Mike Hickman

Mike Hickman’s entry into real estate in 1977 was, by his own admission, an accident. After touring South America with a professional baseball team, he missed the start date for law school and needed a way to earn a living. 

“I had a real estate license I’d acquired in college, and I was tired of scooping ice cream,” Hickman recalls. What began as a temporary measure turned into a 48-year journey of loyalty and leadership, as Hickman rose from an agent working out of a trailer to the CEO and owner of Seven Gables Real Estate. 

Hickman’s leadership philosophy is rooted in the “Pyramid of Success” taught by legendary coach John Wooden. As a college athlete, Hickman was mentored by Gary Adams, a close disciple of Wooden, who instilled in him the values of over-preparation, discipline and outworking the competition. 

“I was the captain of the team, and I realized later that the similarities of leadership on a baseball field are quite similar to leadership in business,” Hickman says. This lesson became the foundation of Seven Gables’ culture, especially when Hickman had to step into a definitive leadership role in 1991. “It was a jump-in-both-feet, fire-a-blazing time,” he says. “I had to step up and take a more active role for people that I cared immensely about.”

Under his guidance, Seven Gables has become a powerhouse boutique firm that defies the trend of national consolidation. In 2014, Hickman set a bold goal to become the most productivity-per-person (PPP) company in Orange County, California. By 2019, he reached that pinnacle, and the firm has maintained the top ranking for units sold ever since, often ranking No. 1 for units sold out of 100,000 agents in the regional MLS. “In a market where we can’t control the pricing, we can control how productive our agents are and how successful they are,” he explains. 

Beyond production, the firm has been named the top workplace in Orange County for 10 consecutive years—a feat Hickman attributes to a simple rule: “If you think you’re close to your people, get closer.” Following this rule, Hickman doesn’t keep a private office, choosing instead to “mingle among the people who have entrusted me with their careers.”

For Hickman, the true measure of success is the ability to close the gap between intention and results. He remains a hands-on educator, leading “Forms Friday” training sessions and launching “THE MIX,” a professional podcast studio to help agents produce modern marketing content. 

“We’re doing the right things for our agents. We’re helping them reach their maximum potential,” he shares. “We’re pushing but not too hard; we’re innovating, continually opening a new door to opportunities.”

Reflecting on his career as he leads the firm towards its 50th anniversary, Hickman remains focused on the human element. “Relationships matter. You can have all the tech in the world, but if you don’t know how to empower the people who work with you, it doesn’t matter.”