Last week, Canada’s premier real estate conference landed in Toronto — and it was a day of empowerment and unparalleled networking for attendees.
On September 26, the BUZZ iN POWER SUMMIT 2024 brought industry leaders and innovators to the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex for a day of rich real estate discussions.
Buzzing with energy right from the start, the Fall '24 rendition of The Buzz Conference — founded by Virginia Munden and known industry-wide as a can't-miss event — launched at 7:30am with breakfast, coffee, and conversation. And the excitement only continued from there.
Richard Silver, Founder of Silver Burtnick & Associates, Sotheby's International Realty Canada, took to the stage as the day’s first speaker — but not before sharing a few words with STOREYS.
Having been in the business for 45 years, Silver has seen the rising impact of “noise” (policy changes, new tech innovations, upcoming elections, and the like) on industry players. He describes the importance of staying calm — so one can truly serve as an unwavering, trusted advisor for clients — for those who want to make a positive splash in real estate.
“Stay focused, make sure you are client-focused, and — first and foremost — delegate,” Silver says, describing tangible tips for tapping into that integral sense of calm. “If you don’t have an assistant, you’re the assistant.”
@thebuzzconference/Instagram
Throughout the day, an underpinning message of positive industry movement resonated, with resilience and communication being essential in building client trust. Attendees were inspired by the stories of CEO, Red Apple Coaching and Iron Woman Champion Mary-Anne Gillespie; truLOCAL co-founder, entrepreneur, and author Marc Lafleur; and Canadian icon and entrepreneur Erica Ehm — plus many more. Speakers explored the industry's evolving dynamics, highlighting a need for adaptability in today’s market landscape.
According to Cliff Rego, Owner of Corcoran Horizon Realty, this adaptability can come in the form of going back to the foundations; something that he sees as a positive shift amid new industry demands.
“It’s back to the basics. Back to follow-ups, phone calls, nurturing leads, following up on leads; people want to buy, people want to invest, people want to sell, people still want to make a move,” he explains; insight he gleans from over $3B in transactions, growing the Rego brand into one of Canada’s most respected real estate names, and bringing Manhattan’s leading real estate name north with the opening of Corcoran Horizon Realty.
“I think [the current market] just levels us up; [it] ups our game, and everyone sharpens the tools,” he says. “I think it’s a good thing for everyone.”
And what’s one way that agents can up their game and sharpen their tools? Wise integration of AI, which itself was another of the summit’s major touchstones. One of the afternoon’s talks — led by Reuven Gorsht, Co-Founder and CEO of Deeded — explored the integration of AI into professional practice.
Before hitting the stage, Gorsht told STOREYS about the ground his discussion would cover.
“[It’s] all about the latest and greatest [AI offerings] coming out; applications where you can sign up, take it off the shelf, and use it to do things like generate leads, generate a podcast in five minutes with no equipment necessary, get images for social posts, automate your social media, connect better with your clients — AI tools can do personality analyses, based on a LinkedIn profile,” he explains. “[It goes] all the way down to tools to [simply] enhance productivity, to help agents to scale their business.”
Indeed, AI integration can open opportunities for agents to get more done using their own specialized skill set, while tech tools help cover the (more basic) bases.
“You can only scale so much,” Gorsht says, “so anything you can do to alleviate and scale yourself without necessarily always having to add an assistant, or add another person to the team — which means more cost, more training — [is useful]. Now, AI can handle a lot of those tasks, and you can basically infinitely scale.”
(Based on Gorsht’s insights, it sounds like AI might be a solid first step for agents looking to follow Silver’s aforementioned advice: “If you don’t have an assistant, you’re the assistant.”)
Image via The Buzz Conference
As the day progressed, attendees tuned into engaging discussions that spanned from market trends to leadership to strategic partnerships, with many stops in between. Ryan Serravalle, Founder REVEL Realty Inc., delivered a thought-provoking talk in which ‘Leadership 2.0’ took center stage. His discussion referenced a people-first mindset; this is how successful companies are built. These conversations fostered an environment ripe for sharing strategies and ideas in the day’s closing cocktail and networking hour — and in newfound connections that will continue well into the future.
“Reflecting on an inspiring day filled with thought-provoking panels, dynamic speakers, and invaluable networking opportunities, we witnessed the power of collaboration among growth-oriented professionals,” explains Barbara Brindle, VP Business Strategy, RE/MAX Hallmark, who moderated one of the afternoon’s panels, exploring innovative training and development, systems, and recruiting and retention strategies.
“A heartfelt thank you to all the participants who generously shared their time and expertise, enriching our experience and sparking meaningful conversations. Together, we ignited new ideas and forged connections that will drive our collective success forward."
Andre Chin, Operating Principal at KW Innovation Realty, shares a similar sentiment.
"At this year’s Buzz Summit, I was reminded of how crucial networking is to building a successful real estate business. The sessions were packed with actionable insights on leveraging digital tools, personal branding, and relationship-building to elevate our business," he says.
"Virginia once again curated the perfect blend of industry leaders and innovators, making each connection meaningful and every conversation impactful. It’s not just about transactions, but about building lasting relationships that will propel us to new heights in the market.
@thebuzzconference/Instagram
At BUZZ iN POWER, important industry knowledge was shared, meaningful relationships were built, and a positive path forward for real estate was illuminated.
To learn more — and to ensure you’re in attendance for BUZZ’s next event — visit thebuzzconference.com.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This article was produced in partnership with STOREYS Custom Studio.
