Breaking Barriers: The Resilience Behind Karina Debora Sayed’s Rise as a Female CEO in Mexico

Real estate in Mexico is a growing industry with massive international interest, but behind the scenes, it is still very much a man’s world. Unwritten rules, old power structures, and cultural expectations often leave women navigating more than just markets. They are navigating bias.

Karina Debora Sayed knows this terrain well. She did not step into real estate with a grand business plan. Her journey began with something more urgent: survival. After moving from Buenos Aires and becoming a single mother of two young children in a foreign country, Karina had no choice but to rebuild her life from the ground up.

What followed was not a straight path, but a process of transformation. From running a small restaurant and a Pilates studio to launching one of the most trusted real estate agencies in the Riviera Maya, Karina’s story is not just about rising in a male-dominated industry; it is about redefining what leadership looks like.

Starting Over, Building Forward

When Karina first arrived in Mexico, she had recently qualified as a Certified Public Accountant. The dream was to explore, not to build a business. But life had other plans. A marriage, then a divorce, followed by her ex-husband’s accident, left her fully responsible for her children and her future.

She took whatever work she could find, assisting at events, running local errands for businesses, and managing multiple tasks at once. It was not glamorous, but it was honest. Each step built her resilience.

In time, she launched two small businesses. Running a restaurant gave her a front-row view of the tourism economy. Teaching Pilates taught her discipline, patience, and connection. She remembers Tulum when it barely had electricity. It was rough around the edges but full of promise, and that energy helped shape her entrepreneurial instincts.

Leading as a Woman in a Male-Dominated Space

Being a woman in Mexico’s business world comes with extra weight. Intelligence and competence alone are often not enough. In many boardrooms and legal settings, Karina found herself needing her husband to validate her presence so she would be taken seriously.

It was not about weakness; it was about strategy. She learned when to push, when to listen, and how to adapt without compromising her values. Without family nearby, every major decision, from finances to parenting, fell on her shoulders. But Playa del Carmen, with its international community, eventually gave her a new kind of support system. Friends became extended family. Help came from neighbors and colleagues. She also leaned into her personal healing, exploring acupuncture, traditional medicine, and holistic therapies that helped her grow from within.

Creating a Business That Reflects Her Values

Karina founded Playa Realtors with a different goal, not to chase commissions, but to build trust. After witnessing the confusion international buyers often faced in Mexico’s real estate market, she decided to build a firm that represented only buyers. No developer ties. No upselling. Just honest, full-scope guidance with legal support built in.

Her leadership style blends structure with intuition. She is strategic but grounded. Clear, but never cold. She values professionalism, but she leads with presence. Her experiences as a single mother, immigrant, and entrepreneur all inform how she runs her business, with empathy, clarity, and zero tolerance for shortcuts.

Power That Feels Personal

Karina D. Sayed does not fit the typical mold of a CEO. Her strength does not come from status. It comes from lived experience, earned wisdom, and the courage to lead in a way that feels real.

She is not building just a company. She is building a new standard for women, for clients, and for an industry that is ready for change.

In a field often led by loud voices and quick wins, Karina stands out for her depth. And that, quietly but powerfully, is how change begins.