Malibu Dan is back In the Living Room—this time with Suzanne Seini, founder/CEO of Innovate Realty (aka the “Queen of the Closing Table”). Dan opens with real talk: respect, mentorship, and why he believes brokerages should feel like home—not a cold, cutthroat office.

Suzanne breaks down her journey from prior brokerages (including the chaotic Zillow iBuying era) to building Innovate with a people-first mindset. They talk loyalty, culture, how agents actually thrive, and what makes a brokerage more than “tools and tech.” The episode is a mix of heart + behind-the-scenes industry reality… with Malibu Dan’s signature humor all the way through.

What they talk about (bullet points):

• Malibu Dan’s intro + giving Suzanne her flowers (and mispronouncing “Sini”)

• How Innovate Realty was built with agents and support at the center

• Their past connection at Sertare Properties + the mentor/team culture they respected

• Suzanne’s move into the Zillow iBuying world and how she landed the opportunity

• What it felt like being “enemy #1” during iBuying (hate, DRE complaints, offer madness)

• 2019–2021 market chaos: multiple offers, corporate process, agents taking the blame

• Why Zillow’s model failed: relying too much on algorithms/zestimates vs human comps

• Malibu Dan’s view: real estate is relationships—AI can’t replace genuine care

• Innovate’s “difference”: sincerity, real support, and leadership that actually checks in

• Brokerage culture: feeling wanted + having a real team behind you

• Why agents don’t move even when they’d be happier (comfort, fear, loyalty)

• Suzanne’s leadership style: people-first, not numbers-first

• Creating a non-competitive, “for each other” agent culture

• The lonely side of real estate + why community matters

• Hiring/firing: Suzanne’s honesty about only letting go of one agent (and why)

• Malibu Dan’s Franco & Jennifer Shamu story: one great deal experience that led him to Innovate

• Wrap-up gratitude + Dan calling Innovate his “one stop” home going forward