We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Riley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

I grew up during a time when college was pushed as the only option for success after high school. I didn’t realize how many options there are for successful trades or careers that do not require a degree. Most of the guidance I received was based on personality exams or career assessments that were constructed to find out my skill set. Over the years, as I have matured and changed jobs, I realized the importance of job satisfaction. If you do not feel successful or satisfied with your job, it can have a huge impact on your life.

I believe there could be a correlation with your love language and job satisfaction. I wish that more studies were done on finding a career based on how that job makes you feel; not necessarily how good you are at that skill or craft. I’m sure skill and satisfaction can go hand in hand a majority of the time, but not always. For example, I was successful in sales, but I did not enjoy the work. I worked for a .com and never quite felt successful in my role. Now I am a home inspector and small business owner. As a home inspector I get to work with clients one on one and help them through one of the biggest purchases most people make in their lifetime. I receive a lot of verbal affirmations in this role and I get to help out my clients through acts of service. I absolutely love my job and I can’t imagine finding a better fit for myself.

I would like to see the educational systems do a better job of preparing students for a career by exposing them to career fields of all types, instead of just careers that require college degrees. There are many trades with a shortage of skilled workers right now. I would love to see more women introduced to trades from a young age. Lastly, I would love to see more studies about how the way you receive love might affect your job performance and satisfaction.

Jennifer, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After working as a financial advisor and a marketing/branding manager I decided to get back to my roots and out of the office chair. I was tired at looking at a computer screen and sitting all day. Growing up my dad managed a lumber company, remodeled homes, installed sprinkler systems and built apartment complexes. I was raised around fresh cut lumber and near construction site. I missed hands-on work, so I decided to obtain my home inspection license and get into a field I love!

While I was in school, I discovered that I was the only woman in the class. That led me to start researching how many women are in the field of home inspection. It turns out only 3%-4% of inspectors are women. That is when I decided to create something bigger. I set out to create a company focused on bringing more women into the home inspection industry. That is what sets us apart from others and what makes us different. I think women tend to be more detail oriented and thorough. Women are usually great communicators and educators, so they also make great home inspectors.

I am most proud of the fact that we are a women-owned business with a goal to change the industry in a positive and more inclusive way. We also go above and beyond for our clients by using thermal imaging, drones and other technology to inspect their homes. We spend up to an hour with each client walking them through the features and deficiencies in their new home at the end of each inspection.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I have an amazing business partner, Heidi Rivera. I was lucky enough to meet her through an organization known as Business Networking International. I was in a local chapter and I was introduced to Heidi through another small business owner. She was a newly licensed inspector and had joined a BNI chapter to grow her business. I had opened Doyenne Inspections one year before I met Heidi, and my business was picking up. I needed extra help. Instead of running two competing companies in the area, I asked Heidi to come work with me for six months to see how we worked together. We decided that if things we well, we would go into business together and focus on bringing more women into the home inspection industry and that is just what happened. We now co-own Doyenne Inspections. Doyenne means a female, expert in any given field.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I love working with first time homebuyers and with new realtors. I love educating clients and new realtors on their home and how to maintain it! New realtors may not have a dependable inspector they recommend so it is great to meet new realtors to educate them. This way they can help their clients and be as knowledgeable as possible about how to handle the option period and what to look for on homes they are viewing with potential buyers. Realtors are a great resource for regular referral business because each Realtor in Texas must give out at least three names to clients of inspectors they recommend. My goal is to be at the top of those lists!    

Contact Info:

• Website: www.DoyenneInspections.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doyenneinspections/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doyenneinspections
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/doyenne-inspections/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@doyenneinspections
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/doyenne-inspections-austin-3

Image Credits
Jovana Ivic