Trailblazers

Bess Freedman

Brown Harris Stevens

As CEO of New York City-based Brown Harris Stevens (BHS), Bess Freedman is known as a strong leader and educator. She played an integral role in the company’s first global rebranding and is heavily involved in the continued evolution of the suite of digital tools that agents use to support and grow their businesses.

Freedman was named co-president of the firm last year, and was recently tapped to be the luxury firm’s first chief executive. In this role, she will oversee operations in New York City, the Hamptons, Palm Beach and Miami, centralizing leadership for these regions for the first time in the firm’s history.

In addition to her role at BHS, Freedman serves as a spokesperson for the brokerage community, encouraging real estate professionals to uphold the ethical standards of the industry. She frequently speaks on industry panels, and is a sought-after media source. Within the organization, she promotes a cohesive working environment in which agents are encouraged to share and inspire each other. 

Before beginning her career with BHS, Freedman served as a senior managing director of the Corcoran Group’s East Side headquarters, where she was repeatedly included in Corcoran’s Multi-Million-Dollar Club. Freedman earned her undergraduate degree from Ithaca College and her law degree from The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. She worked as an assistant state’s attorney in Maryland and as a legal aid attorney before pursuing a career in real estate. 

Bess Freedman
CEO

Brown Harris Stevens

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