From Left to Right: Rajeev Sajja, Rajeev Sajja from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Michael Hickman from Seven Gables Real Estate, Matthew T. O’Connor from Terrie O’Connor Realtors, Kevin Greene from Cotality Real Estate Solutions, and Kevin Hawkins from WAV Group Communications
Some of the best conversations happen behind closed doors.
That’s probably why one of my absolute favorite events for years has been the RISMedia CEO & Leadership Exchange. Unlike our industry’s bigger conferences, this gathering is more intimate. It attracts the top brokerage leaders, many of whom you rarely see at other events.
What really sets it apart is that nothing is recorded. You are either in the room, taking notes from C-level execs sharing their insights, or you miss out. That exclusivity drives higher attendance and keeps more butts in seats than probably any other conference I attend.
Content that mostly delivers
The quality of the content overall is excellent – year in and year out, and 2025 was no exception.
Are there occasional sponsor sessions that sound more like infomercials than thought leadership? Absolutely. But the keyword here is occasional, and they are mostly tolerable.
When you examine the entire agenda, with more than 120 people on stage, including the foremost MLS executives and leaders from the leading regional and national brokerage brands, the balance tips firmly in favor of high-value content. And a shoutout to Darcy Sledge at RISMedia, who did a terrific job in herding these cats.
The atmosphere feels different
The vibe of this event is what other smaller conferences lose as they grow. The size makes it easier to navigate, the networking feels more natural, and the entire thing has that VIP quality.
Credit also goes to the RISMedia team that pulls it together. The group includes stalwarts in our industry, led by the iconic John Featherston, one of our industry’s top advocates and evangelists. John has even come around on AI. Not long ago, at RISMedia’s Power Broker session at NAR, he noted that the session would break ranks and not focus on AI, but instead double down on human intelligence. Today, he uses AI every day. That is remarkable progress.
Today’s RISMedia team is a terrific mix of industry veterans and creative newcomers, and what ties them together is how approachable, down-to-earth, and genuinely nice they are.
Moderating the AI panel
A highlight for me was moderating the AI panel, “Upping the Ante on AI Strategies.”
Rajeev Sajja from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Michael Hickman from Seven Gables Real Estate, Matthew T. O’Connor from Terrie O’Connor Realtors, and Kevin Greene from Cotality Real Estate Solutions made it one of the best sessions of the event.
The panel delivered real-world takeaways, sharp insights, and memorable quotes, including a laugh-out-loud reference to an “AI putter” – thank you to the other Kevin. We were the only thing standing between the audience and the cocktail reception, yet engagement stayed strong until the end. That says a lot about the quality of what was shared, and I was honored to be part of this group.
More AI, from first-rate to misfires
Beyond my panel, I was able to audit Michael Thorne’s 90-minute working lunch on AI, and it was a mini-class all its own. Michael, who runs the AI Bootcamp for Buffini & Company, is a British Columbia-based Realtor and broker with an arsenal of AI tools and tactics in his day-to-day practice.
Michael delivered a first-rate session, and I admit I am biased since we share many of the same beliefs and philosophies about how agents should use AI.
Across the conference, there were plenty of nuggets of wisdom and even some hysterical life-story confessions that made the takeaways even more memorable. But not everything landed. Like every conference, there were a few misfires, and some of the AI content outside of our panel did not measure up. I plan to put a spotlight on a few of those AI miscues, separately.
What was missing
One area the event could improve on is incorporating audience Q&A. With the tech we have today, it should be possible to crowdsource the most popular questions and get at least the most popular or compelling one to the stage. Having that kind of interaction would add another dimension to the sessions.
Looking ahead
Next year, the RISMedia CEO & Leadership Exchange will celebrate its 38th edition and make two significant changes. The dates move to September 30 through October 2, 2026, so there is no longer a Labor Day conflict. Additionally, the event remains in DC, but the venue relocates to the Fairmont Hotel in Georgetown.
This remains an event where being in the room matters and one you’ll want to mark down on your 2026 calendar.
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