2022 Industry Leaders: Jennifer Djurkovic, Djurkovic Investment Properties

Nominee’s Name & Job Title: Jennifer Djurkovic CEO/Founder/ Commercial Broker

Nominee’s Company/Affiliation: Djurkovic Investment Properties (DIP LLC)

Nominee’s City & State of Employment: New York, NY

What leadership role outside of the workplace is most rewarding to you?

As one of the three founding partners of “College Cribs,” which is a data base of academic-focused neighborhoods apartment rentals within close proximity of college campuses. We are developing a solution for students to find off campus college rental properties quicker through our platform. I have shown leadership within that group in many ways including with the creation and design of the marketing of College Cribs. The app will be launched in the near future and we are very excited to bring it to the market.

What advice would you give the next generation of leaders in your industry?

If you’re lucky enough to be handed the ball by someone in a position of authority at a major company, just keep running and don’t over think. If you get knocked off that horse you need to get right back in the saddle. If you get knocked down then get up and dust yourself off and you might make it through. If you are hungry and really want it enough then keep running and never stop.

Describe what you would consider to be ONE of your top career highlights:

Executing the sale of a development site in the heart of down town Miami. The subject property was located on North Miami Ave. in close proximity to, Miami World Center, Adrienne Arsht Center, The Underline/395 project at the foot of the site, and Brightline Miami. The properties closed in February 2022 with multiple parcels and different owners. It was a very complicated deal with many moving parts. Djurkovic Investment Properties, LLC (DIP LLC) was laser focused on balancing the needs of all sellers and buyers in the transaction. DIP LLC and my partner on the deal overcame many obstacles to get it to the finish line. After the deal closed, DIP LLC and my partner recently was retained by the new ownership to sell the development site for a second time. It was a big victory for DIP LLC and we are grateful that we had the opportunity. We were proud to obtain record pricing in a difficult market while working closely with many mega developers and investors throughout the marketing process. Hard work eventually led to the final round of bids that were finally accepted by the former ownership.

What award were you most proud to receive?

In April 2018, I was honored for the “Top Women to Watch in Real Estate” Celebrated at Club 101 on Park Ave., at their 16^th annual event which was sponsored by Sokol Media. As the only woman-owned real estate publishing business in New York City, the special gala aimed to celebrate outstanding women from all areas of real estate, ranging from development, architecture, engineering, finance and law. It was a unique opportunity to recognize leaders in the industry and I was honored to be selected amongst such a talented group of women for such an important occasion. In order to be considered for the award, honorees must be nominated by prior recipients or by a notable women’s real estate organization. That acknowledgement by my peers was humbling. I think it’s extremely vital for women to support women for a multitude of reasons. I feel we should always empower one another as I am forever a “girl’s girl.”