Jodie Fraser MIRPM AssocRICS, Founder & Managing Director, Fraser Allen Estate Management
Jodie thank you for your support of Doyenne and congratulations on being our “Inspirational Woman of the Quarter” Voted for by your colleagues, residents and industry peers!
We asked Jodie a few questions about her path to success.
How did you get into the industry?
My career started in office management, moving into commercial and then residential. To be honest, I didn’t really know what leasehold management was when I started working as an administrator, but I soon realised that there were so many intricacies to be learnt and understood, which I found really interesting and was able to work my way up to Associate Director within a few years.
What was your journey like to senior management/ business owner and were there any struggles you faced getting there?
It wasn’t the easiest journey, with a lot of challenges along the way. I faced a lot of the typical stereotypes and comments like ‘You’re very ambitious, aren’t you’, which of course wasn’t meant in a good way. I really had to battle against this, and at times, I felt like I was losing the battle. I decided that the only way I would be able to achieve what I wanted was to do it for myself. My passion for this industry and for helping leaseholders/clients pushed me through.
What achievements are you most proud of?
My work with the Hollie Gazzard Trust is one of my proudest achievements. The work that they do will help so many people, and educate our younger generation on how to spot unacceptable behaviour in personal and professional relationships. The Hollie Guard App that has been produced by the Trust is a fantastic tool for property managers and I am excited to be able to share this with companies across the UK.
Some other achievements are being named one of the 42 under 42 and being part of the Small Business 100, where I was invited to the House of Lords in 2021.
What is the biggest life lesson you would tell the younger you?
Keep believing in yourself. I remember in my early 20s I had so much confidence and I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve. But with each knockback or each comment that I wasn’t quite good enough, my confidence was knocked bit by bit. But you have to keep going, and you have to push through and continue that belief in yourself. Trust me, I know how hard that is, and I am still working on it each day.
What would be your top tip for others, to help them achieve success in the industry?
Respect yourself and have boundaries. Do what you say you’re going to do, in a realistic time frame. I have made so many mistakes where I have every intention of doing something, and then something happens and you’re late for a deadline. It’s out of your control, but that doesn’t make it right for the client.
I think to be successful you also have to be honest. We’re all human, and we all have things that happen outside of work, such as illness or family responsibilities, and that is what I mean about being realistic with your time. As a people pleaser, I always want to do what the client is asking, within their timeline, but I have learnt in the past year that it is better, to be honest, and say that is not achievable, but it will be done by a given date and then stick to it, rather than rushing to do something that then puts you on the back foot for another client.
It’s all a learning curve and I have learnt a lot of hard lessons, but I’m still here, and continuing to work hard to achieve my personal and professional goals.