Taylor Cohen brings a layered perspective to her career in the real estate industry – one that merges finance, sustainability, hospitality and design. As a member of the Terry Cohen Advisory and working with Terry Cohen in the Hamptons, she helps clients navigate some of New York’s most sought-after markets with care, strategy and authenticity.
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Her journey shows how women can build financial freedom and creative fulfillment – often at the same time – through the power of real estate.
A path that always led home
Looking back, Cohen admits she’s surprised she didn’t get into the real estate industry sooner. “My mother, Terry Cohen, became a cop when I was eight, shortly after my parents divorced,” she says. “We lived in the Hamptons, and she dove right in and quickly became one of the most trusted and respected agents around. Some days I would skip school just to go to viewings and open houses.”
Cohen’s early fascination with the industry eventually converged with a career based on exploration and purpose. She studied finance and marketing, started at the London Stock Exchange and later obtained a master’s degree in sustainability management before joining National Geographic Expeditions, where she worked at the intersection of travel, sustainability and impact.
But it seems real estate always called her back. Her stepfather, Michael Davis, runs a renowned design and construction firm, Michael Davis Design & Construction. “I started helping them both with business operations and marketing; one focused on high-end construction, the other on sales and relationships. When my mother joined Compass, it felt like the right time for me to officially take action.”
Today, Cohen is not only a real estate consultant but also a developer and is currently building a wellness-focused hospitality retreat in the Catskills called Stay Elka with her partner. “I feel like everything I’ve done – finance, sustainability, hospitality, design – has led me here,” she reflects.
Overcoming the internal barriers
Although the real estate industry is one of the few sectors where women form a clear majority, approximately 62 percent of all real estate agents are women according to the National Association of Real Estate Agents. That doesn’t mean the path is without challenges. “For me, and for many women I’ve met, the biggest obstacles are not always external, but often internal,” says Cohen.
She remembers moments of hesitation: wondering if she was “ready enough” or should wait until everything felt perfect. “That hesitation is something a lot of women can relate to,” she adds. “What has helped me is community: reaching out to women I admire, having coffee conversations, seeking mentorship and gaining introspection.”
That willingness to connect and grow has become a cornerstone of her success. “Real estate can be a fast-paced, high-stakes industry, but it is also deeply relational. Having support and a willingness to learn from others changes everything.”
Wealth as freedom and flexibility
“I have always believed that real estate is one of the best ways to achieve financial freedom,” says Cohen. “I bought my first apartment at age 26 because I knew it made more sense to build equity than to continue paying rent. Owning real estate gave me a sense of control over my financial future.”
That sense of agency has only increased since I became a professional in the business. “There is no ceiling on what you can earn, but it requires discipline. You need to save for the slower years and understand that your efforts will translate directly into your success.”
For Cohen, real estate is not just about profit. It’s over possibility. “It gives you options – to pursue projects that align with your values and to build a life that reflects what matters most.”
Real estate as empowerment
Cohen’s inspiration goes back to her mother’s example. “I watched my mother build an entire career in her 40s and create financial freedom for herself and for my brother and me. Because of her career, we had access to great schools, travel and opportunities – but what stuck with me most was seeing her independence. When I saw her succeed, I saw that this was possible for me too.”
Her advice to women – especially those just getting started or looking at real estate as a path to financial freedom – is simple and powerful: “Believe that you can take control of your financial future. Real estate is one of the few careers where your efforts directly determine your outcome. It takes perseverance, patience and confidence, but it can open doors you didn’t know existed. Start where you are, continually learn, don’t wait for perfect timing – and have fun. You’ll meet great people.”
A new definition of wealth and well-being
Looking ahead, Cohen envisions an industry where women continue to redefine what wealth and success look like. She believes that women’s natural strengths – intuition, empathy and relationship building – are not only valuable, but essential to the evolution of real estate. “This work is about helping people find spaces where they can connect, build their lives and feel grounded. The more the industry embraces these qualities, the more powerful and human it becomes.”
In addition to the company, Cohen is very involved in sustainability and well-being.
“We spend about 90 percent of our lives indoors, and our environment has a direct impact on our mood, focus and health,” she says. “I’d like to see more of the industry embrace sustainability, biophilic design and spaces that connect people to nature. To me, that’s part of a broader definition of wealth: living in alignment, building community and creating spaces that support well-being.”
Takeaways and reflection prompts
- Start where you are: Even if it’s not perfect timing, what small step could you take today toward financial independence or ownership?
- Redefine wealth on your terms: Apart from money, what does financial freedom mean to you: flexibility, security, creativity or purpose?
- Invest as much in your mindset as in your portfolio: What internal stories or doubts may be holding you back, and what support can help you get through them?
- Build with intention: How can the spaces you live and work in better support your wellbeing and reflect your values?
- Cable with connection: How can empathy, collaboration and authenticity improve your business and the communities you serve?
Taylor Cohen’s journey reminds us that real estate is not just about transactions, but also about transformation. When women invest in themselves, their communities, and the spaces they create, they build more than just wealth. They build heritage, independence and choice.
Because true financial freedom is not just about what we earn, but also about the way we live, live and create a life that feels like home.
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