Michele Harrington

Michele Harrington, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and the first female CEO in FirstTeam®’s nearly 50-year history, led the firm through a landmark period of national expansion in 2025. Leveraging the discipline and “grit” she mastered as a C-130 aircraft mechanic, Harrington steered the Southern California powerhouse into new markets across Idaho, Washington, Nevada and Oregon. Under her leadership, the firm has not only regained its position as the market share leader in Orange County but also achieved a historic $1 billion in recruited volume. Harrington’s “Behind the Agent™” philosophy remains the cornerstone of this growth, focusing on transforming real estate professionals into true entrepreneurs.

A fearless advocate for the industry, Harrington made headlines in 2025 by challenging the National Association of REALTORS® regarding settlement structures that left large independent brokers vulnerable. Her influence extends into the literary world with her No. 1 best-selling book, Get Off Your Ass: Use Self Discipline to Have Everything You Want, which she uses to mentor agents on the power of strategic action.

“When I see an agent use discipline, strategy and grit to build amazing careers, it fires me up and keeps me going,” she says. Harrington’s visionary leadership continues to redefine the independent brokerage model on a national scale.