What do you call someone who has earned an Emmy and a Peabody Award at CNN, crushed six Ironman triathlons, built one of Atlanta’s most distinctive luxury brands, and became a twin mom at 40? At eXp, we call her one of our own. Helen Hernandez Archer has just made her bold return to eXp Luxury, bringing along with her powerhouse agent, May Parrado (read the press release here).
From CNN to Closing Deals
Helen’s story begins long before real estate. As a journalist at CNN, she worked on two of the most pivotal stories of our time—coverage of 9/11, which earned her an Emmy, and Hurricane Katrina, which earned her and the CNN team a Peabody Award.
That storytelling drive, combined with her grit, carried her into real estate in 2005. Over nearly two decades, she’s built a reputation as one of Atlanta’s leading luxury professionals, earning the Phoenix Award for being a Top Producer ten years in a row. Her path has included time with Keller Williams, Compass, and Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, where she founded the Hispanic Legacy Network, the first and only Hispanic affinity group in the brand’s global history.
Alongside her is longtime colleague Mayumi (May) Parrado. Originally from Cuba and raised in Miami, May is a seasoned Global Luxury Real Estate Advisor and Broker Associate with over 25 years of experience. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she brings bilingual expertise, international reach, and a proven track record as a top producer in both Florida and Georgia.
Together, Helen and May lead the Archer Group — a partnership built on complementary strengths, shared vision, and a commitment to delivering distinctive service.
As Helen approached her 20th anniversary this month, Helen began to reflect on what the next chapter should look like for herself and her team. “My goal is to scale strategically and align with the top-performing real estate teams in the nation,” she shared. That reflection led her back to eXp.
For Helen, that growth isn’t just about numbers. “For my team, this growth translates into an elevated level of service and measurable value for our clients. As a leader, my responsibility to our clients and my team is to continue to learn and stay ahead of the curve to continually raise the standard for excellence.”
When the P&L Hits Home
The decision to return to eXp wasn’t made lightly. Helen’s “aha moment” happened this year when she reviewed her second-quarter P&L. “The amount I was giving away under the traditional non-capping model was no longer sustainable,” she explains. “As a parent, I couldn’t help but think about how that money could have covered years of my twins’ private education.”
For Helen, the numbers didn’t just represent business costs. They represented choices for her family, opportunities for her children, and long-term security. That moment of clarity reminded her why eXp’s model, with its cap and profit-sharing, was designed for agents who want to grow a sustainable business. “With over 20 years in the business, I know I can recruit, hire, coach, and consult,” she says. “If I’m not strong in one area, I’ll hire for it. That lets me focus on what matters most: my faith, my family, and building relationships that turn into sales.”
Ironman Miles and Mom Life
Helen doesn’t just juggle contracts and closings, she takes on challenges that would make most people blink twice. After years of IVF, she became a twin mom at 40, which she calls one of her greatest accomplishments. Just three years later, she began training for triathlons, eventually completing six Ironman 70.3 races across Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and Arizona.
“The discipline of training and finishing an Ironman has so many parallels to business,” she says. “You have to prepare, pace yourself, and keep going even when it’s hard. The finish line is always worth it.”
Her passion for community and movement led her to found The Movement Collective, a running club in Atlanta that brings people together around health, fitness, and connection. It’s one of many ways she integrates her personal passions into her professional life.
Collaboration is the New Luxury
When Helen reflects on her years at other brokerages, she’s quick to point out what she missed most: the energy of collaboration. “I have always had a passion for learning, exchanging ideas, masterminding, and coaching,” she explains. “What I found myself missing was the daily collaboration, innovation, and the energy of highly productive teams operating their businesses at scale.”
“This time,” she says, “eXp feels elevated. The game has changed. Leadership is stronger than ever, starting with Leo Pareja, who I’ve known since our NAHREP and Keller Williams days, all the way down to the amazing, productive teams around the world.” Her co-sponsorship structure allows her to tap into powerhouse networks locally and nationally. With local leadership in Atlanta and access to the Fast Forward Movement and Honey Badgers, she says she finally has the best of both worlds.
“This business can feel lonely at times, especially when there’s no office to go to,” she admits. “But after COVID, everything changed, and with all the technology and support at eXp, I know I am always supported.”
A Cruise, a Mastermind, and a Husband Who Knew
Helen jokes that her husband actually predicted her return to eXp before she made the official move. In the summer of 2024, she joined longtime friends from NAHREP, Veronica Figueroa and Rebecca and Josue Soto, on the Build at Sea 24 cruise, a mini-conference on the water. “It felt like a mini eXpcon,” she recalls. One afternoon she found herself at a mastermind with Brent Gove. “The energy in that room felt like divine confirmation.”
When she returned to her cabin, her husband didn’t even have to ask. He looked at her and said, “Oh, you’re joining eXp, aren’t you?” Helen laughs, “I didn’t make the move right then, but in hindsight, he was right. The timing had to line up for me, my team, and my family. And now it has.”
Faith, Family, and Forward Motion
Helen’s career is decorated with professional achievements, but she’s just as proud of the ways she contributes to her community. She is Maxwell Leadership-certified, a coach and public speaker, and currently serves as the podcast host for the Atlanta Realtors Association. She has also served as NAHREP Atlanta President and a NAHREP National Board Member. Each role, she says, connects back to her love of growth and service. However, Helen is quick to point out that she hasn’t built this journey alone. “May is the backbone of my team and success,” Helen says.
As she returns to eXp, her priorities are clear: faith, family, and the future. And she’s ready to celebrate by heading to eXpcon Miami, where she’ll network, collaborate, and share her experience with agents from across the globe.
Her advice to others who may be questioning their next step is simple but powerful:
“You must re-EXP-lore what eXp has if you want to go from being an agent to a business owner. Whether solo or leading a team, this is the space to grow, scale, shift, and think differently about your future.”
From Emmy to eXp, Helen Hernandez Archer’s story is proof that resilience, vision, and the right timing can change everything.
