CEO. Mom. MBA Student. And Leading a 50-Agent Move to eXp.
She’s leading 50 agents, raising a family, and going to school to become an attorney — all while navigating a major brokerage move.
Most people would call a $100 million-plus production year a "career peak," but for Miriam Valencia, it’s just the baseline.
Based in Houston, Texas, Miriam is the force behind Alumbra International, a top international real estate brokerage that recently made waves by moving 50 agents to eXp Realty.
But if you think her calendar is full just managing contracts and closings, you’re only seeing a fraction of the impact she’s driving. Aside from being the CEO of a top producing team, she’s a mother, marathon runner, and current MBA student with plans to become an attorney.
The Anatomy of a Power Move
So what makes an already highly successful woman make such a big move during one of the busiest times of her life?
The answer: finding a platform that could take her brokerage even further.
Valencia founded Alumbra International with a clear vision: to create a brokerage that could serve clients across multiple segments of real estate (residential, luxury, commercial, and international).
What she needed next was something that wouldn’t just expand that structure, but support it. But the decision didn’t come quickly.
When you’re responsible for the livelihoods of 50 people, “gut feelings” aren’t enough. Valencia spent significant time auditing the industry’s landscape before choosing eXp.
“As a broker I cannot make rash decisions because it affects a lot of people,” she says. “I spent time looking at different brokerage models and asking myself what would make the most sense long term. I wanted something that allowed us to grow bigger while still protecting the culture we built at Alumbra.”
Introduced to the model by Thao Nguyen, Valencia realized she didn’t have to choose between being an independent entrepreneur and having corporate-level resources.
“eXp allowed us to keep our identity while plugging into a larger platform,” she says. “Once I understood how eXp works and how we could continue operating as Alumbra within it, the decision started making more sense.”
And if that sounds like a lot to manage, it’s only part of Valencia’s daily reality.
The Triple Threat: Business, Law, and Motherhood
Leading a 50-agent brokerage is a career-defining feat. Doing it while prepping for the LSAT, completing an MBA, and raising a family is an exercise in elite-level logistics. When asked how she balances it all, she says this:
“It comes down to discipline and being clear about what I want.”
As a CEO, mom, and student, she has to be intentional. “I treat school the same way I treat business, with structure and commitment,” she says. Those same principles helped her build a successful business in the first place.
Even with a packed schedule, there was never any waiting for the “perfect timing,” she created it.
“I built while learning. I built while going to school. I kept moving forward even when life was busy,” she says. “Education has always been important to me because it strengthens how I lead and how I think about business. Everything I am doing is connected. I am building a company, continuing my education, and creating a bigger future for my family and the people around me.”
That mindset also extends beyond the brokerage itself. Through Heart and Hope, Alumbra’s community outreach initiative, Valencia and her team organize volunteer work, donation drives, and local support efforts across Houston.
What’s Next
For Miriam Valencia, the transition to eXp serves as a strategic power move designed to fuel what’s next for Alumbra International. By aligning a $107M+ production engine with a global platform, she has effectively removed the ceiling for her 50-agent team, ensuring that their growth is as limitless as her own ambitions.
Whether she is analyzing a complex commercial contract, studying for her MBA, or training for her next marathon, Miriam is proving that the "all-in" lifestyle doesn't require sacrificing one's education or family.
As she prepares for the rigors of law school and the continued expansion of Alumbra, one thing is certain: the Houston market hasn’t seen the last of Miriam Valencia’s evolution.
Follow Miriam and Alumbra International on
Instagram: @miriam_labroker | @alumbraproperties
Facebook: Miriam-LaRealtor | Alumbra Properties
TikTok: @miriam_larealtor
LinkedIn: @miriamlarealtor
