When I began working with Hayley Van de Ven in 2020, she saw herself more as a property manager in her business than a leader. She was focused on running a business, not stepping into the role of CEO. But over the years, Hayley has built not just a thriving company, but the confidence and capability to lead it at the highest level. Now at the helm of the Number 1 and Number 2 offices for RE/MAX Australia based in Brisbane - a $17 million business with 1,000 doors under management - she’s embraced the power of mindset, strategy, and surrounding herself with the right people.
Here, Hayley shares how she grew into leadership, the impact of MASTERMIND. With Sherrie on her journey, and the game-changing lessons she’s implemented to scale her business.
When I started as a business owner in real estate, I didn’t really think of myself as a leader.
I was just trying to build something—growing a rent roll, managing people, figuring out recruitment, and juggling the million other things small business owners do.
But CEO? That felt too big. Too bold.
Looking back, I can see now that I was running a business, but I wasn’t really leading it. I was in the trenches, doing the work, but I hadn’t fully stepped into the role of business owner, let alone a CEO.
The truth is, I wanted to embody all of the traits of a good CEO, and I had them inside me, I just didn’t know how to exude them.
Things started to change when I brought Sherrie on as my coach.
Learning to lead (even when you don’t feel like a leader)
One of the most powerful things about Sherrie’s coaching style is that she sees things in you before you see them in yourself.
She’d plant a seed of an idea in my mind—something big, something bold—and I’d immediately dismiss it.
“That’s not me.”
“I could never do that.”
“That’s for other people.”
But then, six months down the track, that little idea she planted would start to grow. And suddenly, I’d find myself thinking, Actually… maybe I could do that.
And once I embraced that mindset change, I immediately started working on another.
One where I shifted from a mindset of doing to leading and from running a business to building a company that works FOR me, not because of me.
And that shift has been everything.
Scaling Up: From $3M to $17M
Five years ago, my business was turning over around $3 million in GCI, with 250 properties under management. Fast forward to today, and we’ve scaled to $17 million and 1,000 rentals, with the goal of hitting $20 million and then $25 million.
To achieve it, I had to step up as a real CEO. That meant:
Building a business that scales—not just growing for growth’s sake, but creating something sustainable. This means setting up strong operational systems, ensuring every process is replicable, and making sure the business can continue to thrive even if you're not in the daily grind. It’s about future-proofing your agency so that it continues to grow profitably and with purpose.
Recruiting the right people—leaders who could step into roles I once held so the business could grow beyond me. This isn’t just about hiring talent; it’s about identifying and developing leaders who align with your vision, understand your culture, and have the capability to drive the business forward. Investing in the right people allows you to step back from the daily tasks and focus on strategic growth.
Focusing on work-life balance—because what’s the point of building a great business if it consumes every part of your life? Real estate can be all-consuming, but setting boundaries, scheduling personal time, and learning to delegate effectively is key to longevity. Creating a business that allows you to step away, recharge, and still operate efficiently is a major step toward sustainable success.
The power of Mastermind: A room full of game changers
I’ve also been attending MASTERMIND. With Sherrie for five years now, and I can tell you—it’s not just another conference where you sit, listen, and forget everything when you leave.
The attendees in that room are handpicked and they come with the right intentions. It’s a space where high performers share openly, collaborate generously, and push each other to level up.
Some of my biggest business breakthroughs haven’t just come from the speakers on stage—they’ve come from the conversations in the room. When you surround yourself with the right people, your perspective shifts. You stop thinking small and start seeing what’s possible.
Mastermind has also connected me with some of the best minds in the industry—people I never would’ve had access to otherwise. One of my first accountability partners was Ewan Morton… and I can’t tell you how valuable it’s been to have someone like that just a phone call away.
We trade ideas, problem-solve together, and share what’s working in our businesses. It’s mentorship, friendship, and collaboration at its best.
My favourite mastermind speakers + biggest takeaways
Over the years, I’ve heard from some incredible speakers, but a few have really stood out:
Nathan Sharpe: The former Wallabies’ captain shared his insights into high-performance teams—how elite sports teams operate and what we can learn from them—completely changed the way I structure my business.
Janine Allis & Lorna Jane: These two have been game-changers for me. Janine Allis was simply inspirational in building Boost Juice from nothing and in the face of adversity. Lorna’s advice—“You’ve got to build the plane while it’s flying”—has stuck with me as well. You can’t wait for everything to be perfect before you take off. You just have to go.
Peter Ritchie: As McDonald’s Australia’s first CEO, Peter’s approach to leadership and culture-building made me rethink how I positioned property management in my business. Inspired by McDonald’s strategy of making store manager roles aspirational, we ran a campaign to make property management cool again—complete with a Vogue-style shoot for our property managers that put them front and centre.
The biggest thing I’ve implemented? Consistency + accountability
One of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve had as a result of Mastermind and coaching is around consistency and accountability. Before, I used to hate one-on-one meetings. As a salesperson, they always felt like a “big talk” about what you were doing wrong. But I’ve reframed them for each member of my team as a check-in not a check-up. It’s about keeping each other on track, staying aligned with our goals, and making sure we’re moving forward together.
And the biggest lesson?
Show up. Do the work. Don’t wait. Then, do it all over again.
If you’re ready to take the next step then MASTERMIND. With Sherrie in 2025 is for you!
I would love for you to join us to hear from incredible speakers including Anywhere Brands Executive Advisor Sherry Chris, Wildlife Warrior Terri Irwin, Richard Branson’s former EA Samantha Cox, and many more! You can find out more and enquire to be a part of this exclusive, 30-attendee community of Masterminders here.
And if you’re ready to build the self-belief and structure to take your business to the next level, let’s chat about how 1:1 coaching can help you get there!
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