How I Built This with Guy Raz Robert Reffkin: Compass
Jul 26, 2021
Robert Reffkin, the Co-founder and CEO of Compass, shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood as a bi-racial, Jewish kid in Berkeley to leading a multi-billion-dollar real estate tech company. He reveals how a job interview turned into an entrepreneurial leap that launched Compass. Reffkin discusses overcoming past failures, the impact of his mother's resilience, and the company's rapid growth during the 2020 housing boom. He also emphasizes the importance of technology in reshaping the agent experience and the evolving landscape of real estate.
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Family Estrangement
- Robert Reffkin's maternal grandparents disowned his mother upon learning about his biracial heritage.
- They later bequeathed a substantial inheritance to his aunt while giving his mother only $100.
Absent Father
- Robert Reffkin had limited contact with his father, a drug addict, only seeing him a few times before his death.
- He credits his challenging upbringing with instilling a strong drive to succeed and create a better future for his own family.
Outsider Status
- Despite growing up in a progressive area, Robert Reffkin felt like an outsider due to his biracial and Jewish background.
- He learned to be comfortable with discomfort, a skill that proved valuable later in his career.