Bess Freedman is CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the United States. She draws upon her law background and passion for helping people to drive change within the company and the larger real estate industry. She’s declared Juneteenth a company-wide holiday, made Election Day a paid day off, partnered with the Human Rights Campaign in support of legislation protecting rights of the LGBTQ+ community, and provides travel expenses for employees seeking to obtain legal and safe abortions.
An advocate for social change, Bess is on the Board of The Bridge, an organization focused on the needs of homeless and housing-insecure, and an advocate for Sanctuary for Families. She also supports the mentorship program at YJP (Young Jewish Professionals), the Leadership Now Project--a corporate initiative to protect democracy--and the Kalief Browder Foundation. Before entering real estate, she practiced law as an Assistant State's Attorney in Montgomery County, Maryland, and worked at Legal Aid as an attorney fighting for the rights of under-served youth in NYC.
This is a truly compelling conversation about Bess's successful business career and what lies ahead for real estate market; her important, inspirational advocacy work; and what it means to be a passionate and proud Jew in these turbulent times rife with rabid antisemitism and war.
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel