In this episode of Burning the Ships, Jennifer Steward shares how she became a powerhouse in off-market real estate acquisitions, building an agency of 180 virtual assistants who pull and skip trace over 2 million records per month. As a commercial real estate broker with eXp Commercial and a certified expert through the National Commercial Real Estate Association, Jennifer brings unmatched insights into finding and funding deals.

We explore Jennifer’s journey from poverty to building a real estate empire, the mindset shifts behind her success, and how she thrived in a male-dominated industry. She shares her strategies for sourcing off-market deals, building effective teams, and strategic networking. Whether you’re new to investing or scaling your portfolio, this episode is full of actionable insights and inspiration.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:36 Who is Jennifer Steward?

07:12 Reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad at the age of 15

15:34 Navigating the recession the traditional way

18:07 The importance of equity position in achieving financial freedom

22:24 How teaching your kids life lessons can set them up for success

31:10 Putting her family first before entrepreneurship

32:42 Breaking into real estate through cold calling

37:04 How networking can give you opportunities to scale and succeed

45:42 Building a global team of 180 virtual assistants

50:09 The benefits of managing team members individually

54:10 How exposing your children to your business early impacts them

01:00:30 Leading life with the intention to provide passive opportunities

01:03:04 Balancing personal life, business, and health

01:12:25 Overcoming adversity in raising a family and achieving success

01:14:55 The reality behind achieving success as an entrepreneur

01:19:31 Jennifer’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

Quotables

“I knew from a young age that I wanted out—I was willing to do whatever it took to change my future.”

“You have to give yourself the grace to be terrified and terrible.”

“My strength is understanding people’s motivations. It’s about listening, not selling.”

Links

Jennifer Steward

jenn@reidatasource.net

https://www.facebook.com/elitedealfinder