Monica Rivera

As a 2nd generation Realtor, business strategist, and best-selling author, I’m on a mission to plant seeds through education, advocacy, and service—empowering individuals and families to revolutionize their lives and grow lasting legacies of wealth through ownership, rooted in equity and culture.

My mission is deeply personal, shaped by my abuela’s wisdom: “hay que sembrar para cosechar”—you must plant the seeds to reap the harvest. Growing up in a family of investors, I saw firsthand how ownership transforms a family’s future and that foundation continues to guide my life and work.

Over the past decade, I’ve scaled that impact across housing and entrepreneurship—leveraging real estate as a powerful tool for equity, access, and long-term change.

Early in my career, I founded a property management firm that grew quickly, pioneering one of the first international leasing divisions for sight-unseen rentals and building systems supported by VA's—long before it was the norm.

From there, I led recruiting and agent development at Keller Williams and across luxury markets at Sotheby’s International Realty, always with a focus on empowering diverse talent and scaling performance. I’ve advised on marketing and recruitment strategies that drive representation, results, and revenue—helping brokerages build inclusive pipelines, effective onboarding, and long-term retention.

My commitment to equity extends beyond sales and operations. I’ve served as a California Association of Realtors Director, a board member for NAHREP, and currently volunteer with Abundant Housing LA, helping launch a Gateway Cities chapter that advocates for housing access and inclusive growth across Southeast LA.

I’m also an investor in a startup serving Latinx audiences, and have been recognized with honors from RISMedia and the California Assembly. As a seasoned speaker, I’ve delivered keynotes and sat on panels at events like the CAR WomenUP! Conference and have been featured on KTLA Channel 5 and NPR.

Currently, I serve as the Assistant Branch Manager for the Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge offices of Coldwell Banker Realty, supporting agent growth across two high-performing markets.

Whether consulting on business strategy, mentoring emerging leaders, or advocating for systemic change, I remain grounded in a core belief: expanding access to opportunity—through ownership, entrepreneurship, and equity—is one of the most meaningful ways to create lasting change.