Kinsey Alexander

Meet Kinsey Alexander

What is your role at Avison Young?

Assistant Property Manager.

How did you get into commercial real estate?

Completely by accident! I graduated college in the middle of the recession and therefore took any job I could get which happened to be a Leasing Agent job offered to me by the apartments I was living in because the office team remembered my personality from my leasing tour. That launched me into my love affair with property management and as soon as I found commercial office management, I knew I had found my niche! I have now worked in commercial property management for 7 years.

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

My grandmother. She was very progressive for her era and has always been intentional in making sure that all the women in her life know that each of us is valuable and a force to be reckoned. We do not need saving and we have the capability to forge our own paths and positively influence people. My favorite story to tell about her is that she started a girl's high school basketball team that would secretly practice on the boys' basketball court after they were gone. When they got found out, the boys banned them telling them that girls were not allowed on their court. My grandmother then went around to local businesses and got them to donate materials for the girls to build their own court, which they did. Then, for the end of season banquet, my grandmother somehow coerced a professional player or coach (can't remember who exactly) to come speak at the girl's banquet. When the boys' basketball team asked to join, my grandmother said, "Sorry no boys allowed on the girls court."

What advice would you give women starting out in real estate?

Use your resources. Although we should all take advantage of mentoring/guidance/professional network associations available, you will find yourself in situations where you are it and you have to rise to the occasion. In the property management side of things this means that you need to take the time to read the legal documents, look at the 'intimidating' spreadsheet formulas, read your vendor contracts, get to know your tenants. Look at previous files to find the history on things or a working template. By taking these initiatives, you gain perspective on the greater picture of the asset and can make sensible solutions thus feeling more and more confident about your value that you bring to the table. With added confidence and satisfaction in problem solving, you will positively snowball into becoming an even more versatile real estate manager.

This year's IWD theme is Choose to Challenge. What do you choose to challenge or celebrate to help create more inclusion in your community?

I choose to celebrate other women's successes because women supporting women is EVERYTHING. I challenge myself to expand my social circle to include women further advanced in their goals to inspire me, women just coming into their own that I can mentor and women from various backgrounds that I can learn from.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

During the pandemic my hobby became learning random knowledge. Examples of this are, I took a 21-day positivity class that expanded my outlook on gratitude. I can now find something to be grateful for at literally any given moment. I took an etiquette class and learned how to properly serve champagne. I became a minimalist, completely simplifying my lifestyle, which now allows me more headspace to make critical thinking decisions at work! I am currently learning about feng shui and implementing the bagua principles in my home.