Career Spotlight: Sophia Lawson
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Name: Sophia Lawson
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Tell us about your career:
I thought that being a Leasing Consultant would be fun and a perfect job for me after having to shop for an apartment home while living in Dallas, TX. I observed how the consultants interacted with me, others, and how they showed me the community. I thought about how this would be a great fit for me. This is when I started my career as a Leasing Consultant in Dallas, TX in 2007. At that time, I worked with a successful REIT who helped me begin my new journey into Property Management.
I hit the ground running as a Leasing Consultant. I read about every policy. I knew the lease almost like I knew my hand. Within a month of having my job, I became the top Leasing Consultant at the property and the 3rd top Leasing Consultant in the Dallas/Fort Worth Region. I continued to win awards as a top Leasing Consultant in the Dallas/Fort Worth Region. I remember, both my Assistant Manager and Property Manager, telling me after being there for a short time, “I have never met a Leasing Consultant who was good at both paperwork and leasing. They either are good at one or the other but not both. You are great at both!” Others would say to me, “You know more policy than me and you pretty much just started.”
I took those words and that start and allowed that to become a foundation on which I live by now. “Why not be great at both?”
I later moved back to Los Angeles, CA after being away for six years in January of 2011. To get started in Los Angeles, I worked for a property management staffing agency where I worked until I was permanently hired on. Even when working as a temp, the managers enjoyed working with me and I became a favorite and popular request with the agency. I finally chose to work as a temp for one particular company by request. I will never forget this experience because I learned so much from it and still live by the things that I was taught. The manager’s name was Cyndi and she met me that day and said, “I know we haven’t met but you worked with the previous manager before and she loved you but she transferred. She told me to request you.” I worked with Cyndi as a temp but there was not an open position at the property. She was amazed at my work ethic and asked me to continue working there as temporary full-time Leasing Consultant until she could get the company to agree to create a position. After six months of working there with Cyndi, she was finally able to get the company to agree to open a position, but only a part-time customer support position.
I accepted the position. After being hired on officially by the company, I was promoted to a managerial role within the company after only a month and I grew on from there. Because of my work ethic, I was asked to oversee a multi-site affordable housing component in the region. I was selected to become a coach, an accelerated sales member, resident event ambassador and became a resource for policy and audit “Know Hows.”
My journey led me to consistently receive recognition for highest revenue growth year over year, highest resident retention rate, highest renewal rent growth year over year, highest ratings and consistent positive change in online reputation, an award for office team member of the year, nominations for property of the year, awards for service team of the year, and awards for being a team member who plays outside of the box, and for being a champion of the team.
My journey has led me to North Carolina where I currently work for Grubb Properties as a Senior Property Manage. Grubb Properties, by far, is one the best companies in the industry. I admire their culture as they not only speak the culture but they truly live it. They welcome and support growth and are all about transparency. I am thrilled to be a part of their team. I am right where I need to be!
What advice do you have for someone just starting in your field:
Become an absorber of information. Think about your end goal, position yourself for it, and even if someone tells you "No" you don't stop! Because in the end, you get what you desire if you don't stop!