CEO Bess Freedman recently wrote an opinion piece for Inman News reflecting on her many years working with Hall Willkie, who recently stepped into a Chief Consultant role with Brown Harris Stevens after 37 years with the firm.

“When the Michael Jordan of real estate asks you to come and work with him, you can’t say no, “ began Bess.

She went on to describe Hall, who was president of the NYC brokerage, as a simple guy, a farmer, a perfectionist, a neat freak, an elegant, blue-eyed charmer who loves real estate and putting deals together.

Bess described a side of Hall that not many people know: a gentle soul who leads with his heart. When she first joined BHS 13 years ago, Hall was in remission from Cancer. But he often took Bess, who is fluent in Spanish, to Brooklyn to visit a 13-year-old boy he met while in chemo treatments. They would visit with the family for many months, until the young boy sadly passed away. He just wanted to spread love to a family who was suffering – he always wants to make the world a little bit better.

Hall also takes that drive to business, consistently helping to curate rooms at open houses, clean up offices, hide unsightly wires - just to make the space a little bit brighter.

“Hall is the G.O.A.T — the true MVP. He’s successful in real estate because he puts people first. He never leads with transactions or business in mind. He goes above and beyond that, and today’s real estate leaders could really take a page or two from his playbook,” Bess wrote.

She also reminded readers that in real estate, human connection is what counts. You can have all the AI, algorithms, and technology in the world - but if you can’t meet that basic human need of connection, your job as a great agent and leader will be much harder.