Interview with Laura Navaquin, Founder of Navaquin Properties, Nava Consulting and Inspire Her Foundation
Read our interview with Laura Navaquin, Founder of Navaquin Properties, Nava Consulting and Inspire Her Foundation.
What’s your career background?
My career journey has been a blend of unexpected turns and fulfilling discoveries. Initially trained in international business and marketing, I found my true passion in sales and connecting with people, leading me to the realm of health insurance.
What started as a temporary plan soon evolved into a deeply rewarding career path. I thrived in meeting and surpassing sales quotas, climbing the corporate ladder, and impacting lives by assisting individuals in navigating healthcare options while implementing cost containment programs for employers.
Despite finding fulfillment in my corporate trajectory, my husband and I embarked on a real estate journey in 2015, laying the foundation for our future investments. In 2020, fueled by a desire to inspire youth to pursue their dreams, I founded the Inspire Her Foundation.
This entrepreneurial spirit has always burned within me, and while climbing the corporate ladder brought financial success, I realized that true fulfillment lies in empowering others and creating lasting impact beyond corporate confines.
How did your career change after having children?
After welcoming my first child, my son, my career aspirations initially remained focused on climbing the corporate ladder. However, I was fortunate to work for a company that offered remote work options, allowing me to balance career ambitions with being present for my son. Over the next five years, I continued in the same industry, aiding a startup in expanding their business while exceeding sales targets.
As I prepared for the arrival of our second child, I found myself reevaluating my priorities. Despite my success, the long hours, weekend calls, and frequent business travel began to take a toll on my desire for more time with my growing family.
With another child on the way, I realized that maintaining this career trajectory would mean sacrificing precious moments and milestones with my children. It became clear that a change was necessary to prioritize being present for my family while still pursuing professional fulfillment.
Where did the idea for your business come from?
The concept for Nava Consulting & Navaquin Properties emerged organically from the inquiries I regularly received from friends, family, and my social media community seeking advice on various topics such as starting a business, entering the real estate market, securing funding, and finding direction and inspiration, through the years.
As opportunities to speak and teach arose, I found myself increasingly engaged in sharing my knowledge and experiences with others, which ultimately led to the realization of a broader platform to educate and empower aspiring entrepreneurs and real estate enthusiasts.
Similarly, the genesis of Inspire Her Foundation stemmed from my personal journey navigating the challenges of corporate America within a male-dominated industry.
Faced with the need to continually prove myself and shine alongside my male counterparts, I immersed myself in public speaking, negotiation courses, and networking with fellow career-driven women. Inspired by my own experiences and the collective strength of like-minded women, I was compelled to establish Inspire Her Foundation as a beacon of encouragement for youth to pursue their dreams unabashedly, offering the resources and support needed to turn those dreams into reality.
How did you move from idea to actual business?
The transition from idea to actual business was prompted by a pivotal moment during my second pregnancy. Upon discovering that I wouldn’t receive benefits due to my recent move to a new company, where I dedicated countless hours to expanding markets and sales teams, I realized the need to reassess my priorities.
Despite working tirelessly, even through the final months of pregnancy and labor (literally), I found myself questioning whether climbing the corporate ladder aligned with my vision of success and family importance.
The turning point came when my husband and I had a candid conversation, acknowledging that it was time to focus on building our own future rather than someone else’s. With unwavering determination, I made the decision to take the plunge into entrepreneurship full-time.
It was a leap of faith, but one fueled by the belief that dedicating myself entirely to our endeavors would lead to fulfillment and success. From that moment onward, I poured my heart and soul into our businesses, knowing that this journey was not just about financial gain, but about creating a life that truly resonated with our values and aspirations.
Who’s your target audience?
My target audience for real estate education is diverse, catering to anyone interested in entering, beginning, or scaling their real estate investing journey, whether as a full-time pursuit or a side endeavor alongside a traditional 9-5 job.
While some may assume that I advocate solely for leaving corporate roles to pursue real estate full-time, my approach recognizes the viability of integrating real estate investing seamlessly alongside a full-time career. This allows individuals to build wealth for retirement, generate passive income, and enhance their current lifestyle.
My audience encompasses a range of individuals, from complete beginners seeking to learn the fundamentals to experienced investors exploring new markets, strategies, and networking opportunities. Whether pursuing real estate as a primary focus or a supplementary income stream, my aim is to provide valuable insights and resources to empower individuals at every stage of their investing journey.
How do you spread the word about what you do?
I spread the word about what I do primarily through word of mouth, leveraging the power of social media platforms, and I have been fortunate to have my work, speaking engagements, etc featured in podcasts, magazines, and various media outlets. These channels allow me to connect with a wide audience, share valuable insights, and showcase the impact of my work in real estate education and entrepreneurship.
And your proudest moment so far?
My proudest moment thus far has been serving as a role model to my children, showing them that anything is possible with hard work, determination, consistency, and stepping out of your comfort zone. Despite not having all the answers when embarking on new endeavors, I’ve demonstrated that with dedication, everything is figure-out-able.
In just one year of pursuing entrepreneurship full-time, we’ve accomplished significant milestones: growing our real estate portfolio nearly 900% (from 2 to 21 doors) receiving honorable features, building a thriving student base with courses, and community, and receiving increased requests for speaking engagements.
But above all, the most fulfilling aspect has been witnessing the impact on my children, especially my 7-year-old son, as I’ve shown firsthand what’s achievable through perseverance and belief in oneself. It’s a proud moment to know that I’m instilling in them the mindset and values that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Who inspires you?
I draw inspiration from a multitude of sources in my life, each contributing to my drive to set and pursue goals. My husband stands as a constant source of encouragement, pushing me beyond my comfort zone and never doubting my capacity for success. My children fuel my determination, reminding me to persevere even when faced with challenges.
My father has instilled in me the belief that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, serving as a guiding light in my journey. And there are countless other individuals whose support or uplifting stories and examples of resilience continuously inspire me to strive for greatness.
How do you balance your work with your family?
Balancing work and family is undoubtedly challenging, especially when I’m fueled by passion and surrounded by amazing people who inspire me. However, I’ve found that setting specific work hours and committing to stepping away outside of those times allows me to be fully present during family time.
It’s a constant juggle, but I’ve discovered various strategies to integrate work and family life, including finding ways to involve my children in my work and making the most of quality family time whenever possible.
What are your three top pieces of advice for someone wanting to do something similar?
Here are three pieces of advice for someone wanting to embark on a similar journey.
1) Follow your passion
Pursue endeavors that truly ignite your passion and align with your values. When you’re genuinely passionate about what you do, it fuels your motivation, creativity, and resilience, enabling you to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
2) Embrace growth, adaptability, and stepping out of your comfort zone
Stay open to learning, growth, and adaptation, and be willing to step out of your comfort zone. The entrepreneurial journey often requires taking risks, trying new things, and venturing into uncharted territory.
Embrace these opportunities for growth and challenge yourself to expand your boundaries. By pushing past your comfort zone, you’ll discover new skills, insights, and possibilities that can propel you toward greater success and fulfillment in your endeavors.
3) Be consistent
More often than not, I don’t feel like many give consistency as much weight as it deserves. I really feel and believe that my consistency of showing up everyday, having a routine that I stuck to contributed most to the success and results over the last year. It was all the small stride forward achieves everyday that ultimately led to the accomplishments as a whole.
I can’t stress enough the value in establishing consistent habits, routines, and workflows can help you make steady progress towards your goals over time. Stay committed to your vision, and consistently take action, even when faced with challenges or setbacks. By maintaining consistency in your efforts, you’ll build momentum, gain traction, and ultimately achieve greater success in your pursuits.
Find out more about Laura Navaquin and Inspire Her Foundation
