Keller Williams had 27 employees when Jay Papasan started. It now spans more than 1,100 offices and 188,000 agents worldwide — and Papasan is stepping away.
Papasan, Keller Williams’ vice president of strategic content and co-author of several of the company’s bestselling books, is stepping away from his day-to-day role after nearly 26 years, he wrote in a LinkedIn post Tuesday. His last official day is Aug. 1.
Papasan wrote that he will keep working on KW book projects, teach across the country and support his wife Wendy’s Austin team, Papasan Properties Group. He also plans to continue hosting “The ONE Thing” podcast and leading its training and coaching team.
Papasan joined Keller Williams on Sept. 5, 2000, when the company had 27 employees serving fewer than 7,000 associates, he wrote. He started writing a newsletter for the tech team before co-founder Gary Keller recruited him to help write The Millionaire Real Estate Agent. That book and later titles, including The ONE Thing, have sold more than 7 million copies combined, according to Papasan’s post.
During his tenure, he worked 26 Family Reunions and 25 Mega Camps, and led Keller Williams University, research, publishing, KW Video and marketing, he wrote. He also spent time in support, helping agents set up websites and email.
“I feel like I’ve had five careers,” Papasan wrote in the post.
Keller: ‘This isn’t an ending’
In an internal email to Keller Williams agents shared with Inman, Keller called Papasan “one of the finest thinkers I’ve ever had the privilege to know” and pointed to more than 26 years of writing books together as “one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
“Jay is stepping away from his day-to-day leadership role at Keller Williams to devote even more of his life to what he was born to do,” Keller wrote. “Write. Teach. Coach. And help people think about what matters most.”
The two plan to keep writing together, according to Keller’s email.
“We still have far too many conversations left to have, ideas left to explore, and books left to write,” he wrote.
Keller wrote that Papasan will continue teaching, hosting “The ONE Thing” podcast, writing his newsletter The TwentyPercenter, and working with the Papasan Properties Group.
Keller closed the email with a direct message of thanks.
“Please join me in thanking Jay for everything he has given to Keller Williams, to our industry, and to all of the lives he’s touched,” he wrote. “Jay, I love you, my friend. Thank you for your partnership, your wisdom, your loyalty, and your heart. The journey we’ve shared has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I can’t wait to see where our next chapter takes us.”
A broader leadership shift at KW
Papasan’s exit comes as Keller Williams works through a wider leadership transition. Stone Point Capital took a stake in the company last year, and Christopher Czarnecki joined as CEO and president, a role Mark Willis vacated in 2025. Willis moved into the newly created role of chief leadership officer.
In March, Keller Williams named longtime executive Jason Abrams as chief industry and strategy officer, putting him over the company’s global learning platform and enterprise-wide initiatives.
Papasan’s departure is notable as one of the last members of KW’s founding-era executive team to step back, following that ownership and leadership overhaul.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comments from Gary Keller.
