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“Huddle Up” is a recurring column where teams across the country to show us their meeting playbook.
“You can’t control the market, but you can control your mindset, your systems and the energy you bring to the table,” said Tessa Lauritzen Osborn, one of the driving forces behind The Heyday Group, an Austin, Texas-based real estate team operating under eXp Realty, led by Meredith Alderson and powered by Lauritzen Osborn, head of growth and operations, and Adam Walding, content and brand strategist.
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Meredith Alderson: Art, tech and real estate smarts
Alderson’s journey into Austin real estate traces back to her days at Indiana University, where her fine arts background was just the start. After 18 years in technology and sales, including a director role in San Francisco, she pivoted back to her first love: design and client relationships.
Serendipity led her to Austin, where she’s flourished. In her first four years, she contributed to the city’s No. 1 real estate team, earned membership in the Austin Luxury League and Platinum Top 50 and consistently ranks in the top 1 percent of Austin Realtors.
In 2024 and 2025, she was among Austin Business Journal’s Top 30 individual agents, took home the eXp ICON Agent Award, ranked in RealTrends’ top 10 in the city and most recently was a finalist for Austin Board of Realtors Salesperson of the Year. Her brand is a reflection of who she is: polished, personable, deeply responsive and fiercely client-first.
Small team, big culture
Under Alderson’s leadership, Heyday’s culture is built on authenticity, care and constant alignment. Lauritzen Osborn underscores their impact: “We’ve really been a positive light to our community during some of the hardest years in real estate,” she said. “We’ve not only grown each year in production but also in being a leading team that leaves events and interactions with more excitement and positivity.”
“We’re obsessed with taking care of our clients and making them feel special,” Alderson added. “The energy we bring into the world as a team — how we show up for our clients and real estate partners — is a huge part of what makes us different.”
Their client-first approach isn’t a checkbox — it’s a continual commitment. Personalized gift cards, handwritten notes, pop-by visits and client events are standard practice, all designed to deepen ongoing relationships.
Daily huddles, real results
There’s no lukewarm commitment here — The Heyday Group meets every morning, without fail.
“We meet every morning — even when we’re running in different directions,” Lauritzen Osborn said. Daily huddles cover goals, logistics and immediate priorities, while weekly strategy sessions (often led by Walding) tackle content and brand development.
“Our daily meetings follow a consistent yet flexible format,” Walding said. “We each share our plans and goals, and we naturally move into problem-solving and reallocating tasks to support each other. It keeps us operating like a true team, not just three individuals.”
Alderson expanded on the tone those meetings are grounded in: “We’ve created an environment of open communication and trust. We can speak honestly, ask for help and talk about what’s working — or what isn’t — without judgment.”
Lauritzen Osborn added, “We each have our own topics that we bring into the meetings, from marketing strategy to task management. And what makes it work is that we all feel like we can speak up. There’s no ego — just support.”
Personal branding done right
Walding leads brand strategy with precision — and heart.
“I’m working on branding Meredith every day,” he said. “We want to come across as approachable and sophisticated. When someone sees our social media, we want them to say, ‘I’d love to work with Meredith — I feel like we’d be good friends.’” It’s a balancing act — strategic but warm, aspirational but authentic — that resonates deeply with their ideal clients.
Scaling with intention
Spring’s high-volume listing rush tested their systems — but Heyday passed with flying colors.
“The volume of details could have felt overwhelming — and did at times — but we stayed transparent with each other,” Walding shared. They introduced personalized weekly seller updates and communicated capacity openly, ensuring no client ever felt overlooked.
As Lauritzen Osborn shared, “We sat down and planned out an entire year of pop‑by ideas, client events and outreach. It’s not about checking boxes — it’s about making our people feel special all year long.”
Alderson echoed that forward-thinking mindset, “We never stop looking for ways to be better at what we do. Just because we implement a process doesn’t mean we’re finished — we keep refining and improving.”
Intrinsic energy, no external hacks needed
The Heyday culture thrives from within.
“I like to say this is the first job I’ve ever had where I don’t get Sunday scaries,” Walding laughed. “I truly love what I do and who I do it with.”
Lauritzen Osborn agreed, “Our team has a genuinely positive attitude that feeds on itself — it’s just who we are.”
Takeaways for real estate teams
The Heyday Group isn’t just building transactions — they’re building trust, brand and momentum. Here are a few reflective questions for your own team:
- Do you connect consistently, or just when things go sideways?
- Are your meetings creating clarity and collaboration?
- How well are you balancing backend efficiency with front-end connection?
- Is your brand truly reflecting your culture?
- And most importantly, are you enjoying the work — and the people you do it with?
In a shifting market, this trio’s culture-first approach isn’t a soft tactic — it’s a strategic one. Their story reminds us: Success isn’t just the transactions — it’s the trust, care and values behind them.
“This isn’t just a business to us — it’s personal,” Alderson said. “Every interaction, every process, every client touchpoint is a reflection of who we are and what we value. That’s the heart behind everything we do.”
Melanie C. Klein, M.A., is an empowerment and mindset coach.
