After a brief opening question about the philosophy of leadership, the conversation focuses on gorgeous real estate everywhere.
Ryan Schneider: If we think about our strategic strengths and focus, our luxury business is at the top. We are investing disproportionately in high-end markets. We love businesses that cross brands like Sotheby’s International Realty. The fact that we were able to surpass the market significantly throughout 2024 was fantastic.
When you can find something that can drive what means growth on the market, it is worth pushing forward completely.
Tracey Velt: You’ve been strategically focused on M&As, and many people have dropped out of major M&As over the past few years. They really focused on more local acquisitions and mergers. Do you think of it as a possibility to move forward as one of your growth levers?
Schneider: I went through this cycle where M&A was not economically attractive. As I mentioned last time about revenue calls, I think M&A will be back here. 2025 will be a big year for M&As and we are here to make a good deal.
It needs to make sense economically. We are not going to trade just to do them.
The conversation then moves to discussions about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) everywhere.
Velt: How are these innovations changing how they work everywhere? And what about investing in AI and technology?
Schneider: Provides approximately 8,000 employees and business. A lot of that is because we were able to digitize and automate our business. However, this generative AI opportunity is enormous. It’s a customer-oriented product that can be delivered to agents and franchisees, making it more successful and efficient.
To end the conversation, Schneider discusses important lessons he has learned in his life and career before taking over as the leader of real estate’s largest company.
Velt: You went on a journey to lead one of the world’s biggest real estate companies, but that didn’t happen overnight. Looking back, what was your defining experience?
Schneider: I’ve come from outside the industry and I’ve been in the industry for about seven years. It was about making a leap into this exciting industry that I wanted to work on. After all, in this industry there is a real opportunity to continually reinvent how things happen.
