The InvestHER Podcast

Lessons From 30 Years of Real Estate Investing in 20 Minutes

After 30 years of real estate investing, the biggest lessons are not about finding better strategies or chasing bigger deals. They are about making better real estate investment decisions.  In this episode, Liz Faircloth shares three lessons that shaped her long-term success and cost real money to learn. Including the rushed decision that led to a $750,000 loss during a 1031 exchange and what that experience changed forever. From moving too fast, to defining non-negotiables, to understanding why the market matters more than the property itself, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the decision-making behind sustainable portfolio growth. If you are actively investing and your decisions feel heavier than they used to, this episode will give you a sharper lens without giving you a step-by-step playbook. What to listen for: * Why rushing is more expensive than any bad deal, and Liz’s lessons learned from moving too quickly rather than taking the time to sit with a hiring decision. (00:35) * Your non-negotiables protect you more than any deal ever will because if a deal requires abandoning your non-negotiables, it's not the right deal for you. (03:36) * Keeping a finger on the pulse of the market matters more than the property or the deal itself, so you can ensure you have the best chance of a high return. (07:45) If this episode resonated and you’re craving more clarity, confidence, or support as you grow, that’s exactly why we created InvestHER PODs. PODs are a five-month, mentor-led experience for women real estate investors who want clarity, accountability, and consistent support as they grow.  You meet twice a month in a small, curated group to work through real decisions, real challenges, and real opportunities alongside an expert mentor and women building at a similar level. If you’re ready to grow with support instead of isolation, you can learn more at  https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/pods [https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/pods]  And remember — you don’t have to build this alone. *** InvestHER® Community Achieve Financial Freedom: Build a Life on Your Terms with a Community of Driven Women Investors InvestHER Assessment: Take this 5-minute quiz to determine where you are in your investment journey and receive a custom roadmap with practical steps you can start taking today. Start here: https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3Mhttps://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M [https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M] Live Trainings: You don’t need to know all the steps to take the next step. During our virtual events, we focus on the 3-Step InvestHER Formula, giving you the must-know insights so you can take action with confidence. Register here: https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainingshttps://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings [https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings] InvestHER CON: The #1 premier conference for women in real estate. It’s time to invest intentionally so every decision you make builds cash flow and buys back your time. Register now! https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/] STRIVE Mentorship Program: The Support System for Women Real Estate Investors. You’ve proven you can grow on your own. Now choose who you’ll achieve financial freedom with and build life on your own terms. Apply here » https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/] Need help? Submit a support ticket here: https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2 [https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2] See you in the arena! Liz + Andresa

How She Turned the Shoe House Into an Short Term Rental Success With Naomi Brown

EPISODE 578: Short-term rental investing can feel especially risky when the property doesn’t look like anything else on the market. Many investors hesitate to move beyond traditional residential real estate because unconventional properties lack clear comps, predictable data, or proven playbooks. When uncertainty is high, and the market feels unstable, it’s easy to second-guess instincts, overlook creative opportunities, or assume that “different” is dangerous. In this episode, Liz Faircloth sits down with Naomi Brown to explore how strategic vision, market knowledge, and self-trust can turn an unconventional property into a profitable short-term rental. Naomi shares her lived experience transforming the iconic Shoe House during a period of market uncertainty, outlining how she assessed risk, identified the property's highest and best use, and invested intentionally to create long-term income. You’ll walk away with a clearer framework for evaluating unique opportunities, trusting your decision-making, and building profitable short-term rentals even when the data isn’t obvious. What to listen for: * How to move through the fear of residential investing during uncertain markets, and why periods like 2020 often create unique entry points for creative acquisitions. (00:30) * How asking “what is the highest and best use of this property?” unlocks strategic clarity and transforms unconventional assets into income-producing opportunities. (06:22) * Where to invest intentionally in value-add improvements so your capital directly supports performance, profitability, and guest experience. (10:10) * Why hiring short-term rental hosts can create leverage, and how staying strategically involved protects quality, consistency, and cash flow. (14:46) * How deep market knowledge reframes perceived risk and allows you to confidently pursue opportunities others may overlook, strengthening self-trust as you do. (20:06) About Naomi Brown: Naomi Brown is the owner of the Haines Shoe House, a very unique short term rental property with a long history and interesting story. She is also an investor and developer with Commercial and Land real estate investments. She is a Commercial realtor and Mom, Wife and instigator and learning to 'Be' as well as 'Do'. Connect with Naomi Brown: * Website:https://www.hainesshoehouse.com/ [https://www.hainesshoehouse.com/]  * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HainesShoeHouse [https://www.facebook.com/HainesShoeHouse]  * Instagram:@hainesshoehouse *** InvestHER® Community Achieve Financial Freedom: Build a Life on Your Terms with a Community of Driven Women Investors InvestHER Assessment: Take this 5-minute quiz to determine where you are in your investment journey and receive a custom roadmap with practical steps you can start taking today. Start here: https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3Mhttps://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M [https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M] Live Trainings: You don’t need to know all the steps to take the next step. During our virtual events, we focus on the 3-Step InvestHER Formula, giving you the must-know insights so you can take action with confidence. Register here: https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainingshttps://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings [https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings] InvestHER CON: The #1 premier conference for women in real estate. It’s time to invest intentionally so every decision you make builds cash flow and buys back your time. Register now! https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/] STRIVE Mentorship Program: The Support System for Women Real Estate Investors. You’ve proven you can grow on your own. Now choose who you’ll achieve financial freedom with and build life on your own terms. Apply here » https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/] Need help? Submit a support ticket here: https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2 [https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2] See you in the arena! Liz + Andresa

Scaling a Real Estate Portfolio That Doesn’t Rely on You With Sonaya Williams

EPISODE 577: Many women real estate investors have built solid portfolios, but behind the scenes, you’re still doing everything yourself, from researching the property and negotiating the deal to leading renovations, managing the refi or sale, and starting all over again as if this were your full-time job. The time freedom you once wanted never seems to arrive, and instead of things getting easier, the harder you work, the harder you have to work just to maintain progress. The problem is not a lack of hustle. It is a lack of systems, delegation, and leadership structures that actually support growth and buy back your time. In this episode, Liz Faircloth and Andresa Guidelli are joined by Sonaya Williams, founder of The CEO Partner®, known for building businesses that operate beyond the founder. Drawing from her lived experience designing scalable operations, Sonaya breaks down how to simplify systems, document in real time, and build trust with teams and collaborators. You’ll walk away with a clearer framework for creating a portfolio that grows sustainably—without requiring your constant involvement in every decision or detail. What to listen for: * Where unnecessary complexity enters real estate businesses, and how simple automations, playbooks, and systems restore consistency and ease. (03:27) * Why high-performing operators focus on outcomes over tasks, and how documenting as you grow creates lasting leverage. (06:57) * How to build trust in yourself, your team, and your partners so your time is spent on leadership, not daily execution. (11:22) * How debriefing becomes a leadership tool for processing transitions, extracting lessons, and strengthening systems over time. (14:36) About Sonaya: I’m Sonaya Williams, Fractional COO, business systems strategist, and founder of The CEO Partner®, a digital management agency that helps entrepreneurs streamline operations and scale sustainably. With over 14 years of experience, I specialize in creating systems that automate repeatable work, empower teams, and reclaim time for business owners who want to do less, better. Before starting my agency, I worked as a Senior Financial Systems Analyst at TD Ameritrade and E*TRADE, designing brokerage cash management systems. I transitioned from corporate life to entrepreneurship, replacing my six-figure salary within nine months. I’m passionate about helping CEOs build profitable, efficient businesses that support balanced, fulfilling lives. My signature framework, Streamline & Scale with Systems™, has guided hundreds of entrepreneurs to increase profit, reduce overwhelm, and create reliable revenue streams. I enjoy speaking about business systems, digital innovation, and female entrepreneurship, inspiring audiences to work smarter and grow faster. Connect with Sonaya: * Website: https://team@theceopartner.com/ [https://team@theceopartner.com/]  *** InvestHER® Community Achieve Financial Freedom: Build a Life on Your Terms with a Community of Driven Women Investors InvestHER Assessment: Take this 5-minute quiz to determine where you are in your investment journey and receive a custom roadmap with practical steps you can start taking today. Start here: https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M [https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M] Live Trainings: You don’t need to know all the steps to take the next step. During our virtual events, we focus on the 3-Step InvestHER Formula, giving you the must-know insights so you can take action with confidence. Register here: https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings [https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings] InvestHER CON: The #1 premier conference for women in real estate. It’s time to invest intentionally so every decision you make builds cash flow and buys back your time. Register now! https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/] STRIVE Mentorship Program: The Support System for Women Real Estate Investors. You’ve proven you can grow on your own. Now choose who you’ll achieve financial freedom with and build life on your own terms. Apply here » https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/] Need help? Submit a support ticket here: https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2 [https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2] See you in the arena! Liz + Andresa

Business Partnerships: How Different Strengths Create Better Results

EPISODE 576: One of the most common breakdowns in business partnerships happens when two people are operating from different strengths without realizing it. Visionaries and integrators approach ideas, decisions, and execution in fundamentally different ways. When those differences are not understood or structured, they often turn into frustration, miscommunication, and resentment instead of momentum. In this episode, Liz Faircloth and Andresa Guidelli unpack how the Rocket Fuel concept, from the book Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters, became a turning point in their partnership. They share how identifying and honoring visionary and integrator roles allowed them to intentionally design how they work together, rather than personalizing differences or fighting against them. Drawing from their lived experience as business partners, they walk through how role clarity reduces friction, strengthens decision-making, and allows each person to operate fully within their strengths. You will walk away with practical tools to identify your own role, evaluate potential partners, and build a partnership structure that supports long-term growth instead of testing it. What to listen for: * How the Rocket Fuel framework helped Liz and Andresa design a partnership that honors their differences while eliminating tension, friction, and burnout. (01:06) * Why identifying your role first is the foundation of a successful partnership, and how choosing partners based on complementary strengths creates stability instead of strain. (01:39) * A simple way to recognize whether you naturally operate as a visionary or an integrator, and how that clarity transforms the way you collaborate and lead. (04:50) * How to intentionally leverage contrasting work styles as a strategic advantage, allowing both partners to feel supported while building a business that scales sustainably. (07:47) * The “Front Stage” versus “Back Stage” framework Liz and Andresa use to evaluate ideas, clarify ownership, and make aligned decisions without overstepping. (12:30) Want to learn more about partnerships? We are hosting an in-person Partnerships Pop Up in NYC for real estate investors who want a clear, repeatable framework to evaluate, structure, and strengthen partnerships as they grow their portfolio. This event is ideal for you if: * You are considering partnerships for the first time and want clarity before committing * You are already in a partnership and want cleaner roles and decision-making * You are both business and life partners, and want to protect your relationship while building together We are also honored to collaborate with Kass and Mike Lazerow. They are business and life partners who navigated the dot-com crash, bankruptcy, and the $745 million sale of Buddy Media to Salesforce, all while raising three kids and supporting founders as investors and advisors. In this candid conversation, they will share the operating rules that protect trust under pressure, including how they handle disagreements, set boundaries between work and life, and stay aligned through intense growth seasons. This is an interactive experience (especially powerful if both partners attend) where you will leave with clarity and practical frameworks you can apply immediately to build a lasting partnership. February 27th, 2026  From 1 to 6 pm EST Join here: https://therealestateinvesther.com/investher-popup-nyc [https://therealestateinvesther.com/investher-popup-nyc] *** InvestHER® Community Achieve Financial Freedom: Build a Life on Your Terms with a Community of Driven Women Investors InvestHER Assessment: Take this 5-minute quiz to determine where you are in your investment journey and receive a custom roadmap with practical steps you can start taking today. Start here: https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M [https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M]  Live Trainings: You don’t need to know all the steps to take the next step. During our virtual events, we focus on the 3-Step InvestHER Formula, giving you the must-know insights so you can take action with confidence. Register here: https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings [https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings]  InvestHER CON: The #1 premier conference for women in real estate. It’s time to invest intentionally so every decision you make builds cash flow and buys back your time. Register now! https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/]  **STRIVE Mentorship Program:** The Support System for Women Real Estate Investors. You’ve proven you can grow on your own. Now choose who you’ll achieve financial freedom with and build life on your own terms. Apply here » https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/]  Need help? Submit a support ticket here: https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2 [https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2]  See you in the arena! Liz + Andresa

How We Kept Our Business Partnership Strong for 10 Years

EPISODE 575: Business partnerships don’t usually break because of a lack of hard work. They fail because growth exposes cracks that were never addressed early on. When roles are unclear, decisions become reactive, and communication breaks down, even the strongest partnerships can fall apart.  Most partners were never taught how to intentionally design a partnership that can evolve as the business grows. In this episode, Liz Faircloth and Andresa Guidelli break down what actually sustains a successful long-term business partnership. Drawing on their experience as co-founders and years of working with other high-level partners, they explore how to leverage differences rather than resist them, how to create alignment before conflict arises, and how intentional relationship-building supports better business outcomes.  You’ll walk away with a clearer framework for structuring communication, navigating visionary–integrator dynamics, and building a partnership that grows strength, trust, and capacity over time. What to listen for: * Shared vision and chemistry are only the starting point; clearly defined roles and differences can become a strategic advantage rather than a source of friction. (01:34) * How visionaries can prioritize ideas with clarity, navigate integrator pushback productively, and create forward momentum without power struggles. (04:07) * How building the relationship before formalizing the partnership creates stronger alignment around values, work ethic, and expectations, reducing friction later. (07:54) * Using recurring strategic meetings to create business alignment, relational health, and personal growth, and how to address challenges to move shared goals forward. (11:40) * Why partnerships can only grow as much as the people in them, and how personal development supports healthier decision-making, communication, and long-term sustainability. (17:30) Want to learn more about partnerships? We are hosting an in-person Partnerships Pop Up in NYC for real estate investors who want a clear, repeatable framework to evaluate, structure, and strengthen partnerships as they grow their portfolio. This event is ideal for you if: * You are considering partnerships for the first time and want clarity before committing * You are already in a partnership and want cleaner roles and decision-making * You are both business and life partners, and want to protect your relationship while building together We are also honored to collaborate with Kass and Mike Lazerow. They are business and life partners who navigated the dot-com crash, bankruptcy, and the $745 million sale of Buddy Media to Salesforce, all while raising three kids and supporting founders as investors and advisors. In this candid conversation, they will share the operating rules that protect trust under pressure, including how they handle disagreements, set boundaries between work and life, and stay aligned through intense growth seasons. This is an interactive experience (especially powerful if both partners attend) where you will leave with clarity and practical frameworks you can apply immediately to build a lasting partnership. February 27th, 2026  From 1 to 6 pm EST Join here: https://therealestateinvesther.com/investher-popup-nyc [https://therealestateinvesther.com/investher-popup-nyc] *** InvestHER® Community Achieve Financial Freedom: Build a Life on Your Terms with a Community of Driven Women Investors InvestHER Assessment: Take this 5-minute quiz to determine where you are in your investment journey and receive a custom roadmap with practical steps you can start taking today. Start here: https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3Mhttps://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M [https://d90bdsg67z0.typeform.com/to/LQEgbB3M] Live Trainings: You don’t need to know all the steps to take the next step. During our virtual events, we focus on the 3-Step InvestHER Formula, giving you the must-know insights so you can take action with confidence. Register here: https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainingshttps://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings [https://therealestateinvesther.com/trainings] InvestHER CON: The #1 premier conference for women in real estate. It’s time to invest intentionally so every decision you make builds cash flow and buys back your time. Register now! https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://investhercon.therealestateinvesther.com/] STRIVE Mentorship Program: The Support System for Women Real Estate Investors. You’ve proven you can grow on your own. Now choose who you’ll achieve financial freedom with and build life on your own terms. Apply here » https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/ [https://mentorship.therealestateinvesther.com/] Need help? Submit a support ticket here: https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2 [https://share.hsforms.com/1eH2kI0p2QFat8rsY6FcFdQdi2j2] See you in the arena! Liz + Andresa