Leading With Heart: Cindy Rodgers on Service, Leadership, and Responsibility
Written by Elizabeth McCabe | Photography by Ezekiel E. Photography
“People matter more than the transaction. You don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to do it with heart,” says Cindy Rodgers. That belief has guided her through nearly two decades in real estate, a milestone that still surprises her. “That doesn’t even seem possible to me,” she admits.
Over the years, Cindy has weathered dramatic market shifts, from the Great Recession to pandemic-fueled multiple-offer frenzies and today’s evolving landscape. “I’ve seen a lot of change,” she says. Each cycle demanded adaptability, perspective, and steady leadership, qualities that have defined her career.
A trusted Top Producer, Cindy has built her business by putting people first. For her, real estate isn’t about chasing transactions; it’s about guiding clients through some of the most significant decisions of their lives with care, clarity, and responsibility.
Before real estate, Cindy spent nearly a decade as a special education teacher. “I taught everything from first through tenth grade,” she recalls. Teaching instilled patience, communication skills, and a deep sense of service, tools that would later become central to her real estate practice.
As fulfilling as teaching was, it wasn’t sustainable long-term. “My husband was a teacher too,” she says. “I loved my students, but emotionally and financially, it wasn’t something we could do forever.” A role at a software company followed, offering valuable experience and exposure to a different business environment. Still, real estate lingered in the background. “I didn’t want to feel stuck,” she says. “I wanted ownership, flexibility, and the ability to build something of my own.” With a laugh, she adds, “So I decided a 100 percent commission job was the answer.”
Cindy’s understanding of real estate began early. Her mother worked as a REALTOR® for a local builder in Broken Arrow, and client calls often came directly to their home. Long before smartphones, Cindy saw firsthand the importance of professionalism, communication, and trust. More importantly, she observed how deeply housing shapes people’s lives. “Community matters,” she says. “That perspective still influences how I help clients put down roots or navigate when it’s time to move.”
Rooted in Movement, Shaped by Change
Born in New York, Cindy moved frequently as a child, once living in 3 homes in the same neighborhood after settling in Broken Arrow. “By the time I went to college, I’d lived in 8 different states and 20 different homes.”
The constant moving was hard. Leaving friends and schools repeatedly forced her to adapt early. “I was chunky and awkward for a lot of my childhood,” she says with a laugh. “But I learned quickly that if I wanted connection, I had to put myself out there.” Often perceived as an extrovert, Cindy describes herself as an outgoing introvert, someone who values connection but deeply understands how difficult transition can be.
That empathy carries into her work today. Cindy understands how emotionally charged moving can be, especially when families are uprooted. Her early experiences shaped her into a connector — someone who knows the value of community because she had to rebuild it again and again.
A graduate of Broken Arrow High School and Oklahoma State University, Cindy remains a loyal Cowboy. “Even though it’s been abundantly painful this year,” she adds with a grin.
Her understanding of financial instability is also deeply personal. During the oil bust of the 1980s, her family lost their home and savings. At the time, Cindy was in college, uncertain about her future. “I was the last person to walk through the house,” she recalls. “I still remember empty rooms and one of my mom’s dresses hanging in a closet. It was traumatic.”
That experience shaped her appreciation for the stability homeownership can provide and reinforced her commitment to serving clients with compassion and responsibility.
A Voice for the Industry
Today, Cindy is deeply invested in leadership and advocacy. She has served at the local, state, and national levels, most recently completing a five-year term on the Greater Tulsa Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors, including serving as President in 2024.
“There’s a lot of confusion in our industry right now,” Cindy says. “Consumers are trying to understand what’s changing, and agents are navigating new expectations amid constant misinformation.” Her focus has been to bring clarity and perspective for both clients and colleagues.
Cindy believes leadership comes with responsibility. “At a certain point, you have an obligation to pay it forward because someone did that for you,” she says. She is deeply committed to accountability, private property rights, and elevating professional standards.
For Cindy, leadership isn’t about titles. “It’s about being a voice, not just for my clients, but for fellow REALTORS®,” she says. “Advocating for fairness and perspective matters.”
While her influence extends beyond individual transactions, clients remain at the center of her work. Divorce, aging parents, difficult transitions, not every transaction is joyful. “People don’t see how much of a therapist and advisor you are behind the scenes,” she says. That emotional labor is often invisible, but significant.
Family, Balance, and Life Lived Fully
Cindy has been married to her husband, Dan, for 27 years. Together, they raised two sons, Taylor, 32, and Austin, 25. “They all drive me crazy sometimes and I drive them batty too,” she says with a laugh. “But they’re my whole world.”
She’s grateful both sons live and work in the Tulsa area, allowing for meaningful time together, whether that’s watching sports, traveling, or simply hanging out. “I don’t take it for granted that they still want me around,” she says.
In September 2024, Cindy experienced a heart attack, a turning point that forced her to slow down and reassess stress, health, and priorities. She completed cardiac rehabilitation and now approaches movement intentionally, incorporating Pilates, walking, and cycling back into her routine. “It changed how I think about time and what really matters,” she reflects.
Outside of work, Cindy enjoys reading, baking sourdough, traveling to the beach, and learning new things with a personal goal of mastering Mahjong in 2026. She proudly embraces her role as a devoted dog mom. “I like to think of myself as the deranged dog lady,” she jokes. Between Cindy, Dan, and their sons, they share life with four much-loved dogs.
Real. Authentic. Transparent.
The last few years have been defining for Cindy — both as a leader and personally. In the spirit of Real Producers, she shares a glimpse of the side people don’t always see. She got her first tattoo in Italy — La vita è bella (“life is beautiful”) — a reminder she carries with her after a season that demanded both strength and perspective. She’ll also be the first to admit she occasionally uses a little salty language, usually after a long day of “peopling.”
It’s all part of who she is: thoughtful, honest, deeply human, and unapologetically real.
Her advice to new agents is simple: “Do the right thing. Be honest. Put people first. Know your contracts, communicate clearly, and understand the responsibility you carry.”
Years ago, the owner of her company told her, “If you put people first, the rest will fall into place.” Cindy built her career on that philosophy — and nearly 21 years later, it still holds true.
