Professional profile
About Paul Derby
Real estate, for me, begins and ends with people: their stories, motivations, and the way home fits into the life they're building. After more than 15 years in the tech industry, I bring a deeply human-centered approach to everything I do. My background in user experience research taught me how to uncover what truly matters to people, translate insights into action, and design experiences that feel thoughtful, seamless, and personal. At The Agency, I partner with Kyle Rawls, a trusted real estate professional with more than 20 years of experience. Together, we offer a balanced approach that blends his deep market expertise and relationship-driven service with my background in design thinking and user experience strategy. I lead client experience, marketing, and operations for our business, ensuring every step of the buying and selling journey feels intentional, clear, and rooted in care. My goal is to make complex moments simple so our clients can make informed decisions that align with their goals and values. Before real estate, I earned a PhD in Experimental Psychology (Human Factors) and built a career as a UX leader and practitioner at ServiceNow, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Facebook, and Honeywell. Through my coaching practice, I also supported and developed UX leaders across industries. That foundation shapes how I approach our work today: grounded in empathy, guided by insight, and always focused on helping people make meaningful choices with confidence and clarity.