New city, new job, new team

Meet Sharon Kariampuzha, a rising star on our Industrial Tenant Rep team in Chicago, who is integral in developing comprehensive cost-saving real estate solutions for companies throughout the U.S.

Daily, Kariampuzha utilizes supply chain network optimization, transportation cost modeling, financial analytics, and labor analytics to help companies make informed and cost-effective decisions in their site selection process.

But how did Sharon find her way to JLL and the world of commercial real estate? It was all thanks to a childhood neighbor who raved about the incredible culture and endless opportunities at JLL's New York office. Intrigued, Sharon embarked on her journey, joining our national operations team in Dallas, TX, fresh out of college.

“The National Operations team took me under their wing and encouraged me to meet with people across all business lines (Thank you, Analeta Olden and Ivy Gold!). Throughout the summer of 2020, I met with 50+ professionals across the company and country to learn about their journey, get advice, and figure out where I belonged in the commercial real estate world. Soon enough, a call came in for an Analyst position on the Industrial Team in Chicago,” said Kariampuzha.

While this was an opportunity of a lifetime, Kariampuzha was initially hesitant on making the move from Dallas to Chicago, but Dan McGillicuddy and Kris Bjorson allowed her to test Chicago out for a month. Dan said, ‘if you like and survive Chicago in the winter, you’ll love it the rest of the year’. Sharon still can’t believe she’s saying this but two weeks into the Chicago January weather, she was sold.

Sharon at a conference

Moving to a new city and starting a new role at the same time can be daunting but she describes her team in Chicago as having “become my family away from my home state of Texas. From trips to conferences around the United States to our local carpools, they look out for me beyond just the office. It’s not often that co-workers like Jennifer Rorie help you pack, move, and design your apartment.” Talk about true teamwork!

Understanding her goals and utilizing their internal networks, her team was able to guide her next career move.

Sharon's journey embodies everything we stand for at JLL – a culture that empowers and nurtures talent, paving the way for incredible careers to flourish. We value dedication, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Sharon’s story exemplifies JLL’s culture and our commitment to career growth. The passion and work ethic that Sharon brings to her role are two ingredients that JLL highly values.

Team photo at trade show