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dulles, Virginia. You can get all the details and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/EWREConference