Despite any initial confusion her name may cause, Michael Saunders is, in fact, a decidedly chic and distinguished woman. More notable, however, is the attention she garners when she enters a room. She surveys the scene, offering enthusiastic greetings to those she knows, while quietly acknowledging those she does not with a confident nod and a reassuring smile. That commanding presence is a distinguishing quality among many highly successful people who are used to occupying spaces where they are in demand. In this way, she conveys a clear sense of purpose while radiating a gracious warmth central to her success.
Over the past five decades, Saunders has become synonymous with luxury real estate, helping to transform Sarasota from a quiet, scenic coastal enclave into a coveted destination for the world’s elite.
It was back in 1976 that she opened the doors of Michael Saunders & Company in a modest 1,000-square-foot office on St. Armands Circle, with a $5,000 loan that she needed to have co-signed by a male customer after several banks denied her one on her own merit, which was a common issue for women entrepreneurs of the time. From the outset, she was focused on filling a specific gap in the market—a brokerage that offered an elevated experience befitting the high-end lifestyles of the clients she set out to serve.
“When I got into the business, real estate was not the respected profession it is today,” she recalls. “People did it part-time, didn't dress particularly well and the offices didn't look professional. I thought, We're helping clients make the most important decision of their lives. Why can't we reflect that in the offices and in the stature of the people? I had no money, but I had an oriental rug from my mother and my grandmother's armoire, so I put them in an office. I had one listing and got a gold frame to display it in.”
That was the easy part. But what came next took considerably more work.
“To raise the bar and build a culture based on my values and ethics, that was difficult,” she explains. “But I felt that anyone who handed out our card would be proud to do so, because it reflected a high professional standard.”
What it also represented was a trailblazing woman with an unconventional name.
“I hated it when I was small, but I've loved it in business. It's been a great name,” Michael asserts. “I think when you're prepared to put your name on the door, there's a lot of responsibility that goes with that.”
Her parents were well aware that they were bestowing an honor on the child they were expecting, as the name is an homage to a notable ancestor, the 16th-century English poet Michael Drayton.
“In those days, you didn't know whether you were having a boy or a girl ahead of time,” she shares. “So, when they chose the name Michael, my mother said, ‘If he's a boy, it'll be incredible for family tradition. If she's a girl, and she's interesting and cute, it'll be a great name. If she isn't, it won't matter what her name is.’”
The name suited her just fine and actually helped her establish herself during those early days. When she would call to schedule a meeting with someone she was trying to do business with, they often thought she was arranging it for her male boss.
“They thought I was a secretary and that was fine with me,” she says with a laugh. “I got the appointment and then, when I got my foot in the door, I didn't take it out. I had to believe in myself, because no one else did, except my family. I grew up in a family that was really rich in love, but not money. They always told us, you can do anything you want in life, if you're prepared to pay the price.”
But none of those early hurdles fazed her.
“Was it difficult? Absolutely,” she asserts. “But I've loved the challenges and I've loved the opportunities. It has been a journey of joy.”
She credits some of her early confidence to having the choice between choir and the debate club in school.
“I couldn't sing, so I learned public speaking. It's so valuable to feel comfortable in your own skin when you are speaking,” she shares. “Back then, I had to step it up because there wasn't a place at most tables for women, either in the community in a leadership role or within the industry. I learned that knowing your facts and being passionate about what you do is really important. You sometimes need to have a loud voice, so I had to learn to be bold.”
Her boldness was married to a healthy dose of humility and gratitude that is still overwhelmingly apparent today.
“I always felt it was an honor to represent someone on either side of a transaction. That experience was about making them feel wonderful,” Michael explains. “All I ever wanted to do was make a difference in people's lives. Our team also liked being part of a company that truly cared and wanted to raise the bar. This is a business of relationships and trust. For me, it has always been all about personal connections, involvement in the community, going shoulder to shoulder with the leadership team and being in the trenches with the agents.”
The company’s first year ended with more than $11 million in sales—a figure that proved she was on to something big. Through her diligence, Michael has broken barriers, redefined the luxury real estate market and built a brand that commands respect around the world. Today the original region boasts 19 offices and more than 650 agents, and that doesn’t include a plan to open a permanent office in St. Pete, the elite team they are assembling here or their plans to further expand throughout our region.
“When I got my foot in the door, I didn't take it out.”—Michael Saunders
Now in her 80s, she is less reflective about the path that brought her here and more focused on the future of the company that bears her name, working “shoulder to shoulder” with her son Drayton in forging the next chapter. And yes, she carried on the tradition of bestowing that ancestral name on her progeny.
“Drayton is all about growth, but measured growth,” Michael offers. “He grew up saying he’d never join the business but, fortunately for me, he reconsidered and decided to join 23 years ago. It was really meaningful to know that if I was creating a legacy, there was someone who was as passionate as I was, but with a new view and different talents. I can't do what Drayton does. It's important in business to bring people on who are smarter than you and let them do their job.”
Drayton has, in fact, been the driving force in developing their presence here.
“I have been talking about being in St. Pete for a long time. I like to say we're here because I pushed on this for seven years. I could just tell this was a market we could be successful in, because it spoke to both the demographic that moved to this part of Florida, but also the knowledge that we bring something very special to the table,” he observes. “I had friends tell me, ‘I want to be in this part of the West Coast, but I need a different energy. I need a younger vibe. I want a little bit more of an urban-feel, but I don't want to lose access to the arts, culture and the beach.’ That's St. Pete. I remember how sleepy St. Pete used to be, but we watched from Sarasota as the St. Pete community did things to become its future self. We just had to find the right time to be here.”
That process started with the recruitment of top talent, beginning with the Jennifer Thayer Group, led by its namesake founder. Thayer has long been regarded as a powerhouse in the Tampa Bay real estate market and served as the cornerstone for their local dream team, which they are strategically continuing to grow.
“It's about hand selecting the people who are with us. Our standards are pretty high, and I think it's reflected in the people who have joined us in St. Pete. They’re top producers and we're so proud to have them,” Michael explains, pointing out that it is a mix of passion, knowledge and drive that distinguishes them. “As Drayton says, this is not for the faint of heart. It is a very difficult business. Everyone thinks if you have a shiny new car and you like houses, you'd be good at real estate, but that is so wrong. There's an art and science to it.”
Equally important is their commitment to foster the right environment for their team.
“You have to build a culture that understands the value of apprenticeship and mentorship. It’s in that sense that we're part of a collaborative culture, even if tomorrow we might be competing for the same listing,” Drayton shares. “Michael built that culture through fostering collaboration and by transferring knowledge by mentoring others.”
Michael also works to inspire them to be as bold and intentional as she was when she started out.
“Try to be 1% better every day. If I can just improve by 1% a day, just think what it might mean,” she offers. “It may be one more call, one more listing, appointment or email, but just one of those things could be the one that makes you more successful.”
And while she holds herself to that standard professionally, she admits she is only just learning to do that in terms of a work-life balance.
“I have three delicious grandchildren who are 3, 8 and 10. They call me honey,” she offers with a beguiling smile. “I'm taking more time with them. Their parents are very strict about devices, so they have a child's sense of wonder about the world because they spend a lot of time outdoors and they have real touch points with people. I am enjoying seeing life through their eyes, which is so magical.”
In fact, she recently traveled with them to Paris where she and her granddaughter shared a special experience.
“We went to a cooking class and made these incredible lemon tarts. So now when I see her, she’ll say, ‘Let's make our French tarts.’ It's an all-day process. We cook everything together,” she says. “She’s quite the foodie.”
It’s clear from her proud admission that this is where she finds her 1% of self-care and balance.
“I love to be in the moment,” she shares. “That's something I’d like everyone to understand—the joy in life comes from being in the moment. Some people are so caught up in thinking about yesterday or tomorrow that they miss today. That's really too bad. Make every day a day of joy.”
Visit michaelsaunders.com to learn more.
