2016 and it was a beast. My team and I worked tire-
lessly for 15 months. It was intimidating at times yet I
kept pushing forward and now I can confidently say it
is worth more than double than what I bought it for.
What excites you most about being an entrepre-
neur/IRO?
I love being able to control the balance of life and
work. As a mother, I have 2 daughters and 1 son
whom has Downs Syndrome. Due to having a son
with special needs, a good portion of my time is al-
located to the plethora of doctors/therapist appoint-
ments. Before I became a full time entrepreneur, I
worked 60 hours a week and I had very limited time.
My time was mostly focused on the health of my son.
Unfortunately, my time was limited when spending
time with my girls. Being an entrepreneur/IRO, it
gives me the freedom to spend time with each of my
kids after school, address medical needs and allow
for additional time for excursions during the summer.
When they are in school, I love to learn more about
the industry, network with like-minded people and
grow the business.
Females in RE are starting to gain momentum. How
would you take control of any gender disparities
you may experience?
As women, we need to go out there, be profession-
al, and let people know we are the leaders and en-
trepreneurs. In my experience, the majority of the
time people misinterpret my role and assume that I
am there supporting my husband as an assistant per-
haps. Once they realize that I am the one in charge,
they fall right in line. Every now and then, I come
across people that want to keep the gender gap go-
ing. I chalk that up to ignorance, because business
is business, and I will not engage working with them
in the future. There is really not a need to make an
issue out of it; I just move on. I know I am going to be
successful; I do not need their validation and I do not
need their services to move to the next level.
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May/June 2019 | www.saaaonline.org
Do you have three elements of professional insight
to share with aspiring female entrepreneurs?
Always be professional. If you are having an issue
with someone due to gender roles, disengage from
them and move on. No need to make a fuss about it,
they have their own issues of insecurity.
Stay organized; it will definitely help you throughout
your career.
Sometimes we women are our own worst enemy,
because we turn on each other. Never tear down an-
other woman. We may not always agree or even like
each other, but this is the time to build each other
up. Success is there for us all to obtain. Wouldn’t it be
more fun together?
My final thought, is surround yourself with a team of
people that is smarter than you. It is not required to
be an expert in every area yet have enough knowl-
edge, be able to discuss information and make the
final decision.
Powerful words and action from SAAA Independent
Rental Owner IRO of the Year for 2018!