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International Business Meets Charleston Real Estate: AI, Education, and Team Building | Sarita Kauffman & Eleanor McPherson
When international business savvy meets modern real estate execution, the result isn’t just another real estate team, it’s a culture where people choose to stay, grow, and thrive. That’s the message Sarita Kauffman brought to the Charleston’s Leading Producers Podcast with host Jake Cummings in this forward looking conversation about team leadership, technology, and meaningful growth.
From Global Perspective to Local Impact
Sarita’s journey began with a degree in international business from Brazil. That foundation didn’t just shape her worldview, it reshaped the way she builds and scales her real estate team. Multilingual by design and culturally adaptable by experience, her approach is built to serve Charleston’s increasingly diverse real estate market.
Culture That Keeps Agents Together
One of the stand out takeaways? The heartbeat of any high performing team is its culture. According to Sarita, agents don’t leave teams, they leave cultures. In contrast, her team repeatedly sees past agents return because of the environment she’s intentionally crafted: collaborative, supportive, and centered on growth rather than just commissions.
Why the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Partnership Matters
Growth is strategic. The Kaufman Group’s recent partnership with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in Summerville wasn’t accidental, it was a move designed to strengthen infrastructure, expand reach, and create more opportunities for team members and clients alike.
Serving a Multilingual and Multicultural Community
Charleston isn’t monolithic and neither should its real estate services be. Sarita’s team intentionally serves buyers and sellers from multiple backgrounds and languages, a differentiator in a market that continues to draw global interest.
Real Support for New Agents
Too many new agents hit the market with theory and no runway. Sarita gets real about what new agents need: structured education, access to tools, mentorship, and a team framework that lets them build confidence quickly, not sink in isolation.
AI That Actually Works
Forget buzzwords. The Kaufman Group is building AI tools from the ground up to cut busywork, freeing agents to sell. Sarita shared that their internal systems aim to eliminate 80–90% of repetitive tasks so agents can focus on relationship building and closing business.
Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor
In Sarita’s playbook, a salesperson should sell, not be bogged down by admin, listings setup, or workflow drudgery. Intentional use of technology means you work smarter, keep your edge, and protect your longevity in the business.
Giving Back While Growing Forward
Profit isn’t the only metric that matters. Sarita highlighted her team’s involvement with the Schiffa Clinic, reinforcing that community investment, giving back that strengthens local credibility and builds shared success.
Looking Ahead: Vision for 2026
As 2026 unfolds, the Kaufman Group’s north star is clear: build a business where people choose to work for the right reasons, leverage technology that amplifies human value, and serve every corner of Charleston with cultural competence and excellence.
This is real talk from a real top producer.
Nothing sugar-coated.
Nothing surface level.
Just exactly how a Charleston agent went from a painful buying experience to one of the most respected producers in the Lowcountry.
About Charleston’s Leading Producers
Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston.
The ones actually doing the work, 10, 15, even 20+ million in annual volume.
No fluff.
No theory.
Just the strategies, habits, and mindset Charleston’s best agents use to win.
Hosted by Jake Cummings with Lower.com
Follow The Kauffman Group on Instagram @thekauffmangroup
