The Original Investor: How Ruth Reffkin’s Belief Helped Robert Reffkin Build Compass

01\. Behind **Robert Reffkin**’s success is the woman who taught him to lead with resilience, kindness and purpose: his mother, **Ruth Reffkin**. In this episode, Liza sits down with Robert, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Compass International Holdings—the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States—and Ruth, an educator, entrepreneur and real estate leader whose philosophy is rooted in “mission before commission.” Together, they reveal the personal story behind Compass and explore how a mother’s belief can shape not only a child’s ambition, but the kind of leader they ultimately become. **In this episode:** - The childhood challenges that shaped Robert’s ambition and resilience - How Ruth navigated single motherhood, entrepreneurship and reinvention - Why mentorship became central to Robert’s life and leadership - The values that helped Robert build Compass and lead through uncertainty - What mother and son have learned from each other about success, kindness and giving back And, as always, Liza asks the question at the heart of every conversation: **What is the Smartest Big Deal you have ever made?** Their answers are not what you might expect. **ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS** Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success. **CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS** Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals Media and partnership inquiries: [team@smartwomenbigdeals.com](mailto:team@smartwomenbigdeals.com) New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.