Jennifer O'Dell

I've always lived by the belief that people don't always remember what you say, but they will always remember how you made them feel. That's been my approach as a leader and in every interaction. I also believe that 80% of success is just showing up - if you just show up and do your best, it speaks volumes. My background in psychology, especially training in understanding different personality types and what motivates people, has helped me work with and manage people who are different from myself. I'm a believer in lifelong learning, always asking my boss if we can try new tools and best practices, whether it's BombBomb for video marketing or attending annual conventions like Do You Convert in Chicago to learn from others in the industry. And honestly, I think my Midwestern values and work ethic from growing up in Iowa, where I was detassling corn at 14, taught me what hard work really means. I couldn't have achieved my recent leadership award without my team - they're like a work family, many of whom I've worked with in previous roles, and that collaborative, cohesive approach to connecting different departments has been key to our success.

The work-life balance in certain roles has been off-kilter and very difficult as a woman to manage, especially being a single mom while also having a leadership role in a corporate company. I finally feel like my kids are older now and I'm finding that balance. Right now, I'm going through an interesting transition because we just got acquired by Stanley Martin, which is one of the top 20 builders in the country. We're going from being privately owned to publicly owned, so navigating that change is a current challenge. On the opportunity side, I think utilizing all the latest tools and applications is key - things like AI coming around the corner, and tools like BombBomb for video marketing, because we know that 70% of people watch videos over getting an email all day long. The biggest opportunity I see is in continuing to learn and adopt best practices, and in connecting different departments together so everyone works in a cohesive, cooperative way.

The most important value to me is how you make people feel - I always remember that people don't always remember what you say, but they will always remember how you made them feel. Customer experience is incredibly important to me because it's the biggest purchase anyone will ever make in their life, whether they're a first-time home buyer or building a $3 million house, and I think it's incredible to be part of that journey. I really value becoming part of people's life journeys - I've been invited to bar mitzvahs, birthday parties, and to see babies in the hospital, and that connection is near and dear to my heart. In my personal life, I truly spend a lot of time with my kids and my family, doing traditions and holidays together. I also value the simple things that bring enjoyment, like candles and sunsets - I'm totally obsessed with taking photos of sunsets and even made a book of them. And I believe in always showing up and doing your best, because that just speaks volumes.