JZ Group hits pay dirt with Aldan

Real estate company Jiang Zheng Group, Inc. has gone a long way since starting on Saipan in 2016.

And much of its success can be attributed to its staff and at the top of that list is Jocelyn A. Aldan.

Now the company’s acquisitions manager, Aldan was JZ Group’s very first employee and has mirrored its meteoric rise from a shaky start-up to now arguably the island’s No. 1 real estate company.

“Jocelyn was my first island hire. When she started, she didn’t know anything about real estate. But she had a hunger to learn and a willingness to try. So, I gave her a chance. And what a bet! She’s been instrumental in JZ Group’s growth from a tiny office into the island’s premier real-estate business,” said company owner Huafeng “Eric” Guo.

Aldan herself still can’t believe how JZ Group has grown in the past 3 and ½ years.

“I have been working with the company since it started in 2016. We began in a tiny 10×10 office in Garapan with only myself, a colleague, and Mr. Eric,” she said.

Before getting hired, Aldan was a stay-at-home mom and worked at odd jobs. In the course of working at JZ Group, she has already closed more than a million square meters worth of deals.

“That’s a long way from an early career of selling products at a store counter,” she said.

Guo is happy for Aldan’s success, which he says is a testament to her work ethic and perseverance.

Jocelyn A. Aldan

“Jocelyn started at the bottom. And now she regularly manages six- and seven-figure deals. That’s a tribute to her growth mindset and willingness to embrace challenges day after day. I’m excited to see what’s next. In the last three years, Jocelyn has grown so much that sometimes I barely recognize her. She has developed into an exceptionally confident and competent professional,” he said.

Working in real estate, however, is no walk in the park, according to Aldan. In a nutshell, her job calls for her to negotiate with different types of people, fix property deficiencies, and troubleshoot to be able to help both the buyer and company complete the land transaction.

“Every day is different. In the process, I’ve learned so much about real estate and business. Some days I focus on looking for property. Other days I’m talking to lawyers and government agencies about how to fix problems with the properties I find. And other times, as an acquisition specialist, I split my time between looking for property, negotiating with people, and solving problems related to those properties,” she said.

Aldan said there’s really no secret to being good in a job or any career for that matter once you put your mind to it.

“I work hard, enjoy my job, and love navigating the problems that life throws at me. I embrace deadlines and surprises and get stuff done any way. If you do that long enough, you can’t help but be successful,” she said.

Aside from helping her get a jump-start in a career in real estate, working at JZ Group has also given Aldan new experiences not only in her line of work but also in life in general.

“The company has brought a lot of new friends and relationships into my life. I’m grateful for all of those connections. Working for the company has also been an awesome education. I’ve learned about business, I’ve learned about real estate, and I’ve learned about China and its people, language, and culture,” she said.

Her advice to people just joining the workforce is both pithy and simple: Don’t be afraid.

“The start of your career is the perfect time to take chances and explore. So challenge yourself and, when in doubt, take a deep breath and leap anyway,” she said. “Worst case is that you learn and best case is that you find something great. Your future self will thank you for picking growth over comfort.”

Being fearless is exactly what’s endeared Aldan to JZ Group, especially to Gou.

“Jocelyn has grown by leaps and bounds. In the process, she’s become an incredible asset. Jocelyn has a great attitude for success. She’s always trying, learning, and getting better. She doesn’t let fear stop her. She acts in spite of the fear,” he said.

For Aldan the sky is the limit on what JZ Group and she can accomplish in the local real estate industry.

“The company is growing, and I’m excited to grow with it,” she said.