Meet Jaclyn. She is the Real Estate Acquisition Manager at Overall Murals. A typical day for her is non-stop phone calls, negotiating deals, and signing up new OOH walls that our team of painters can transform into beautiful murals. From Tribeca, New York to Lincoln Park, Chicago advertisers like American Express, Burberry, and TikTok have taken a liking to the walls Jaclyn is bringing to our landscapes.
Jaclyn joined the OM crew two years ago after leaving a male-dominated Real Estate firm where she felt second and unappreciated. Now, at Overall Murals, Jaclyn feels at home and supported by her team after facing adversity in her previous roles. We sat with Jaclyn and asked her a few questions about her journey and her advice to other females coming up in the Real Estate industry.
Hear #herstory:
What does women’s history month mean to you?
Women’s history month means having confidence in being vulnerable and willing to share your experiences with others. In doing so, we are inevitably creating a space for the future generation to be free of fear.
How do I know this?
Because it was me who exercised vulnerability just a year ago. I wrote an article for WHM where I shared a personal experience where I faced adversity in the real estate space. By allowing myself to be vulnerable in sharing my story with my fellow coworkers at Overall Murals, I was able to create a space where I feel supported and creative as I pursue a career that fulfills me. Now, 12 months later, I have achieved so much personally and in my career working alongside a fully female-led real estate team.
Growing up, was there someone in your life that inspired who you are today? What was it and why?
When I made my career transition back in March 2018, from teaching to real estate, friends and family often questioned my decision.
They asked,
“Why, when you have a stable career, take such a drastic leap by leaving it to pursue Real Estate – an industry that has a ‘no guarantees’ mentality” reputation?”
rust me I was asking myself the same question.
But as I step back from my fears and reflect on what drove my decision to leave teaching for Real Estate, I think about my mother who raised me and my 3 sisters as a single parent. When times were tough on our family, my mother took a leap of faith leaving all that she knew to move all her children to a new place where she felt we could have more opportunities.
As the sole decision-maker for our family, my mother constantly overcame adversity by staying determined even when it could have been risky.
So when I think about why I took a leap of faith to change industries and pursue a career that was deemed difficult, I think back to my mother’s leap of faith to create a space that supported her and her children’s needs. That’s why I confidently dove into something new, where I too hoped to create the space for a better future for myself and for those around me.
Why did you choose to become a Real Estate Acquisition Manager?
In many ways, I feel like this role chose me. I have always been a go-getter, once I set my eye on the prize I work relentlessly to make it happen. My ability to connect with people and celebrate shared experiences, be vulnerable, and be honest has yielded great results and I am excited to have continued growth here at Overall Murals.
What do you like most about your role?
As the manager of East Coast acquisitions, staying connected is a huge part of my role. As I discover and identify potential sign spaces, it is imperative that I build relationships with our current and prospective partners to build rapport and secure great sign space.
Every time I secure a new wall, I get excited to be part of its transition. For example, our newest acquisition is located in Lincoln Park, Chicago. The facade of the wall had two tones of paint, the bricks were deteriorating and the wall became a bit of an eyesore. Our team revived the wall by repainting it and securing the brick exterior to look brand new and clean for future advertisers. Now, what was once a forgotten vinyl display is now a beautiful photo-realistic hand painted Burberry campaign seen by people driving by in their cars as they pass through to play and shop.
In the end, I work hard to find beauty in the walls that may otherwise be overlooked. I secure said space for Overall Murals so we can do the work to transform it into a beautiful hand painted mural.
Why is it important that more women are represented in the real estate field? This question cannot be explored without first discussing the representation of BIPOC identified women in the real estate field. I hope that the value of women, all women, in the real estate space, residential, commercial, and out-of-home advertisement, isn’t just remembered every time March comes around. It is important that every month, we continue working to forge a gender-equal mindset and challenge the status quo. As a female-identified professional in the field, calling out and challenging racial stereotypes, bias, and gender assumptions are imperative in creating positive visibility for women in this field.
What piece of advice would you give to women in Real Estate? I would like to let women in Real Estate know that they are enough. Their feelings and experiences are valid, and compromising oneself in order to further your career is not worth it. In my previous role at a brokerage in Williamsburg, I came close to forgetting who I was in order to appease a male-dominated office. That experience reminded me that I did not have to accept the status quo. Being successful is very important to me, but listening to my gut and drawing a line, even if it’s the path of most resistance, was the best decision I have ever made for my personal and professional growth.