We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Debbie Zolan & Jacquelynn Rossiter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Debbie & Jacquelynn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?
It starts with passion and enthusiasm for what you do. If you love it, you will set about making the most out of every day, every transaction, and every encounter. Real estate is a challenging field, demanding perseverance, dedication, and resilience. You need a thick skin to face the ups and downs, but it’s also a career with limitless potential. For us, success has always been rooted in a commitment to clients and in nurturing relationships that last. Trust is crucial in this business; clients need to know that we have their best interests at heart. Building that trust is what keeps them coming back and referring others.
After a combined 35 years in the industry, we know the importance of agility and resilience. We’ve seen many market shifts and policy changes and have learned to find opportunities around every corner. As team leaders, we’re also deeply committed to creating the right team environment. Real estate advisors are not only consultants but also marketers, business developers, and as team Principals we also act as human resources managers and financial planners at times. Having a strong internal foundation—our dedicated operations manager, admin, marketing executive, and social media manager—means we can serve our clients fully. Many teams hire agents before setting up the right infrastructure, but we’ve made it a priority to build this core support first. With this solid foundation, we’re now selective about finding agents who share our drive, dedication, and client-centered mindset.
We’ve made some mistakes with hires in the past, but these experiences have taught us to take our time. We look for agents who bring a pipeline and experience yet are still eager to learn and grow. Real estate is about much more than what’s shown on reality TV; it’s about dedication and hard work. We’ve both made sacrifices and have invested years in our careers—23 years for Jackie, 14 for Debbie—to reach this point.
Creativity is another essential element in our work. Whether in marketing or negotiations, we’re constantly innovating to stand out and to meet our clients’ unique needs. Working with Compass has been invaluable, providing us with industry-leading technology, tools, and brand recognition that supports our efforts. We feel incredibly fortunate to have built a team that allows us to serve each client as though they are our only client. This combination of passion, resilience, creativity, and teamwork defines The Zolan Rossiter Team and is the cornerstone of our success.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
The Zolan Rossiter Team, led by founders Debbie Zolan and Jacquelynn Rossiter, is known for its extensive knowledge, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to clients across New York City. With over 35 years of combined experience in co-op, condo, townhouse resales, new development sales, and rentals, we are well-positioned to serve buyers, sellers, developers, landlords, and tenants alike. Based in NYC but focused primarily in Brooklyn, we bring a strong understanding of the local real estate market, seasoned negotiation skills, and financial insight that make us trusted partners in any residential transaction.
Our team’s strength lies in our commitment to our clients, a dedication that is reflected in our detailed approach, responsiveness, and agility in closing deals within tight deadlines or under challenging circumstances. We prioritize our clients’ goals and believe that every transaction is unique, adapting our strategies to fit each client’s needs. We are proud of the deep-rooted relationships we’ve cultivated with clients and peers alike. Our journey together began in 2010 when we met as colleagues in adjacent offices. We quickly became both friends and collaborators, which ultimately led to founding the Zolan Rossiter Team at Compass in March 2021.
Debbie brings a wealth of experience as an expert in DUMBO, having sold and leased over 175 homes in that neighborhood. Her knowledge of new development is extensive; she was the on-site sales manager at 51 Jay Street, a 75-unit warehouse conversion in DUMBO’s landmark district, and led sales at other high-profile developments like 133 Water Street, 210 Pacific Street in Cobble Hill and The Echelon in Long Island City. Her prior background in marketing and advertising, including her role as Vice President at a European communications firm, exercised her strategic skills in branding and client relations. This experience shapes her approach to real estate today, combining creativity with a keen eye for market positioning.
Jackie, widely recognized as the sales leader of University Towers, has handled over 300 sales and rentals in this 547-unit complex bordering Fort Greene and Downtown Brooklyn. With expertise spanning complex estate sales, co-op rentals, sponsor units, and short sale negotiations, Jackie is known for her meticulous work and dedication to her clients. Her commitment extends beyond real estate; she served as a Brand Ambassador for the 5under40 Foundation, which supports women diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 40. A nine-year breast cancer “thriver” herself, Jackie brings resilience and empathy to her work and to her clients. Her passions also include salsa dancing, yoga, and global travel with her family.
At The Zolan Rossiter Team we are passionate about creating meaningful experiences for our clients. We believe in the power of a strong support system, which includes the exceptional Compass tools that enhance our capabilities in this dynamic industry. Our collective energy, resilience, and client-focused ethos set us apart. We are excited to continue serving our clients with dedication, integrity, and innovative solutions.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Consistency. Staying focused, available and responsive. Our clients always know they can reach out around the clock. Providing the utmost in service, being creative, calm under pressure, resourceful and working with the best partners (real estate attorneys, lenders, contractors, stagers, etc.). Being the best at what we do, time and time again. Our repeat and referral business is around 93% so our clients come back to us and refer people to us. I believe we stand out because we treat all our clients like they are our only clients. As busy as we are, we don’t discuss our other deals or transactions. We focus on them. Who wouldn’t want that? We treat all of our clients equally, whether you’re buying a $350,000 studio or selling a $7,500,000 penthouse, you’ll receive our best service. Trust is another crucial aspect of our reputation. Our clients often become our friends because they know we always prioritize their best interests. For instance, if a homeowner is considering selling in a challenging market, we won’t push them to list their home for sale so that we might benefit from a commission. Instead, we’ll provide honest advice, even if it means suggesting they wait to sell or perhaps rent, if that is a possibility. We walk them through all possible options to ensure they’re making the best decision for themselves. We’re always open to discussing real estate, even before someone is ready to make a move. Each of us brings different strengths to the table, and that teamwork enhances the service we provide. Ultimately, it’s about fostering relationships and ensuring our clients feel supported every step of the way.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
When I (Debbie) joined Brown Harris Stevens, I was seated next to Jackie, who had been with the firm for eight years. She was so kind to me, and I learned by listening to her and asking questions. When we had the opportunity to work together with a developer, we had a fantastic experience. We remained friends and sought each other out for advice on our independent businesses. I have distinct memories of Jackie bringing in her infant son, placing him on her desk in a car seat while she continued doing deals. Jackie remembers me waving to my young son outside when he attended an afterschool program across the street from our office. We share a bond and support system that many working moms trying to build their businesses can appreciate. Another hurdle that brought us closer was our breast cancer diagnoses a year and a half apart. Successfully treated, we continued to lean on each other during difficult times.
Jackie joined Compass in 2017, and I followed a year later. During the pandemic, we spoke a lot on the phone, sharing stories of work and family. Jackie had been on teams before and knew what she wanted and didn’t want. I had always been independent but liked the idea of working together (formally) and sharing in the costs of an administrative assistant. We discussed it a lot and took the plunge in March 2021.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/the-zolan-rossiter-team/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezolanrossiterteam/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560457896738&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thezolanrossiterteam
