Name: Jessica Vilmenay
Title: Senior Associate
Company Name: Schuckman Realty
Years in Commercial Real Estate: Approximately 10
What were your biggest fears when you started out in your profession?
I started at Schuckman Realty with no prior experience in real estate. In school, I majored in art history and education; real estate was not on my radar. I have been working since I was thirteen years old and always looked for experiences that would enable me to express my creativity and to grow within the work environment. When I interviewed at Schuckman Realty, I took a leap of faith and trusted I was in the right place. Starting as a receptionist, I moved on to director of marketing, eventually receiving my real estate license and am now a senior associate working on high-level real estate projects in Metro New York. Every day I am grateful for the courage I found to change careers and the success which I have encountered along with the continued growth I am experiencing at Schuckman Realty.
Who are three women- living or dead - that you would like to have drinks with and why?
1. Eleanor Roosevelt: Eleanor Roosevelt was a driving force through difficult times. She broke ground in race relations, women's rights and international diplomacy. I would love to discuss what shaped her thoughts and why she was driven to become such a woman of strength particularly at a time when women's roles were defined quite differently.
2. Barbara Corcoran: Barbara Corcoran is such an inspiration to any woman interested in becoming more than they could ever dream of. Against the odds, she became a driving force in the real estate industry. Starting from nothing and having had many jobs and experiences, as I have, I would love to be able to speak with her about her courage and drive.
3. My mother: She knows me better than anybody and never holds back. She is my best and worst critic. My mother is the person who is always honest with me in every situation, whether I am interested in hearing her opinion or not. She always has my best interests at heart and supports me through every decision I have made and will continue to make in life. She inspires me to be and do my best whether at work or at home with my family. She has taught me to have strength through adversity and joy in times of strife.
What is your favorite quote?
"...vision without execution is hallucination" Walter Isaacson
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