What does it really take to build a real estate team that can grow without compromising the client experience? In this episode of Signature Insights, host Sam Hewit sits down with Shawn Zigelstein, Founder of Team Zold, and Mike Kearns, Founder of The Kearns Group, for a practical conversation about building, leading and scaling a successful real estate team. Both Shawn and Mike started as solo REALTORS® before reaching a point where doing everything themselves was no longer the best way to grow. They share how hiring the right administrative support helped them create more leverage, why the best hire isn’t always someone who thinks like you, and how their approach to building a team has evolved over time. The conversation goes beyond simply adding people. Shawn and Mike discuss finding team members who complement your strengths, creating systems people can actually follow, developing agents to build their own referral businesses, and why culture and shared values matter when every person on your team represents your brand. They also share the habits that continue to drive their businesses today, from consistent database communication and relationship building to developing a deeper understanding of the markets they serve. In this episode: How to recognize when it’s time to make your first hire, Why administrative support can be an important first step toward growth, Hiring people who complement your strengths and fill gaps in your business, Building systems that create consistency across a team, How Shawn and Mike approach recruiting, training and developing agents, Why team culture can matter more than production alone, Helping agents build referral-based businesses instead of relying solely on leads, The role of consistency, relationships and market knowledge in long-term success Whether you’re a Greater Toronto Area REALTOR® considering your first hire, already leading a team, or simply looking for ways to create more leverage in your business, this conversation offers practical insight into building a business designed to grow with intention. Subscribe to Signature Insights on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify for more conversations with leading GTA REALTORS®, economists and industry experts on navigating the market and building a stronger real estate business.