Podcast Summary

Podcast: Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold
Episode: Ep. 546 - VRA Realty COO Erica Wright - Best Lessons In Systems That Empower, Not Overwhelm
Air Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Savannah Brewer (for COO Alliance founder Cameron Herold)
Guest: Erica Wright, COO of VRA Realty

Overview

This episode features Erica Wright, Chief Operating Officer of VRA Realty, as she discusses her journey professionalizing a rapidly-growing real estate organization, her philosophy on building empowering systems, sustaining a family-like but accountable culture, and her personal transitions to remote leadership—including her recent relocation to Mexico and launching a new podcast. The conversation is especially rich in practical strategies for COOs, insight on vision-aligned growth, and candid reflections on the human side of operational leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Erica's Role and Transformation at VRA Realty

• Initial Challenge: Joined VRA Realty when it lacked centralized systems, with contracts and transactions handled via email ([00:00], [03:20]).

  “They didn’t have any systems when I started. … I came in as a consultant first to help them pick a CRM system that will work for their transaction management.” —Erica Wright ([00:00])

• Scope of the Role: Now oversees operations for a boutique brokerage that grew from 85 to 115+ agents across five states, and manages diverse business lines: brokerage, investment funds, property management, private lending, and a new coaching business ([02:38]–[05:34]).
• Initial Reluctance to Change: Balanced building relationships with rolling out major process improvements in an organization unused to systems ([03:20]).

2. Global Experience & Approach to Systems

• Background: Prior career as a psychologist and in operations for a sales company expanding internationally—opened 8 offices in 6 months in the UK, then led systems launches in other global regions ([05:50]–[08:26]).

  “My job was to go to that office, make sure the CRM system was adjusted to that country. … So, I was working nonstop … but I traveled a lot and I loved it.” —Erica Wright ([05:50])

• Leveraging Psychology: Applied her background to understand team dynamics, foster retention, and implement scalable systems ([08:37]).

3. Balancing Work and Family

• Personal Reflections: Work has often been all-consuming, but loss in her family prompted her to be “100% present” with loved ones, not just with business ([10:08]).

  “If you want to give 100% of your job, you should also give 100% to your family. Like, they deserve that.” —Erica Wright ([13:00])

• Intentional Boundaries: Sundays fully off; ongoing effort to make important people feel valued ([16:01]).

4. Operational Approach & Productivity Habits

• Time Blocking & Prioritization: Color-coded calendar with categories for each business branch, planned weekly on Friday afternoons ([13:46]–[16:01]).
• Delegation Philosophy: Tries new responsibilities herself, but outsources when tasks are not high-value or aligned with her strengths ([17:16]).

  “When it takes me, it doesn’t take me long to do … But if it’s taking me hours … that’s not my best use of my time.” —Erica Wright ([17:16])

5. Vision & Managing the “Chief”

• Working with a Visionary CEO: Addresses the classic visionary–integrator challenge; gently calibrates ideas against their 3-year vivid vision ([18:25]–[21:48]).

  “I try to bring [the vision] up every time we meet when we have our L10 quarterly meetings. … I’m just using his own words.” —Erica Wright ([19:11])

• Advice for COOs: Clarity on roles and expectations; constant check-ins on alignment ([40:49]).

  “Clear expectations between you and your visionary or your CEO on who’s doing what and who’s responsible for what, and what does that look like.” —Erica Wright ([40:49])

6. Rolling Out Systems Without Overwhelm

• First 90 Days: Began with deep listening—Zoom calls with every agent to build relationships before rolling out phased transaction systems ([21:48]–[24:12]).

  “I actually scheduled zoom conversations with everyone … so I’m rolling this out. … It’s not going to be immediate, but I’m preparing you for what’s about to come.” —Erica Wright ([23:16])

7. Sustaining a Strong, Supportive Culture

• Family-Like, But Accountable: Erica embraces honest, often tough conversations while still cultivating warmth and support ([26:43]).

  “Just because we’re a family doesn’t mean I can’t have an honest conversation with you … If you’re not doing something that … needs to be done, this needs to happen, and that’s all there is.” —Erica Wright ([26:43])

• Handling Difficult HR Calls: Talks candidly about the pain of letting people go whom she cares about, but always prioritizes company fit ([27:54]–[28:37]).

  “You want them to do well, but it’s just not going to be here. … I’m always like, okay, can I find them a job somewhere else before I have to let them go?” —Erica Wright ([27:54])

8. The Loneliness of the COO Role & Need for Peer Support

• Admits Feeling Isolated: Boardroom decisions and people management can be lonely, especially as a remote leader ([28:49]).

  “I do sit on [an] island trying to figure out … what should I do next? … It does become a lonely position for sure.” —Erica Wright ([28:49])

• Communities Matter: Finds value in groups like the COO Alliance for peer learning and shared resources ([31:44]).

9. Unique Aspects of VRA’s Culture

• Radical Authenticity: Their internal mastermind meetings are “open and honest”—sometimes called “therapy sessions” ([32:12]–[33:39]).

  “If you’re not ready for therapy, don’t come to our brokerage. … We do care about you because we want to change your mindset so you can grow.” —Erica Wright ([33:39])

• Checking in Beyond Work: Maintains human connections even in a remote and highly autonomous (1099) agent environment ([35:27], [36:13]).

10. Proudest Moments & Lessons Learned

• Big Wins: Oversaw VRA’s move to commercial offices and rapid agent growth, cultivated agent success, facilitated powerful team connections ([38:31]).
• Biggest “Do-Over”: Would have pushed harder to avoid a costly, distracting sidetrack into a wellness center, staying true to original vision ([40:10]).

11. Remote Leadership & “This Might Be a Bad Idea” Podcast

• Bold Life Choices: Relocated to Mexico, managed a property purchase remotely, co-launching a podcast about the adventure, marriage, and expat living ([41:42]–[44:04]).

  “We decided to move to Mexico. … The whole time we kept questioning, was this a good idea? So that’s where the podcast comes from.” —Erica Wright ([41:47])

12. What’s Next for Erica & VRA

• Stepping Up the Ladder: Intends to fully delegate brokerage/property management, focus on new ventures: VRA Capital (funds) and the Investor Agent Podcast ([44:39]).
• Contact: ericadionwright@gmail.com; podcast at thismightbeabadideapodcast.com ([45:23]).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “They didn’t have any systems when I started. … So I came in as a consultant first to help them pick a CRM system that will work for their transaction management.” —Erica Wright ([00:00])
• “I opened up eight offices in six months.” —Erica Wright ([05:50])
• “If you want to give 100% to your job, you should also give 100% to your family. … Even with my husband now, we do date nights. The phone is off, I look at you, we’re spending time together.” —Erica Wright ([13:00])
• “My time is worth something else. … If it’s taking me hours … that’s not my best use of my time.” —Erica Wright ([17:16])
• “Anytime it’s anything opposite of what we talked about, then I’m just going to kind of remind him again and again, like, this is what we came on board to do together.” —Erica Wright ([19:11])
• “Just because we’re a family doesn’t mean I can’t have an honest conversation with you. … At the end of the day, I still love you, but this needs to happen.” —Erica Wright ([26:43])
• “It does become a lonely position for sure.” —Erica Wright ([28:49])
• “If you’re not ready for therapy, don’t come to our brokerage.” —Erica Wright ([33:39])
• “Clear expectations between you and your visionary or CEO on who’s doing what and who’s responsible for what.” —Erica Wright ([40:49])
• “The whole time we kept questioning, was this a good idea? So that’s where the podcast comes from.” —Erica Wright ([41:47])

Key Timestamps

• [00:00] — Erica’s first steps at VRA: No systems, building CRM
• [05:50] — International operations background & lessons from scaling
• [10:08] — Balancing work, ambition, and family
• [13:46] — Daily/weekly scheduling, time blocking, prioritization
• [17:16] — Approach to delegation and task management
• [19:11] — Handling CEO’s constant new ideas, keeping vision aligned
• [21:48] — Building relationships before rolling out major system changes
• [26:43] — Creating a “family-like” but accountable culture
• [28:49] — The loneliness of the COO role and sources of support
• [32:12] — Unique culture: openness, therapy-like masterminds
• [38:31] — Proudest accomplishments over three years
• [40:49] — Advice to first-time COOs: set clear roles/expectations
• [41:47] — Story behind the “This Might Be a Bad Idea” podcast
• [44:39] — What’s next: stepping back from brokerage, focusing on new projects

Memorable Moments

• Erica called every single agent individually in her first 90 days to build trust before systemizing the company ([23:16]).
• She candidly described the pain and ethical consideration of letting employees go, describing how she tries to help them land elsewhere ([27:54]).
• Described VRA Realty’s culture as “AA or therapy session” style, prioritizing mental wellness and open dialogue—a rarity in real estate ([32:12], [33:39]).
• The personal leap of buying a house unseen in Mexico, relocating, and starting a new podcast about diving into the unknown ([41:47]).

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, pragmatic, and supportive, blending the “get-it-done” energy of high-level operators with genuine empathy and warmth. Both host and guest freely share personal stories, business strategy, and lessons learned—with plenty of humor and sincerity.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode is essential for any current or aspiring COO seeking practical tactics for scaling operations without losing team connection, navigating the tension between systems and culture, and supporting a visionary CEO’s ambitions while keeping the team on course. Erica Wright models both operational rigor and heartfelt leadership, showing that the best systems empower people—not overwhelm them.