Veteran property managers, possibly a bit world-weary from their recent COVID struggles, might find fresh inspiration by viewing their profession through younger eyes. Talk with folks such as Brianna Drisdale, and you鈥檒l hear such words as 鈥減assion鈥� and 鈥渆xcitement鈥� in descriptions of her chosen profession.
The 30-year-old Drisdale is so new to property management (she got her first job鈥搘ith Brookfield Retail Real Estate Group鈥搄ust this past January) that she hasn鈥檛 yet gained her CPM certification鈥� although it鈥檚 definitely on her must-do list.
Drisdale鈥檚 enthusiasm for the profession is clear. But don鈥檛 mistake that enthusiasm for naivete. Since graduating Sam Houston University in 2014 with majors in media and marketing, Drisdale has been driven to put those skills to work. She鈥檚 a self-proclaimed 鈥渉ustler,鈥� who says, 鈥淭he theme of my career has always been challenging myself and taking risk.鈥�
She came to this point in her professional path by seeking out the people who could guide her, and by picking up whatever training she could along the way to further define her career. That鈥檚 how she discovered commercial real estate in the first place. After dipping her toe in the waters of media and public relations, she took a position selling houses, and got her Texas Real Estate License in 2019. It was in that position that she first heard of commercial real estate.
鈥淚t sounded new and exciting,鈥� she says. But as she did her research, she found barriers to entry. 鈥淚t was very elusive. A resume is great, but at the end of the day, you have to know someone. But I knew that, if I tried hard enough, I could break through.鈥�
Then she attended an 乐竞体育赛事直播 mixer, and being the self-starter she is, began networking. 鈥淚 could tell that, like other areas of real estate, these people were successful,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut they were also happy.鈥� And, unlike other disciplines, they were very open to talk.
鈥淔or months I would take people to coffee and talk with them,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 interviewed with several companies to better understand the industry, and I found it was more exciting and inspiring than the residential real estate I was doing.鈥� Drisdale joined her local 乐竞体育赛事直播 chapter in December of last year and is now a property management associate at Brookfield鈥檚 First Colony Mall in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, Texas.
It was a perfect fit for someone who 鈥渨as always passionate about retail. I mean who doesn鈥檛 love to shop and dine out? And in addition to the administrative responsibilities, the rent collections and monitoring tenant sales, I鈥檓 able to exercise my passion for people. I can reach out and touch 130-plus tenants.鈥� She cites recent guidance to a visitor who couldn鈥檛 find the mall鈥檚 Apple store as one small example of this outreach at work.
That little story also symbolizes why property management is a fit for Drisdale. 鈥淧roperty management puts a face on what the consumer sees鈥搕he walls, the floors, the ceilings,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t gives it personality and character.鈥�
But there鈥檚 also a hard-core side to this softer consideration. 鈥淲e鈥檙e the face of the property, but we鈥檙e also responsible for the bottom line. We鈥檙e in charge of value. We鈥檙e the ones who marry the 鈥榩eople side鈥� with the overarching goals of the clients we work for.鈥�
Drisdale鈥檚 collective passions extend far beyond the fortunes of the mall she manages. Named one of 乐竞体育赛事直播 Houston chapter鈥檚 2022 Future Leaders, she鈥檚 also involved in its Community Outreach program, which is working with local groups and individuals on issues such as poverty, advancement for veterans, and COVID relief.
鈥淚 grew up in the inner city of Houston,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd my heart will always be there. It鈥檚 cool to work in a more affluent part of the city because I can take that experience and help bring inspiration for business growth to my local area.鈥�
So new is Drisdale to the profession that future growth and a career trajectory is still not fully formed. But it鈥檚 starting to take shape. She sees herself in a leadership position, eventually. And she sees community outreach as part of whatever path she takes.
鈥淚 would love one day to reach out to the high school I attended to serve as a voice of inspiration and challenge to students,鈥� she says, adding that her role as a property manager can help her achieve that vision. 鈥淣ow that I finally have my foot in the door, there鈥檚 no telling where it can take me.鈥�