From Chaos to Clarity: Lauren Duke on Building Real Businesses in Real Estate

From Chaos to Clarity: Lauren Duke on Building Real Businesses in Real Estate

Watch the full episode on YouTube
Episode link: www.tracyhayespodcast.com/287

Most real estate agents never learn how to build a business—they just learn how to sell. But there comes a point when hustle isn’t enough. For agents stuck in survival mode, trying to juggle every role from marketer to transaction coordinator, there’s a cost to growth without systems. That’s where Lauren Duke comes in.

Lauren’s path into real estate operations wasn’t traditional. She was a hairdresser, a military spouse living overseas, and a mom who just wanted to work from home. She began as a virtual assistant for a small real estate team, and through grit, trial, and relentless learning, she eventually became the COO of a top ten mega team, helping it scale to over 3,000 transactions and 21 expansion locations. She didn’t just build systems—she kept them alive under pressure.

Now, as Founder and CEO of CoreOps Collective, Lauren works with agents across the country who are ready to stop winging it. Her mission is simple: help real estate professionals stop being the system in their business—and start building one that actually supports their growth.

“We replace survival mode with structure,” Lauren says in Episode #287 of Real Estate Excellence. “You can’t scale what’s duct-taped together.”

In the episode, Lauren shares the SCALE Framework, her signature method for helping agents build foundational operations. It starts with setting the vision, capturing attention through brand alignment, acquiring business through lead systems, leading with data-driven tools, and elevating the client experience through automation and follow-up.

But this isn’t just theory. Lauren dives into practical steps—how to consolidate three CRMs into one that actually gets used, how to set up a past client touch plan that doesn’t feel robotic, and why so many agents waste money on leads they don’t nurture properly. She introduces tools like the CoreOps CEO Dashboard, a Google Sheet-based tracker that gives agents real visibility into their KPIs, cost per transaction, and marketing ROI—without needing to be a tech expert.

Another highlight of the conversation is Lauren’s insight into team building. She reflects on the lessons learned from scaling too fast, emphasizing the importance of defining core values and cultural expectations before hiring. Without clarity, she says, agents risk building teams that drain energy instead of multiplying success.

“Your assistant should be an extension of you,” she explains. “You can’t hand off tasks if you don’t know who you’re trying to be.”

For agents who feel like they’re spinning too many plates—and watching systems break as they grow—this episode is a must-listen. Lauren doesn’t promise magic templates or shortcuts. What she offers is far more valuable: structure, strategy, and the operational backbone to lead a real business.

Whether you're a solo agent looking for your first admin or a team leader trying to stabilize a growing operation, Lauren Duke’s perspective will challenge you to stop duct-taping your business together—and start leading it like a CEO.

Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/3Hw9ObMlzhE

Full show notes & links: www.tracyhayespodcast.com/287

Connect with Lauren Duke:
Website: coreopscollective.com
Instagram: @coreopscollective
Facebook: CoreOps Collective
Podcast: CoreOps on Spotify