Skillful Assistant Property Manager finds success by serving others

In the cultural and retail heart of the nation’s capital lies the District Center, one of the largest properties in JLL’s Office DC portfolio. Upon entering the building, Assistant General Manager Yasmine Saibou conducts a walkthrough with a keen eye for detail, making sure lights are on and spaces are clean to tenants’ satisfaction. She then hosts her weekly morngoal- orienteing huddle with the Property Management staff to discuss operational details for the day. Yasmine always poses the same question to the team: How can I help anyone?

“I always want to do my best for the people that are around me, whether it's supporting them from afar or actively helping them accomplish their goals,” she says. “That's the driving force in life that really brings me joy.”

Yasmine immigrated to the United States from Benin, West Africa, when she was eight years old. She grew up with two siblings, watching her single mother work tirelessly to navigate settling into a new country and the challenges that come with it.

“The transition was tough. I came here not knowing how to speak any English, so not only did I have to catch up in school, but I had to adapt to America. We really relied on living with our extended families until my mom was able to get on her feet.”

Yasmine developed a passion for helping others at a young age. In high school, she joined a mentorship program called “Leaders of Tomorrow” within the National Black MBA Association. The organization provided her with resources and guidance on college preparation and career mapping. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Florida A&M University and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

“I never wanted any of my mother’s suffering to go to waste,” she said. “It instilled a drive in me to be goal-oriented and make her proud. I wanted her to be able to reap the benefits of everything she had to sacrificed for us to be successful here.”

Now with her Property Management and Real Estate License and eight years of industry experience under her belt, Yasmine enjoys sharing her expertise and helping others reach their goals. She is a proud member of JLL Property Management’s DEI committee, where she sends monthly newsletters to educate and inspire her peers on a wide range of diversity topics, including awareness holidays and inclusive actions, and promote diverse vendors.

“Many companies have diversity initiatives, but at JLL there are actions behind those words,” she said. “I see diverse people in not just lateral roles but at all levels of upper management, and I know that the goals that I set for myself are attainable.”

Yasmine describes the culture at JLL as inclusive, flexible and helpful since the first day she started. When she’s not playing on her intramural JLL Volleyball Team or on the phone with loved ones from across the world, the rest of her free time is dedicated to helping emerging leaders of color succeed. Particularly, paying it back to the organization that she holds close to her heart, as the now Director of the Maryland Chapter of Leaders of Tomorrow within the National Black MBA Association.

“When I graduated from school and came back to the DC area, it was very important for me to give back my time to volunteer because I saw the impact that it had in my life and I wanted to pay it forward.”

Similar to the guidance that she received 10 years ago, Yasmine helps foster a network of support and mentorships for teenagers. Many of the students in the program classify as “at risk” and live in communities that do not have access to resources they need. She constantly searches for ways to help enrich their lives and ease their transitions into college and a career. Some of the main areas of help include scholarship applications, sourcing internships, community service opportunities, and general life skills such as financial literacy classes.

Today, Yasmine celebrates her 1-year milestone at JLL where she thrives at a company that ultimately aligns her two passions: Real Estate and helping others.

Thank you for all that you do, Yasmine.

Interested in volunteering or learning more about the National Black MBA association? The organization is looking for speakers (virtually or in person) that can cover college preparedness and financial literacy topics. Learn more at https://nbmbaa.org/