If the third time’s a charm, then eXp Realty’s Michael Valdes is the recipient. Valdes, the Chief Growth Officer at eXp Realty, was named a 2022 HousingWire Vanguard, given to those who are C-level executives who make vital contributions within housing and mortgage finance and whose leadership is moving markets forward, each and every day.
Valdes is the third eXp leader to receive this award after eXp Realty CEO Jason Gesing in 2021 and eXp World Holdings Founder, CEO and Chairman Glenn Sanford won in 2020. (Read more about Valdes in HousingWire.)
Valdes joined eXp Realty in May 2020 and quickly established himself as a leader, rising from Executive Vice President, International Expansion, to President of Global in September 2020. He was named Chief Growth Officer in August 2022.
Valdes Opened Operations in 17 Locations During the Pandemic
His contributions to eXp are significant. In only 20 months – throughout the pandemic – he led a team that expanded eXp Realty operations to 17 international locations, all without ever getting on a plane – a feat that the team believes has never been accomplished in the real estate industry.
As the only Latino president of a publicly-traded real estate company in the U.S., Valdes is an inspiring, encouraging leader who is well-respected for his integrity and for his ability to build community. His knowledge of global markets and demonstrated ability in international growth and operations has been invaluable for eXp’s expansion. Valdes has successfully introduced the eXp brand to thousands of people across the globe and given them an opportunity to change their lives.
Valdes Chairs ONE eXp; Helped Raise $600K for Mexico Earthquake Victims
Michael is also the Executive Chair of ONE eXp, eXp Realty’s diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion initiative, a group of more than 5,280 eXp Realty agents and staff who are working to build eXp Realty into the most diverse, equitable and inclusive real estate brokerage in the world.
ONE eXp oversees 10 affinity groups, including Black eXp Network, eXp Latino, eXp PRIDE Network and eXp Seniors Network. Projects for 2022 include sponsoring the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, expanding Mental Health Month, streamlining the events process, launching a DEI training program and creating new opportunities for eXp Realty ICON Agents to earn cultural competency points.
In 2021, Michael successfully led eXp Realty’s agents and staff to raise more than $600,000 for a joint initiative with New Story to help fund the building of more than 100 homes in the Morelos region of Mexico, which was devastated by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in September of 2017. In June 2022, he traveled with eXp Realty leadership and an agent to the region to see the homes that the donations made possible. In addition to his work at eXp Realty, Michael also serves on the boards of The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA). He is also the host of the Global Real Estate Mastermind podcast, which is distributed in more than 100 countries.
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