Her Story
About Jacqueline
Jackie James serves as a Realtor and Community Association Manager in DeLand, Florida. She entered the field in 2016 after working as a front desk person at a property management company, obtaining both her real estate license and CAM license within months of each other. Originally from Jamaica, she sought a fulfilling profession upon arriving in the United States and has remained dedicated to both roles ever since. Jackie earned an associate degree in business administration from Daytona State College in 2017 and a bachelor's degree in supervision and management in 2019. She is a member of VIN Association Managers in support of her CAM license. Jackie attributes her professional success to her family values, drawing daily inspiration from how her work motivates her daughter and son. She particularly enjoys real estate for the opportunity to guide clients through the journey of finding their forever home and witnessing their happiness at the closing table. Among the values she holds most important are being recognized, self-motivation, and contribution. Jackie advises aspiring professionals in her field to choose work they love so it feels like contributing to something worthwhile rather than a daily grind, while noting that property management requires empathy and listening skills akin to those of a therapist when residents share personal challenges.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jacqueline
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success is attributed to my family values. Each day I work, I think about my family and how they view me as someone that inspired them. I feel proud when they look at me and say you know I get a day and I work and that inspires them to do the same. I have my daughter and my son here.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Choose something that you love so you don't view it as working daily but more contributing to something worthwhile.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's a hard job being in property management. You have to be the therapist because some people come with their problem to tell you that this is happening in their lives. And you have to listen. It's like you're being their therapist. You have to empathize and listen and be like a therapist so it's a rounded job and it's not just something you're coming in to just want to be around a computer and not listen to residents and what they have to say.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Biggest challenges might be as a property manager you're on call on weekends. So you probably might be out spending time with your family and you get a call. Someone got hurt by the pool or there was an incident by the pool or someone can't get in there or some type of emergency happening at the property that requires me either showing up or calling a vendor to take care of the problem. It could be midnight. A sprinkler exploded and started leaking through every unit in a condo. I'm on call. Now I have to get up and I have to either come to the property or call all the vendors.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being recognized, self-motivation, contribution.
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