Grace Anicete

As a Filipino woman, I attribute my success to the legacy of my grandfather, who was my mom's father and an overseas Filipino worker. He started coming to the States when he was barely of age and did everything so that he could send money back to the Philippines. Generation after generation, Filipino workers still do that, and I have been privileged to grow up as an American citizen because of my grandfather. I came to the States when I was just 4 years old. Having had that legacy, where our parents taught us to keep your head down and go to work, stay quiet, and just do hard work - I believe that's where I learned my discipline. My mother was so fearless and had such a big voice and personality. She used to tell me that people in our culture would say my father was 'under de saya,' which meant that maybe I was the leader of the family, not my husband. But she explained to me that she just happened to have a strong voice and strong will and was fearless, and I feel like I get that from my mother. My father was the silent power, which I feel like I have a part of that as well. Just remembering the legacy of my grandfather and all of those that came after him, which were his children - everybody just came to work and did good work and hard work to put their family in a good position. I have been blessed to have been a beneficiary of that legacy.

I heard a long time ago, still very young, somebody said, do something you like, and you'll never work a day in your life. As a tenant coordinator and a construction project manager, I have to say I really, really enjoy it. I enjoy this job. I never feel like I'm actually working because I enjoy it.

I have said this a handful of times to women, especially minority women, and especially to young women and little girls within my realm, whether we're bloodlines or not. To those who have had some difficulty, maybe a teenage pregnancy, and families that are feeling ashamed because their child's going through this, I have had nothing but wonderful things to say: Don't let this define you. Finish school, and let them see what power you have, that you can take care of yourself, whether you're going to be a single mom or just trying to get by. Just do it and say that you can do it every day. Wake up every day and want to fight the fight. I just feel like I have shared compassion, passion, and my voice with those that I feel like they needed just a little bit of push. I love giving everybody a sense of self and letting them realize that they're strong in every way. They just have to show up, and they want to show up.

I'm actually coming to the back nine of my life and career. I remember being in my early 20s starting this industry, and so I am just hitting my early 60s. I feel like I'm still young enough to do what I want to do, but there's such ageism. I have had a couple of interviews in the last 6 months that's really kind of made me sad. But beyond that, I thought, you know, I can't fault them. Business is business, and corporate America is a little bit selfish in that they want the right people in place. So how do I highlight someone who I feel like has been overlooked? Maybe you're gonna get the best tenant coordinator in someone who has maybe a good 25 years of experience versus somebody who's just got out of college two years ago, or they fit in the mold of what you're looking for in terms of salary. Maybe they view you as someone who is, if you're in your 60s, then you're not as energized. I've come to terms with realizing that there are just some things that are inherently within our world that maybe people don't talk about it loudly. Maybe those of us who have been in this industry, or in any industry, shouldn't be put out to pasture yet if we're still so passionate and still have that energy.

I want to be the champion of those who don't have the voice, whether they're my best friends, whether they're community, whether it's church, whether it's my own bloodlines, or people that I meet in my industry. I like to be a voice for them, and I'm a natural listener. I build these relationships with tenants who are great businessmen, and they know what they want. As a landlord, you have to make it work out. The leases are ironclad and favor the landlord all the time, but every now and again, there's some leases that are bad, and I have to step in and try and make it work out. I coach leasing, legal, and asset, and help make that change happen. Tenants, for some reason, they can hear it in my voice that they feel like Grace will help, and I have done that a handful of times. I am someone who has a strong personality, and I stick to what I believe in, and I never compromise what is right. Of course, you can't circumvent the city approving authority and codes. I love the legacy of Terry and Greg - Teresita is my mother, and Gregorio is my dad. The legacy they left so early, as the first born and their only daughter, I absolutely love, because I think she is a good, good person. Spending time with family is something very special.