Sarah Stephen is the co-founder of R&S, a premier real estate company based in Knightsbridge, dedicated to helping buyers acquire premium properties in London and surrounding areas. With over 15 years of experience in the property sector—including an inspiring 11-year tenure as Sales Executive at Foxton’s—Sarah has established herself as one of London’s leading property advisors, driving multimillion-pound transactions and shaping the market with her expertise.
Beyond her professional achievements, Sarah is a passionate public speaker and advocate for women’s visibility and financial empowerment. She actively participates in discussions and panels focused on true empowerment, which she believes goes beyond financial security—it’s about confidence, equitable access, and the ability to shape one’s own future. Her mission is rooted in the belief that every woman deserves the opportunity to create the life she envisions, free from social or financial limitations.
Sarah champions the idea that background or gender should never define potential, and her work reflects her dedication to breaking barriers for women in business and finance.
In addition to her leadership in real estate, Sarah serves as a trustee of the Hill Hub Foundation, an initiative committed to equipping individuals from underprivileged backgrounds with essential skills, financial literacy, and the confidence to navigate discussions about money. Through her advocacy and leadership, Sarah Stephen continues to work towards a more equitable and promising future for women, ensuring that economic empowerment remains within reach for all.
Tell us the “backstory” about what brought you to the real estate industry.
I entered the real estate space because of the housing difficulties my mother and I faced during my childhood. In the 90s, securing accommodation in the UK, especially in London was a challenging process. There was a long queue to get on the housing list, and due to the numerous jobs my mother took, she was often unavailable to stand in line.
One day, she decided to take matters into her own hands. We camped outside the housing office in Brixton, Southeast London, so that by morning, we would be the first in the queue. That experience gave me a glimpse into the reality of homelessness and how very easy it is to not have a home.
Going through that struggle made me acutely aware of the challenges many people face regarding housing. When we finally moved into our own home, the feeling was indescribable. My mother later went on to purchase several properties herself, driven by sheer determination.
That early experience ignited a passion for real estate within me, and many years later, I found myself trailblazing in this industry.
Less than 20 percent of senior positions in real estate companies are held by women. In your opinion or experience, what do you think is the cause of this imbalance?
I am very clear about this, and I believe it’s crucial for managing expectations when entering the real estate field. The problematic narrative that society has perpetuated regarding women, that they are less interested in leadership positions has been heavily critiqued and we see it ever so clearly today with the rise of women CEO’s. Often, it’s not that women lack the desire to lead, rather, they face underrepresentation and may hesitate to put themselves forward. For some, if they can’t see it, they don’t believe they can be it.
I believe that if more organisations, especially in real estate, offered flexible working arrangements and sponsorship, we would see an increase in women occupying senior positions. When women are in these roles, we excel, especially when we embrace our femininity. Research indicates that companies led by women or those with a higher percentage of women in leadership tend to perform better financially.
As a strong advocate for visibility and financial empowerment for women. What personal experience inspired you to champion these causes?
From a very young age, I’ve always been driven to excel, often feeling the need to match or even surpass my brother Moses. My competitive spirit pushed me to ask my father why I couldn’t do certain things, was it simply because I was a girl? This desire to challenge societal norms has been constant throughout my life, and I’ve always advocated for women’s empowerment even if I didn’t initially recognise it as such.
Throughout my journey, I often found myself as the only girl in a male-dominated space, acutely aware that this wasn’t right. A life-changing experience solidified my commitment to this cause, the heartbreaking loss of my husband. As a now lone parent to three children, I realised how essential it is for women to have financial independence and greater control over their lives. The more money women have, the more options they can create for themselves. For me, money means power and options.
In the wake of my husband’s passing, I quickly understood the need to adapt and survive. Fortunately, I had begun investing in real estate in my early twenties and had some incredible support from close friends which provided me with the knowledge and experience to navigate this challenging period. There’s a saying that you can’t control what life throws at you, but you can choose how to react. This became my guiding light, especially as a person of faith. It’s so easy to start to look at what you don’t have but I chose to reframe it to ‘What can I do?’ and ‘Who can I help?’
I recognise that not all women are as fortunate as I am, and as I continue on my journey to advocate for a better quality of life for myself and my children, I believe it’s crucial for every woman to have access to investment opportunities and financial resources. This access empowers them to create the lives they desire and deserve and investing is essential.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women executives in real estate that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
I firmly believe that people should be judged by the function of what they do rather than their gender. Unfortunately, women often face judgment based on their gender. As a minority in many industries, we are held to higher standards and find ourselves in a position where we must prove ourselves repeatedly, while our male counterparts are not subjected to the same scrutiny.
Moreover, the standards for success seem to shift constantly, making it even more challenging to navigate these spaces. This is one reason we see a significant number of women becoming entrepreneurs, when women encounter barriers in a particular field or industry, they often take the initiative to create their own opportunities.
In contrast, men are typically afforded the grace to make mistakes and to bounce back without facing shame. Women, however, often struggle to reinvent themselves or re-enter the conversation after a setback. If we could shift the focus to judging individuals based on their performance and results because numbers don’t lie we could create a more level playing field for everyone.
Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the real estate industry?
First and foremost, I love that we are operating in a people driven economy. While there’s often a significant focus on buildings and properties, without people, there are no homes, no transactions, and no vibrant communities. The relationships we build within the real estate industry are what energise me. I genuinely love working with people and obsessing over my clients’ needs, and I encourage my team to do the same.
The second aspect that excites me is the growing presence of women in real estate, even though the progress isn’t as fast as I would like it to be. I am thrilled to see more women showing interest in the industry and recognising the importance of investing. I have had the privilege of helping women co-invest, bringing groups together to invest collaboratively. It’s inspiring to witness women being innovative and pivoting into real estate, taking a strong interest in shaping their financial futures.
Finally, I am excited about the role of technology in real estate. The addition of AI and the power of social media platforms are transforming what was once an exclusive industry. Now, people can see how others live, allowing them to dream big and aspire to create the quality of life they desire. I appreciate the openness that technology provides, making the real estate world more accessible to everyone.
If you had the ability to implement one transformative move to reform or improve the industry, what would you tackle?
If I had the ability to reform or tackle one aspect of the real estate industry, it would definitely be financial literacy and how real estate is used to create wealth. I strongly believe that the days when a person’s background or gender dictates their potential for success should be behind us and financial literacy can play a crucial role in eradicating these barriers.
I think it’s essential for children to be taught financial literacy from an early age. In many cultures, discussions about money are often taboo, yet understanding finances is vital for living, it should be spoken about freely. By introducing concepts such as saving and investing in a straightforward manner, simplifying it, especially using real estate we can empower so many.
If more real estate companies could initiate programs to go into schools or provide resources focused on real estate and its role in wealth accumulation, it would be great. This initiative could serve as a significant stepping stone for many individuals to start understanding money and investment early on, ultimately opening doors.
What’s one misconception about real estate investing that more people—especially women—need to unlearn?
One common misconception about investing in real estate is that individuals believe they need a substantial amount of money or to be a millionaire to get started. This is particularly untrue in the United Kingdom. In fact, there are many avenues for investment that don’t require a large financial commitment.
For example, co-investing among women, siblings, and friends. The process is quite simple, solicitors handle the contracts, and properties can be purchased through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). Once the property is acquired and rented out, investors can benefit from immediate income, provided they make the right purchase decisions. Additionally, over time, they can enjoy capital appreciation as the property’s value increases.
The key takeaway is that you don’t need a substantial amount of money to invest in real estate, you can achieve this by pooling resources with others. Our mothers and aunts have successfully demonstrated this through practices like “ajo,” where group contributions enable collective investment. This approach opens up opportunities for many people who may have previously thought investing was out of reach.
If you could go back and speak to your younger self, what would you say about success and ambition?
If I could go back and speak to my younger self, I would share a profound piece of wisdom: “The years teach much that the days never knew,” a saying from the philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. It’s true that life often doesn’t make sense until we reflect on it in hindsight, and then everything starts to come together.
I would encourage my younger self to remain ambitious but to also be more present in the moment. It’s important to enjoy the journey rather than being solely fixated on the end goal. While there will always be an element of urgency especially when striving to be the best, I believe that the process itself is far more significant than the goal.
What’s one book, podcast, or mentor that has profoundly shaped your thinking?
The one book I would always recommend that has profoundly changed my thinking, mindset, and leadership style is “Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence” by Stephen Schwarzman, the chairman of Blackstone, I would also like to include “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike. Both of these books gave me extraordinary insights into the entrepreneurial journey and the pains that often go unspoken but more importantly the power of passion and relentless determination.
These books I have revisited time and time again, and have continually kept me focused and inspired.
Let’s imagine your mission is complete a few decades from now—what does success look like to you?
Success in a few decades for me would look like a world where gender equality is the norm in every room including executive rooms. It means that women and men are treated equally with pay reflecting their contributions and capabilities rather than their gender. This is particularly important to me again as a parent of two sons and a daughter, I want them to grow up in a society that values and respects them equally.
Success would also mean that women, particularly black women, have equitable access to financial resources. No woman should have to endure the stress and frustration of being unable to secure the funding she needs. When asked what I believe women truly want, I responded that it’s not about wanting more things, rather, we seek security. Every woman desires a sense of stability, and when that security is lacking, it can lead to hidden struggles and private meltdown.
| Connect With Sarah Stephen |
| Instagram – TheSarahStephen |
| Website – www.RehobothAndStephen.com |
