Trusting Your Instincts Without Losing Your Heart | Jovan Wright of Legacy Concord

Property management requires confidence, quick judgment, and the ability to make difficult decisions under pressure. For Jovan Wright, growth has meant learning to trust her instincts while remaining compassionate toward the people affected by those decisions.

In this episode of The 7-Minute Harvest, I sit down with Jovan, Assistant Property Manager at Legacy Concord and a recipient of the Apartment Association of North Carolina’s 2026 20 on the Rise recognition.

Jovan shares how a leap of faith brought her from Ohio to North Carolina and opened the door to a new chapter in her multifamily career. She also speaks candidly about overcoming uncertainty, developing confidence, and learning from mistakes rather than allowing them to define her.

Our conversation turns to one of the most difficult realities of property management: enforcing policies, managing late fees and evictions, and handling challenging situations without losing kindness. Jovan explains why reliability and communication matter so much in a service partner and why a responsive vendor can remove an enormous amount of stress from a property management team.

As technology, chatbots, and artificial intelligence become more prevalent, Jovan believes the industry must protect something technology cannot replace: genuine human connection.

In This Episode

• Jovan’s move from Ohio to North Carolina
• Learning to trust your instincts and make difficult decisions
• Growing through mistakes and professional uncertainty
• Remaining compassionate while enforcing policies
• Why reliability and communication build confidence
• The importance of understanding a client’s preferred communication style
• Preserving personal relationships in an increasingly digital industry

Jovan’s perspective is a reminder that professional strength and kindness are not opposites. The strongest property management leaders bring both to the people and communities they serve.

The 7-Minute Harvest is produced and hosted by Eric S. Hayes, a senior sales leader and revenue strategist with more than two decades of experience developing high-performing teams and driving disciplined growth across commercial service organizations.

This podcast is proudly sponsored by Yardnique, a leading commercial landscape partner committed to creating, maintaining, and enhancing exceptional outdoor environments throughout the Southeast.

Learn more about Yardnique at Yardnique.com.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

This is the Seven Minute Harvest, built for commercial property professionals responsible for asset performance, tenant experience, and operating results. This podcast is for those who expect more from their properties, their people, and their partnerships. Each episode features real conversations with industry leaders, sharing practical insight you can apply immediately. Hosted by Eric Hayes, a senior sales leader and revenue strategist with more than two decades of experience developing high-performing teams and driving disciplined growth across commercial service organizations. Let's get today's harvest.

SPEAKER_02 0:40

Today's episode of the Seven Minute Harvest features Javon Wright of Legacy Concord. First thing to acknowledge is that you are a recipient of the 2026 20 on the rise from the Apartment Association of North Carolina. We're at Legacy Concord. Tell the listeners about your role and maybe a little bit about how you got here. I I got to hear your story earlier.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

Yeah, I'm the assistant property manager at Legacy Concord, as Eric mentioned. I started off in our at our properties in Ohio because our company's based out of Ohio. My husband was like, You're gonna love North Carolina. Let's go for it. The weather's better. I'm like, you know what? I trust you. Let's do it. So I applied, became the assistant manager here in North Carolina, and now we're here and things are great, and I'm loving it so far.

SPEAKER_02 1:30

They clearly are great. You're a 2020 on the rise. Or you're, I'm sorry, you're a 20 on the rise for 2026.

SPEAKER_01 1:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 1:38

It's amazing. Leap of faith.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 1:41

Yes, wonderful. Okay, so the first question is always the best one. Javon, are you ready to get your hands dirty and get in the harvest?

SPEAKER_00 1:48

Ready.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

All right, here we go. So looking back on your career, what experience has most shaped the way you approach managing this beautiful property today?

SPEAKER_01 1:58

I would have to say learning to trust my instincts and my gut and growing a backbone because in this industry, you deal with so many different people, so many different personalities. And to be completely honest, I get scared sometimes. I'm like, did I make the right decision? Is this good enough? And you have to handle things on the fly. So I'm like, you just have to tough it out, make a decision, go for it. Trust your gut. I've failed so many times that I can only learn from my failures what I didn't do and what I should do going forward.

SPEAKER_02 2:33

Is there any particular experience that you that you would like to share about?

SPEAKER_01 2:37

Oh my god, off the top of my head.

SPEAKER_02 2:39

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 2:40

It's a long story, but maybe part two will do that. Part two. Part two, definitely.

SPEAKER_02 2:45

So then what is an operational challenge that uh property management professionals such as you are dealing with today, that folks outside the industry may not fully appreciate?

SPEAKER_01 2:56

I would say um maintaining being kind-hearted. Like I said before, you deal with so many different personalities, so many different types of people. And sometimes you have to put on a face and you have to handle those difficult things, like with my job, handling late fees, evictions. It affects everyone's lives, and it's not something that I don't think anyone really wants to do. And just trying to be kind, follow the day-to-day business operation and the policy while still maintaining that kindness towards people that I feel sometimes get lost.

SPEAKER_02 3:32

Thank you. That that's a beautiful one. That's a that answer has been shared before. You know, it's really about relationships and being kind.

SPEAKER_01 3:39

Truly. It really is. You never know how someone's day is going to, you know.

SPEAKER_02 3:44

We don't walk in other people's shoes.

SPEAKER_01 3:45

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 3:46

Yeah, very, very good. And so, Javon, um, in your experience, what separates a truly great service provider or partner, a service partner from an average vendor?

SPEAKER_01 3:58

From an average vendor, I would say reliability and communication. This question makes me think of one of our vendors we have now. And I know if I need something, he is he responds almost immediately, within five minutes, anytime he's got my back, and I know that it'll get done. I don't even have to look over, check over, or think, like, oh, did they do a good job or anything? They're always reliable. Communicate, honestly, communication is so big too.

SPEAKER_02 4:28

It is. Yes. I'm just curious because of you know, you're you're young in your career. Yes. Uh, share with the audience what is your preferred method of communication these days?

SPEAKER_01 4:38

Right now, I I'd say I mainly text message, phone call, just being available. That's what seems to be the most prevalent in email. But with our vendors, they're very personable, give each other our phone numbers, call, text whenever, just to get things done. Okay. Yeah. Thanks for sharing that.

SPEAKER_02 4:58

That's helpful. All right. So um that we're moving quickly.

SPEAKER_01 5:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:03

So this is the last question for right now. As you look ahead over the next year or so, what area or areas of property management are going to require the most attention from the industry?

SPEAKER_01 5:16

Most attention. This is a good question. I honestly say maintaining that personal human touch as well, um, and maintaining relationships. I feel that, you know, the internet technology is so prevalent today. Things are constantly changing. Chatbots, AI, all that jazz. And sometimes it's easy to let let it take over, but people really do need that human touch to it, you know, the personality, you know, see the smiles on people's face, talk to them like not just a row. I'm not just a robot. I don't want to talk to this robot when I'm looking for an apartment or looking for help with something, you know, really being there and actually caring and showing that you care for them too.

SPEAKER_02 6:03

That's there's a common thread there. So the common thread is what's AI going to do to the industry?

SPEAKER_01 6:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:10

And it's good to be belly-to-belly, you know, face to face. It is. It's important.

SPEAKER_01 6:13

It is. Most people, I feel, forget about it. And it's like it's easy to do it. You know, it's easy to just like, oh, it's quick, one, two, three, on my phone, on the computer, whatever. But then you, you, you know, you just lose that that personal touch to it. It's like all the same, not to call it generic, but it's the same generic thing over and over again. Sure. I think it's good to be personable.

SPEAKER_02 6:37

I do too. Well, I can tell that uh people probably love you because you're delightful.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

Oh, you're sweet.

SPEAKER_02 6:43

And I have really enjoyed meeting you. And I just want to congratulate you again on your recognition. I'm sure it's well deserved. Thank you. You have a bright future in front of you.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

Thank you. It's been a pleasure meeting you too, and thank you for inviting me to the podcast as well.

SPEAKER_00 6:56

You're very welcome.

SPEAKER_01 6:57

Bless you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 6:59

You've been listening to the Seven Minute Harvest, a platform where commercial property professionals share practical real world insight from the realities of managing commercial properties. If this conversation added value, share it with someone on your team. Now take what you've heard and translate it into measurable results across your portfolio. And we'll see you at the next harvest.