As featured in "Jacksonville Business Journal"
Jacksonville Business Journal, August 16, 2024
1. What Motivates You As You Lead Your Team
I have been incredibly blessed in my life and I firmly believe that to whom much is given, much is required. I have a responsibility to make an impact and I founded DLP to do just that, to create solutions to help others dream, live, and prosper. When you’re committed to something bigger than yourself, it’s not hard to stay motivated.
I grew up in a working-class family and by the time I was 17, we had moved more than thirty times. I know how that impacted me as a child and I feel for so many of today’s families who find themselves chasing rent concessions, unable to stay in one place long enough to make it feel like a true home. That’s what motivates me to lead my team to bring attainable housing solutions to the market in the face of the affordable housing crisis.
The work we do is so much more than just investing in attainable real estate; it's investing in the people who call these communities home. The goal for all the communities we invest in, whether we’re acquiring an existing property or financing the development of something new, is to offer residents what we call a “Thriving Community” life. We emphasize not just affordable rent and a safe space, but the fostering of a connected community, with enrichment and education opportunities to empower residents
2. What Has been the biggest challenge you've faces as your company has grown?
Managing the small things that come with growth without losing sight of the critical big-picture goals. As our team grew bigger, there were more meetings, responsibilities, day-to-day decisions, and opportunities—all of which needed my attention. This put a lot of pressure and demand on me as a leader, which made me research and try different methods of managing a rapidly growing team. Once I was able to pinpoint the working strategies that helped me navigate the pains of growing my business, I realized others could benefit from these strategies and tools as well! That's when I gave it a formal framework, The Elite Execution System, and published my first book, "Building an Elite Organization."
3. What's been the 'secret sauce' that has helped propel your growth?
One of the key business lessons I’ve learned over the years is the importance of having a clear vision for your organization, which has been foundational to our growth and success over the years. Having a clear vision of who DLP is and, equally, who we aren’t, makes it easier to make the right decisions for the company’s future, especially when I have to evaluate several opportunities simultaneously. There’s an important consideration here: having that clarity of vision as a leader isn’t enough on its own; you need alignment and commitment from your entire team, as well. We place a lot of emphasis on that at DLP and you’ll see it reflected in our culture. We close each year with something we call Vision Day, which is when we all align as a team on the goals for the year ahead.
4. What have you done to keep your company culture strong as you grow?
We are a culture-first organization, plain and simple. I think that to excel as an organization, you have to invest heavily in your people. At DLP Capital, we have a mantra of “leaders made here,” which is a way of saying that we are committed to providing opportunities and resources for personal and professional growth. We are always looking for new ways to act on that commitment and offer our team members everything from our leadership-focused book club to wellness programs with fully personalized personal training and nutrition programs. Just last year, we added a flexible work schedule that allows our employees to live out one of our core values—to live fully.
5. What advice would you have for those who are looking to lead a fast-growing company?
Be disciplined and intentional in every aspect of your life. And what I really mean when I say that is you have to be willing to exchange short-term pleasure for long-term achievement and success. You really have to be relentless in taking intentional steps each and every day that advance your goals and bring you closer to the bigger vision you have for the company. Being disciplined and intentional in the things you say yes to, the people you hire, and what you give your attention to is paramount to leading a fast-growing company, especially when the decisions you have to make are inconvenient or uncomfortable.
6. What challenges or opportunities do you see on the horizon and how are you preparing for them?
With so many Americans unwilling to give up mortgage rates they locked in before the interest rate hikes began in 2022, home prices are being driven to record highs, exacerbating the affordable housing crisis. We’re going to continue to do everything we can to create attainable rental housing solutions that can offer some relief to working families. Part of that is being a trusted capital source for experienced real estate sponsors who are facing challenges in obtaining traditional financing. That’s one of the biggest issues we’re seeing in this space right now, access to capital to get projects off the ground and across the finish line. We’ll continue to offer solutions through DLP Capital Sponsored Funds, driving performance for our investors while making an impact on the attainable rental housing market and those that depend on it.
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