Building a personal brand online isn’t just for influencers or authors. For women in real estate and other high-trust industries, your brand is your differentiator, especially in a market flooded with automation and AI-driven everything.
But while the opportunity is bigger than ever, the pushback can be brutal.
In a conversation with Neel Dhingra, investor and media entrepreneur Codie Sanchez got honest about what it’s like building a content-driven business as a woman. We’re talking trolls and double standards, along with the advantages, and the mindset that keeps her winning.
Here’s what she had to say, and why more women need to hear it.
#1: The Trolls Are Real
Even with millions of followers and a portfolio of successful businesses, Codie doesn’t pretend the online hate isn’t there. She’s just realistic about where most of it comes from.
Speaking from her own experience:
“You just have a very high hater ratio that is… hell hath no fury like a middle-aged man that has not accomplished what he wants [and is] still living in his mom’s basement.”
According to Codie, the ratio of online hate from men to women is “like 9 to 1.” And it makes sense when you consider the unspoken pressure men generally face to become providers, dominate their field, and never show vulnerability.
Some guys use that internal pressure to fuel their personal growth. But for some, it turns into lashing out at women who are winning.
In other words, troll behavior is about them and their insecurities, not about their target. Just knowing that might at least take the edge off when you find a hateful troll comment (or a series of them) on one of your social media posts.
#2: Don’t Let the Trolls Dictate the Narrative
Codie doesn’t sugarcoat what it’s like to be questioned constantly about her success, her methods, or whether she even deserves the platform she’s built.
But she also doesn’t let those narratives stick.
“Accept the fact that people are going to tell you, ‘Yeah, what, did you sleep with him? Was it your daddy’s money? Must be nice.’ Okay, what the f*ck ever. ‘Bank account comparison …right? So, that’s kind of where I go.”
In other words, let the scoreboard do the talking. You don’t have to prove yourself to someone who isn’t even playing the same game.
You just have to keep building.
This seems like the perfect place to plug one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Brené Brown:
“If you show up and are seen, if you go into the arena, if you create, if you want to be courageous, you will get your ass kicked. That is the one guarantee.
“If you’re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.
“If you have constructive criticism you want to give me, I want it.
“But if you’re in the cheap seats, not putting yourself on the line, and just talking about how I can do it better, I’m not interested in your feedback.”
#3: Victim Mentality is a Trap
It’s one thing to acknowledge bias. It’s another to let it define your identity. Codie cautioned against slipping into victim thinking, even when there’s some truth behind it.
“You become the thing that you project out into the universe. So, if you’re like, ‘It’s hard being a woman. Nobody wants to give me respect as much as they do men, blah, blah, blah,’ You make yourself a victim, then you get treated like one. If you act like prey, you get preyed upon.
“So I try to flip it the opposite direction and look at who the biggest creators in the world are.”
Her approach is to take the hard truth, flip it into fuel, and move forward. She’s not saying the bias isn’t real. She’s saying you don’t have to let it stop you.
That victim mentality…is the same mentality keeping the trolls in the situations they resent. And joining that league is a choice, too (though it may not be a conscious one).
#4: Women Actually Have the Advantage, If They Take It
While many women hesitate to show up online because of the criticism they might get, Codie argues that the opportunity has never been bigger.
“I think as a woman, you actually have the best opportunity ever. So, don’t ever tell somebody that it is harder to be a woman online because you are projecting that out into the universe, even if it might be true.”
It might be true that women are more likely to be the recipients of toxic troll comments from people who allow their own insecurities to keep them stuck.
But that doesn’t stop women who are determined to step up and stand out.
The most followed people on the internet, as Codie pointed out, are the Kardashians. If their content doesn’t resonate (even if you respect the hustle), think of women creators whose content you would happily spend time watching or listening to.
The attention economy favors those who connect deeply, consistently, and authentically. And women, as Codie points out, often lead in those areas.
The real advantage is knowing how to use that attention to build trust and drive business.
#5: Stand for Something (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)
Codie doesn’t post opinions for shock value. She shares what she believes, even when it’s unpopular. And she pays attention to who else is willing to do the same.
“We do not become close friends or partners with people who have not stood up for something publicly, even when it was against their own self-interest.”
This isn’t about being political or divisive. It’s about being clear. People are drawn to creators who stand for something, not just those who know how to go viral.
Especially in business, clarity of values builds long-term loyalty.
#6: The Opportunity Is Yours. Don’t Waste It.
Yes, it’s noisy online. Yes, people will judge you. And yes, you might get more hate just for being a woman with a strong voice. But the upside is bigger than the risk.
“I don’t really like doing videos all the time,” Codie admitted. “But I started to realize something, and that was that the ultimate differentiator that nobody sophisticated wants to acknowledge is not going to be capital… it’s going to be attention.”
In a world where most people are afraid to say anything meaningful, your willingness to show up and speak up is a competitive advantage. And the more consistently you do it, the more trust you build.
And the more opportunities come your way.
Final Takeaway
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be visible, valuable, and honest about who you are. If you’re a woman in real estate, or any business that relies on trust, your personal brand is your edge.
So show up. Take the hits. Then take the lead.
Want more from Codie Sanchez? Watch the full interview with Neel Dhingra. Here are a few other topics they covered:
- Platform diversification vs focus (highly controversial)
- Codie’s “Tornado Strategy” for content
- Making “boring businesses” sexy
- Hiring strategy: generalists to specialists
- The “two oars” system: revenue & follower numbers
And plenty more. Enjoy!
