Real estate's most powerful women 

Women are rising in the ranks of real estate — and gaining recognition for their influence in the industry. 

In this year's Swanepoel Power 200, the definitive ranking of the industry's top leaders, more women than ever are among the top 25 executives on the list. In total, 47 women were recognized in the 2023 SP 200, with seven in the top 25. All seven women rose in the rankings from the previous year. 

Sue Yannaccone, president and CEO of Anywhere Brands, was named the most powerful woman in real estate and was ranked sixth on the list overall.

Yannaccone recently expanded her role at Anywhere to include oversight of all six of the company's franchise brands: Coldwell Banker, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Century 21, Corcoran, ERA and Sotheby's International Realty. All told, the brands encompass 196,000 agents who did more than $737 billion in sales and 1.5 million transactions in 2021.

"With each of our six brands on the SP 200 list, along with the highest number of women leaders of any company, it's clear that Anywhere remains at the forefront of our fast-evolving industry," said Yannaccone. "I'm looking forward to making even greater strides in 2023 alongside our incredible company, brand and brokerage leaders," she said.

Helen Hanna Casey, CEO of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, took the No. 2 spot among the women on the list, and joins Hoddy and Hoby Hanna for the seventh position overall. As part of the leadership team at Howard Hanna Real Estate, the family-owned brokerage does nearly $40 billion in annual sales and has been busy acquiring other firms in the past few years. It's the fourth time the leadership team has appeared in the top 10, and Casey has been named the Most Powerful Woman five times.

"It's always an honor to be included among such an amazing group of peers. It is especially rewarding to be named among the leading women in real estate, as these incredibly powerful women lead the way for future generations. I am so proud to know many of them personally. Congratulations to one and all," said Casey.

Coming in at number three among the women leaders is Jill Jacobi Wood, co-president of Windermere Real Estate, the largest regional real estate company in the western U.S. with a sales volume of more than $51 billion. Wood oversees the Windermere Services Company, which supports the company's 300+ franchises, and leads efforts to grow the brand. Wood and Windermere co-presidents Geoff Wood and OB Jacobi ranked 14th on the list overall.

"I am honored and humbled to be recognized on the top women executives list again this year," said Wood. "I have a deep level of respect for the women on this list and feel fortunate to be among them. Thank you to Stefan and his team for shining a light on so many of the women leaders who work every day to make our industry better."

The seven women leaders earning a place in the top 25 of the SP 200 are:

• Sue Yannaccone of Anywhere Real Estate (sixth, up from 14th last year)

• Helen Hanna Casey of Hanna Real Estate (seventh, up from 10th)

• Jill Jacobi Wood of Windermere (14th, up from 16th)

• Christy Budnick of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (19th, up from 21st)

• Pamela Liebman of Corcoran Group (21st, up from 25th)

• Susan Daimler of Zillow (22nd, up from 28th)

• Sherry Chris of Anywhere (23rd, up from 26th)

In addition to highlighting the top women leaders, the SP 200 also recognizes the most influential people in areas including technology and organized real estate (MLS/associations), and acknowledges outside influencers who do not work directly in real estate but have an impact on the industry.

The top-ranked leader in technology for 2023 was Rich Barton, co-founder and CEO of Zillow Group, and the top spot under organized real estate went to NAR CEO Bob Goldberg. 

Outside influencers included several government officials — Fed Chair Jerome Powell, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge and President Joe Biden among them — as well as the CEOs of Fannie Mae (Priscilla Almodovar) and Freddie Mac (Michael DeVito). 

Visit sp200.com to view all leaders recognized in 2023.

Note: Stefan Swanepoel is the founder of both Real Estate News and T3 Sixty, but Real Estate News has no involvement or influence in creating the SP 200.