Spotlight on Lee & Associates’ Leading Women in Business

Kimberly (Kim) Jacobsen

Principal

Lee & Associates of Eastern Pennsylvania LLC

Years with company/firm: 4

Years in field: +30

Years in real estate industry: +30

Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in:

In 2008, I had been doing real estate development for a design-build merchant developer when development came to a stop due to the Great Recession in 2008/2009. Brian Knowles reached out and said he was putting together an industrial brokerage team to cover eastern Pennsylvania for a previous firm and he wanted me to join him and our partner John Van Buskirk. I wasn’t sure if I could be successful in brokerage, but decided that I needed to take a chance on myself, so I did!

Why did you choose the field/profession you are in today?

I went into real estate in 1988 after moving to the Philadelphia area after college. I was an economics major in college and was looking for a career path.

What was your greatest professional accomplishment in 2024?

2024 has been challenging but so far has been good. I have a couple of transactions pending that are set to close and once they are done, they will be my biggest accomplishments this year.

What was your most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2024?

The year is not over yet, and I think the most notable project is almost on the finish line.

How do you manage the work/life balance? Work/life balance is a process. I’ve learned to prioritize - some days that means work comes first and other days that means family or my community work. Learning to make those depictions is the balance. And yes, I work when I go on vacation when needed!

Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career?

I’ve been lucky to have great influences on me. I come from a family of strong, capable women who have been tremendous role models! A former boss, Graig Guers, taught me so much about development, time management, and work product. His advice, both direct and indirect, has been invaluable in the progression of my career.

What impact has social media/networking had on your business?

Social media is one of those areas that is evolving for me and my career. I’m learning its true power and how to harness it in my business practice.

What were some of your early goals and did anything happen in your career/profession to enhance or change them?

When I went to college I wanted to become a commodities trader. But life has a funny way of putting other opportunities in front of you, some good and some not as good. My first job out of school was selling mutual funds. I didn’t feel comfortable selling something I didn’t believe in so I only did it for a year. A sorority sister from Philadelphia was auditing a small real estate company when I was moving to Philadelphia and she recommended me for what I thought would be a 6-month job. That job exposed me to the investment side of our business and set my path in commercial real estate.

What unique qualities and or personality do you feel makes you most successful in your profession?

I think in this business you need to be curious and persistent, and able to connect dots and be creative.

What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today?

You will always encounter challenges and obstacles, no matter what you do for a living. In real estate, brokerage and the industrial sector in particular, businesses, whether on the investor side or the user side, have become far more sophisticated than when I started 30 years ago. So it’s critical to understand the drivers for each party and how to achieve results that work on both sides of the transaction.

What was the most defining moment for you in the profession you are currently in?

Shortly after I started in brokerage, I was touring a company through the market and noticed that work had come to a halt on a former development project. I reached out to a couple of folks and learned that the group I had worked with on a lease was back in the market. I quickly called them and put one of our listings in front of them. Since their broker hadn’t included the building when they went back to the market, they decided to work with me on that option, and ultimately use me as their tenant rep broker in the market. So within my first 6 months in brokerage, I tenant repped a 240,000 s/f tenant for a 10-year term and thought “Wow! I can actually do this!”

Do you feel being a woman is an advantage, disadvantage or no advantage in today’s business world? Why? Why not?

When I was younger, I thought there were disadvantages to being a woman, and there probably were. But now, no. If you know your business, are prepared, professional and knowledgeable, and look for the opportunities, then you can be very successful.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’m married. My husband Joe and I have three grown children and so far, five grandchildren! We are both from large families and recently had my great-nephew with us for a year so he could finish school at Wissahickon H.S. We also have two black labs and recently lost our orange tabby cat, Pancake.

What outside activities do you enjoy during your free time?

I have participated in business groups over the years, such as CSCMP, SIOR, IAMC and NAIOP. I also volunteer within my community and currently chair a Historical and Architectural Review Board for my town and serve on my church’s flower guild and Christmas in Doylestown holiday house tour that raises funds for the Bucks Housing Group.

What inspiring words of advice would you give to a young woman about to go into the field of commercial real estate or your allied field?

Advise: Do it! The only thing that will hold you back is you!