Substance is the word that drives Vivian Lesny. It’s the core of who she is as a top-producing real estate agent, as a proud daughter of Colombian and Mexican immigrants, as a mother, a humanitarian, and now, a new member of eXp Realty. (Read the press release here).
After 24 years in real estate, with personal production topping $70 million in 2024 and past years exceeding 88 transactions, Vivian has lifted her head up from the grind, looked around, and asked herself a different kind of question: What now?
“I’ve done the hard work, I’ve put in the years, and I have something to show for it. But now, I want to create memories. I want to make a difference, not just deals.”
Vivian’s Career Built on Compassion
Vivian, who speaks fluent Spanish and conversational Polish, has always led with empathy and grit. Raised in Culver City and now based in Playa Vista, she serves a tight geographic radius: Marina Del Rey, Westchester, Playa Del Rey, and Silicon Beach. But her impact reaches far beyond ZIP codes.
She is a proud member of NAHREP (the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals), where she ranks No. 24 in the Top 100 in the Southwest; No. 22 in Top 100 Agents by volume and No. 159 in Top 250 Agents nationwide. A fierce advocate for Hispanic and immigrant homeownership, her roots run deep.
“My mom came here from Colombia with nothing and built an empire. She out-earned my father, who was a VP at TRW. She’s my hero,” Vivian says. “And now, it’s my responsibility to pay it forward. I want to make housing accessible to those who came here for the same reasons she did — opportunity and a better life.”
Leading With Substance, Not Flash
Ask Vivian what she’s most proud of, and it’s not the accolades or volume, it’s how she got there.
“I work hard. I’m real. I’m here for the people” she says.
Her authenticity runs through everything she touches including her robust flipping business, which makes up about 35% of her income. She manages multiple crews, personally oversees every renovation, and has flips currently in Culver City, Playa Vista, and Westchester.
A Conviction That Took Her to Ukraine
Vivian doesn’t just talk about helping others, she lives it.
In 2023, she traveled with her husband to the Poland-Ukraine border to personally deliver aid — food, diapers, feminine hygiene products — and to help transport displaced women to safety.
“We were driving a Sprinter van when we saw two young women crying at the border,” she recalls. “No one was helping. I opened the van door and said, ‘I’m taking you.’ I don’t speak Russian, but when one woman looks another in the eye and says, ‘I’ll help you’ — you just go.”
She spent five days in Ukraine transporting women to train stations, attending soldiers’ funerals, and witnessing firsthand the trauma of war. “I’ll never forget it,” she says. “I’m just a marshmallow inside. I cry a lot. It’s gratitude, mostly, that my grandmother made the hard trek so I didn’t have to.”
Why She Chose eXp Realty
After stints at RE/MAX, Keller Williams, and Realty One Group, Vivian knew she wanted a model that was sustainable, collaborative, and full of joy.
“I wasn’t looking to grow or make more. I’m looking to live more. I want to laugh, connect, and work with people who genuinely care,” she says. “(eXp agent) Aaron Clapper never gave up on me. Ed Kaminsky and Dave Caskey made me feel seen. eXp gave me something I haven’t felt in years: fun and belonging.”
She also appreciated the financial model.
“I ran the numbers on other luxury brokerages. I would’ve paid $300,000 a year in commission splits. That’s insane. With eXp, there’s a cap. I get to keep more of what I earn, while surrounding myself with people who want me to succeed.”
From the Trenches to the Legacy Phase
Now in what she calls her “final phase,” Vivian is clear on what matters.
“It’s not about the grind anymore. It’s about the good I can do, the people I can help, and the relationships I can build. Real estate can be lonely when you’re in it alone. I’m finally not alone.”
She recently helped her parents purchase a single-level home with an ADU to care for her sister, who has cerebral palsy. Her mother, now in her 70s, is mostly retired from real estate, but Vivian hopes she’ll eventually join eXp, too.
“I feel like I’m selfish. I like to help people because it makes me feel good. So that’s selfish,” she said.
A New Chapter Fueled by Purpose
Vivian Lesny’s journey is one defined by substance, not flash. From standing with families at the closing table to standing beside strangers at a war-torn border, her life is a testament to compassion in action. Now, as she steps into her next chapter at eXp Realty, she’s bringing that same heart-forward approach to a model built on collaboration, freedom, and legacy.
She’s not just here to sell homes. She’s here to build something that lasts. For her family, for her community, and for every agent who dares to lead with meaning over metrics. At eXp, Vivian isn’t starting over, she’s leveling up, with joy in her step and purpose as her guide.
