By Jenelle Etzel, April 28, 2023
Welcome fellow Joy Punks! In her new podcast, CEO and Founder, Jenelle Etzel says “Hi” and introduces herself and her story. She explains the “why” and “how” behind the Joy Punk Podcast and what she hopes to do with the show, shedding light on future episodes and guests.
She shares how she got her “Punk Rock MBA” and threw out society’s “homeowner checklist,” showing her a path to homeownership—something she had never experienced in her lifetime—that looked totally different than the straight, white, married couple with a kid that covered all the real estate advertisements in the 2000’s.
As a real estate agent, she discovered the blind spots of the Portland real estate market in relation to her own home buying journey, were systemic. With her punk rock background and determination that homeownership should be within reach of anyone one, she created a real estate agency unlike any Portland had ever seen before.
Find out how Living Room Realty got its name, and how centering our agents and their clients in our business has helped drive us to be Portland’s #1 independent brokerage.
Then join Jenelle as she interviews other joy punks in our community who show how “Their success is a direct correlation of bringing their whole selves, their passion, and their joy to their business, how radical this is and the success in following it attracts.”
Listen on whatever platform you get your podcasts or click below:
Jenelle Etzel
President & Owner, Licensed Broker OR
She/Her
What does being lead singer and guitar player in a female punk band have in common with starting a real estate company in the middle of a recession? Not many people can answer that question. But when you ask Jenelle Isaacson Etzel founder and CEO of Living Room Realty, there’s no hesitation; where most would see a chasm, she sees a bridge.
For Jenelle, it’s all been about finding a voice—the singular and irrepressible expression of self. Once a quiet, studious, high-school girl growing up in Portland, Jenelle started a punk band after college. She played guitar, wrote cathartic songs, performed, and traveled across country while living out of a van. All that seems light years from the present moment--owning a successful, growing company; serving on boards of civic and philanthropic organizations; enjoying family life with her two young daughters and long-time partner. Still, she uses the same voice now that began to emerge on stage years ago.
Whether it’s business or music, “It’s important to know what your voice is. If it’s true, it will resonate.” Jenelle’s voice, her truth, is about being brave enough to take action without apology, being heard without being exploited, to be energized, constantly problem-solving and refining her skills in the pursuit of building a purpose-driven company. All this requires risk-taking. She’s learned the hard way that she can’t fix everything and that not everyone will share her vision. But even as she explains the difficult choices she’s faced, Jenelle radiates joy.
“It’s never okay to play small,” she says with conviction. And this, more than anything, is what she strives to impart to other women, empowering them to pursue their passion whole-heartedly and to be leaders who speak with their own unique, unapologetic voice.
Living Room Realty, founded in 2009, offers residential, commercial, and property management services. Living Room ranks in the top 15 real estate companies in Oregon, with more than 110 affiliated broker-agents. For more information, visit www.livingroomre.com.
Noted Achievements: First west coast real estate office to receive B Corp status • Top Workplaces, 2014-2016 • 100 Best Workplaces in Oregon 2017 • 100 Best Green Companies 2017 • Oregon Business in Ethics Awards in 2014 • Jenelle has been featured in The Portland Monthly, Oregon Business, and REALTOR® Magazine • Portland Business Journal 40 under 40 Business Leaders • Board of Directors, Rock n Roll Camp for Girls, receiving 2015 award for creative philanthropy • Board Member, Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Network, Portland chapter • Orchid Award recipient for Business and Civic Contributions • Guest speaker: OPB’s Think Out Loud, Investor Beat, Cascadia Green Building Council • Advocate speaking on behalf of Benefit Corporation legislation with Oregon Secretary of State, Kate Brown
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- jenelle@livingroomre.com
