My Story: #BrokerJenny
1st Honorable Award of Literary Fiction from "The Bookfest!
I was born and raised in Beijing. I immigrated to Houston in 1991. I graduated from Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston. I had always been working on the restaurant’s side of the business as a student, so naturally, I was offered a “restaurant manager” job after I graduated. It was different running a restaurant in the real-world compared to working at our “magic-kingdom-like” Hilton College. Instead of setting a goal to climb up the managerial ladder, I was only frizzled by the daily operational stress. Being exhausted, I sank into a phrase of “lost,” not sure who I was, what I was doing, and why I was there. I was up for a change. I went back to Hilton College to take some graduate courses. I thought the idea of pursuing a master’s degree may elevate me. But it didn’t. I was bored after finishing a few initial courses. I felt like drifting through a dark tunnel. Eventually, one day, some friends talked me into selling real estate. Real estate, it sounded so new, yet I felt invigorated. I saw a light at the end of the tunnel.
Without much hesitation, I had dived into it without any experience, knowledge, or clientele. Yet my heart was full, full of hope and determination. Obtained my license in August 2002, I joined RE/MAX Metro and started my career as a REALTOR. In the following 16 years, I grew with the Metro team, personally and professionally. Rain, or shine, I had never thought of changing brokerage. I stayed where I was. During those years, I rose, failed, and rose again. I earned countless awards, Top Producer, RE/MAX 20/20, and Hall of Fame…along with the ups and downs in life, market fluctuation, and all the hurricanes we survived.
In 2014, I joined the Women’s Council of REALTOR® Houston Network. I served on the board and started as VP of Membership. In 2016, I was honored to serve on the Executive Board as the President of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® Houston Network. I served with passion and learned with heart. Serving the network helped me to root deeply in our industry. I was enlightened, in a sense of becoming aware of who I was, where I was, and what I was doing. I gained a deeper and better understanding of what it meant to be, ME, a REALTOR®. I was no longer lost. I found myself. Through building strong relationships, I was bonded with our business, industry, and communities. “JWang on the block” was on the horizon.
By that time, we had already lived in the social media platform era for some years. Since Facebook was launched in 2004, many other popular apps were up hastily like popcorn. Though some called it “disruption,” I called it “revolution.” We evolved into a new way of communication and marketing. Serving the Women’s Council, we fully utilized social media to connect members, and create educational programs and networking events. I was doing a lot of photos and video clips then, sort of the “president” accidentally turned into a “photographer.” Nonetheless, the more I did it, the more I felt a “need,” a “need” for a professional media presentation that can truly reflect us, our image, and our voice. So, I thought, what if I build a video production?
In February 2018, I founded JWang Media, a custom video production to promote and market our real estate professionals. Whether it’s about a REALTOR’s profile, a lender’s insight, a title company’s statement, a networking event, or a property highlight, every quick video presents a theme, personality, and expertise. Since then, we’ve created, crafted, and produced many videos to blast out via social media platforms. Not only the listings gained more “limelight” but also the professionals gained more “Superstars’” exposure. As a result, we received sky limit viewers and followers. The audience liked and complimented the true voices and authentic messages. It’s been an effective marketing approach that delivered both value and joy.
A few months later in November 2018, I obtained my broker license. I established JWang Properties, a Boutique realty with a personal touch. I declared that “through our innovative system and custom video production, JWang Properties advances REALTORs to be the
Superstars to serve our clients, industry, and communities. We offer one-stop customized strategies and service plans tailored to each client’s individual needs in both residential and commercial real estate.”
Today, we have top producers and expert agents in both residential and commercial fields. Together we bring value to our clients and strive for multi-million and more sales volumes. Value, no doubt, is what we produce and deliver. Yet we offer more. We offer joy. I believe many REALTORs out there can relate, that when it comes to representing our clients, their problems become our problems and their happiness become our happiness. We get on this journey together, sharing their personal experiences and building memories. As REALTOR®, we are the hub and personal touch in every transaction. Even when we fail to close the deals sometimes, we let our relationships prevail. This is how we define ourselves, the culture of JWang family.
In July 2019, I started to draft my debut novel, “Girl Wears Those Shoes.” Writing has always been a great part of me and finally, I decided to put it into a perspective. I’ve been a fiction lover, so I wanted to venture into that. There was no doubt that “creating a fiction” was the toughest project I had carried on. I wanted to portray characters that can inspire young professionals in the business. I wanted to share the ideas, experiences, answers, values, and even controversial issues in a young REALTOR’s life. The protagonist of the story, Gigi O, represents a new model of Chinese immigrants of our time. Through her personal and professional growth, her spirit, principles, and values are universal. The battle, discipline, and strength it takes to run through the course are the same for everybody, regardless of race, sex, or ethnic background. The triumph, like the Red Sole, does not prejudice. It loves the woman who rocks it!
On December 14, 2021, “Girl Wears Those Shoes” was officially released. I’m grateful for receiving much positive feedback. “What a fun read!” “I’ve never known it takes that much to be working as a REALTOR!” “I’ve learned a lot about real estate!” ….. I’ve always told people that my approach to the book is: “If you want to learn, you learn. If you don’t want to learn, at least you will be entertained!” The joy is what we love to bring and share! We love what we do. It’s a journey. Why not make it fun?! On 04/04/2022, I received my first honorable award for literary fiction from” The BookFest.”
In January 2022, we officially launched our new website: www.jennywanghouston.com. This new site contains three landing parts: “JWang Properties”, “JWang Media”, and “Girl Wears Those Shoes”. The book page leads to: www.jennywangauthor.com. There, I created a donation button for our Houston Ballet, supporting the art and performance of our city. To conduct business, serve our industry, and give back to our communities, I established the business model of JWang, Inc.
Welcome to our JWang Family, an entity of Business with Culture. And sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I am your #BrokerJenny!