July 29, 2026

Next Wave Leaders Part 2 | Aja Adair, Holly D'Arcy, Grace Stanzel - 061

Next Wave Leaders Part 2 | Aja Adair, Holly D'Arcy, Grace Stanzel - 061
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Leadership does not wait for permission. It starts the moment someone decides to step forward, often long before they have a title to prove it.

That is the theme of this episode, the next installment of our Next Wave Leader series featuring members of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Rethink Council.

I am joined by three agents who each found real estate through an unexpected door. Who are also now shaping how their markets do business.

Meet the Leaders:

  • Holly Darcy - REALTOR®, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida
    • She began her career as an elementary school teacher before building her own personal training business.
    • She later found her home in real estate as a military spouse navigating constant change.
    • Holly is passionate about consistency and authentic personal branding, helping clients feel like they already know her before they ever meet.
  • Asia Adair - REALTOR®, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties
    • Her real estate journey started as a special education teacher during the pandemic.
    • It was shaped early on by following her mother into the business at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
    • Asia excels at hyperlocal video marketing and disciplined client follow-up, and lives by the principle of giving more than she expects to get.
  • Grace Stanzel - Co-Team Leader, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate
    • Her path into real estate started as a high school intern on the very team she now co-leads, inspiring a career built on full-circle mentorship.
    • Grace excels at consistent, personal client touchpoints and is passionate about giving new agents the same hands-on start she once received.

From Classrooms and Career Changes to Real Estate Leadership

  • Holly spent years as a teacher and later ran her own fitness and nutrition business before real estate. A conversation with a mentor at a personal crossroads gave her the push to get licensed.
  • Asia taught special education through the pandemic before getting licensed, selling her first home while still teaching, and going full time the following summer.
  • Grace interned with her current team her senior year of high school, then finished her college degree online while building her real estate business during COVID.

When They First Saw Themselves as Leaders

  • Asia points back to leadership roles she held before real estate, from school council president to founding her high school's Gay-Straight Alliance, and says the identity of "leader" only clicked once she found success in real estate.
  • Holly credits a local Leadership Development Council program and the moments agents and clients turn to her for advice as the clearest sign she has become a trusted voice in her market.
  • Grace talks about the full-circle moment of becoming a mentor to interns after starting her own career the same way.

The Risk That Changed Their Business

  • Holly says joining the Rethink Council came at a burnout point in her career, and became one of the most valuable decisions she has made.
  • Grace talks about the risk of hiring a full-time operations director, and how betting on her business paid off in growth and client service.

Social Media, Video, and AI: What Is Actually Working

  • Grace focuses on intentional, high-quality listing videos built around the seller's story rather than generic content, and finds Instagram drives her strongest engagement.
  • Asia uses hyperlocal geotagging on video content so her market's algorithm surfaces her to the right audience, and recommends agents use AI tools like Claude or ChatGPT to audit how they show up online.
  • Holly treats her social media as a full extension of herself, mixing polished property marketing with everyday moments, and building a one-page digital bio she sends to new contacts and referral partners.

What the Rising Age of First-Time Buyers Means for Agents

  • With the median first-time buyer age now around 40 according to the National Association of Realtors, the panel discusses how to help younger buyers understand the long-term value of getting into the market early.
  • Holly shares her own story of buying her first home in 2010 and points to home price data over time as proof that time in the market matters more than timing it.
  • Grace focuses on patience and education, reminding younger buyers that the process can take time and that having the right team makes all the difference.

Favorite Podcasts, Books, and Quotes

Quote: "People always remember the way you treat them."

Podcast: Aspire with Emma Grede (recommended after hearing a Gary Vee episode on soft skills)

  • Asia - Quote: "Give more than you expect to get." (her guiding principle in business, inspired by The Go-Giver)
  • Grace - Quote: "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right." — Henry Ford

"Leadership isn't something we wait for. It's something we practice one conversation, one decision, one courageous step at a time." — Teresa Palacios Smith

When you help another woman rise, we all shine. And that’s how we make an impact. So, let’s build each other up and shine brighter than the sun. For more great content from Teresa, connect with her on LinkedIn, join her Women Who Lead Series on Facebook, and subscribe to her YouTube channel. You can find more episodes of Women Who Lead on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.

This episode is brought to you in part by Venus et Fleur.

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