A Culture Built on Heart

DeAnn Golden is the President and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. She assumed this leadership role in June 2022, bringing over 25 years of real estate expertise to the company.

Her strategic vision is outlined in the “Forever Moving Forward Together” plan. This initiative focuses on key tenets aimed at evolving the company’s culture and operations.

The plan prioritizes fostering collaboration, promoting customer-centric marketing, and leveraging new technology. It also includes a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and a focus on housing affordability.

Golden’s inspiration comes directly from the people involved in real estate, assisting them during significant life events. She applies her hands-on experience, including building and selling her own successful company, to her role as CEO.

Her philosophy is rooted in a simple but powerful truth: business is about people. This commitment to a “We Care” spirit is a testament to the authentic leadership she brings to the industry.

It All Started with a Phone Call

DeAnn’s real estate journey began long before she was a CEO. As a child, she would help her mother, a fledgling agent, by hand-addressing postcards and answering the home phone with a prepared script.

This early, hands-on experience gave her a deep appreciation for the groundwork of the industry. Her mother’s joy in welcoming people to their community planted a seed that would one day blossom into her own lifelong passion for real estate.

From Ground Up: The Path to Leadership

Unlike leaders who parachute into top roles, DeAnn’s success is a result of living every part of the business. She has served as a receptionist, a listing coordinator, and a coach, experiencing the daily triumphs and challenges of each role.

This journey gives her a unique empathy for her team, allowing her to lead with an authentic understanding of their needs.

She credits this multi-layered perspective as the key to her effectiveness and the reason she feels a personal connection to every team member.

Leveraging a Globally Admired Brand

It is a privilege for the company to be a part of the seventh most admired brand in the world, a distinction that extends across all industries, not just real estate. This reputation is built on an unwavering foundation of strength, stability, and trust, which permeates every aspect of the company’s operations.

DeAnn finds “magic” in blending a globally recognized brand with a deeply local focus. This unique approach allows the company to provide a world-class standard of service while remaining intimately connected to the communities they serve.

The Core of Success: Coaching with a Coach’s Heart

DeAnn views training as a one-way transfer of knowledge, but she sees coaching as a two-way journey that can truly transform people. She believes that continuous learning is essential for every professional, regardless of their experience level.

This commitment to growth is why her company invests so heavily in education, from new agent training to mastermind sessions for seasoned professionals.

She believes that learning together not only improves skills but also creates a powerful culture of collaboration and synergy.

Pledging to a “Forever Agent” Legacy

Recognizing that too many agents leave the business after only a few years, DeAnn is spearheading the “Forever Agent” movement. This initiative is a pledge to commit to a lifelong career, not just a single transaction.

The goal is to have every agent sign the pledge, a public declaration of their commitment to a long-term relationship with their clients. This approach helps the company retain top talent and builds consumer trust, turning transactional interactions into lasting professional relationships.

The Unshakable Power of Culture

DeAnn believes that culture is the most fragile and precious part of any organization. She describes it as an “aura” grounded in trust and relationships, where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

The team’s actions speak volumes, as when they surprised a colleague with a housewarming party. Their team also created a “moving forward” group for people who have lost a loved one.

This culture of caring goes far beyond real estate, building a supportive family that helps each other through life’s challenges.

The High-Tech, High-Touch Advantage

DeAnn acknowledges that technology can be a frightening word for some, but her company fully embraces it as an essential tool.

They provide training on platforms like ChatGPT and other AI tools to help agents work more efficiently and communicate more effectively. She emphasizes that while high-tech tools can make the business more productive, they can never replace the human connection.

A high-touch approach, she maintains, will always be the most important ingredient for success.

The Georgia Properties Blueprint for Success

DeAnn Golden’s success is a blueprint for leadership built on a foundation of integrity, a “We Care” spirit, and unwavering faith in people.

Her vision statement, “The Right Choice,” is a guide for every decision, whether it’s for a client or a team member. She has cultivated a company where professionals feel empowered to be their authentic selves and supported in their journey to become whoever they aspire to be.

Her leadership proves that when you lead with heart, you win the day.