Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivey Jacops.
Hi Ivey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My professional story began not in real estate, but in the analytical world of healthcare. After graduating with a degree in Biology, I went on to earn my MBA in Finance. This foundation in strategic planning and business development led me to a role as a Business Analyst for a healthcare system in Texas, where I spent over four years managing budgets, analyzing operational costs, and developing SWOT analyses for potential acquisitions.
While I enjoyed the data-driven nature of that work, I felt a pull toward a career where I could combine my business acumen with a more personal, service-oriented impact. When our family moved to South Carolina, I entered the world of Real Estate to put my passions and business acumen to work.
I started my real estate career in 2015 as an Independent Sales Agent in Greenville. I focused on a “Do Good” philosophy—prioritizing the client and delivering exceptional service—which allowed me to build a sustainable, referral-based business. The next year, I was awarded the International Sterling Society for my sales volume.
However, I quickly realized that my true passion lay in helping other agents succeed. I began mentoring new agents and leading peer groups, which naturally transitioned into leadership roles. Over the next several years, I served as a Sales Manager and later as the Director of Sales and Agent Development for a major firm developing coaching and training models that focused on my core beliefs for business growth: Do Good first. Master your craft of service and a referral based business becomes easy to build.
Today, as a Broker-in-Charge and Regional VP of Business Development, I’ve come full circle partnered with a firm who shares my core “Do Good” belief. I use my finance background to analyze the market and budget for growth, but my daily energy is fueled by coaching and mentoring my agents to build careers rooted in trust and expert market knowledge. My goal remains the same as when I started: to elevate the real estate profession by ensuring every agent I lead has the tools to provide world-class service to their clients.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. In fact, one of the most difficult periods of my career came from a profound sense of misalignment.
For years, I was a consistent overperformer in my role because my skills were perfectly matched with my daily activities. However, I went through a season where my role changed into something that didn’t align with my natural strengths. Almost overnight, I went from being a top-tier performer to feeling like an underperformer.
That experience was humbling and, frankly, frustrating. But it led to a massive breakthrough in my self-awareness. I realized that “underperformance” often isn’t a lack of talent or effort; it’s a symptom of being in the wrong spot.
This personal struggle became the catalyst for the work I do now. It led me to become a practitioner of Insights Discovery. I wanted a way to help others avoid the pain of misalignment by helping them tap into their unique personality and skill profiles.
Today, as Broker-in-Charge, I don’t just look at sales numbers; I look at the person. I help my agents align their specific strengths to their business activities so they can return to (or stay in) that “overperformer” status. I’ve found that when an agent’s goals and activities are in harmony with who they are, success becomes sustainable and referral-based, rather than a constant uphill battle.
Going through that period of underperformance was a turning point. It gave me the empathy and the tools to ensure that at Nest Realty, we aren’t just doing more work—we’re doing the right work for each individual.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently, as the Broker-in-Charge and Regional Vice President of Business Development at Nest Realty SC, my focus is on strategic growth through quality over quantity. I specialize in identifying high-potential professionals in the Greenville market and helping them scale their business using a model that prioritizes the client experience over the “lead” volume.
While my background is in finance and strategic planning, my true specialty is agent development. I use my experience to help agents align their daily business activities with their unique strengths, ensuring they are building careers that are service oriented while being profitable and sustainable.
I am best known for my “Do Good” philosophy, which I integrate into every training and coaching session. In an industry that has become obsessed with “leads,” I’m a firm advocate for the fact that leads are people and we should focus our trainings on service first.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I have lived in a handful of different towns from Texas to Georgia to South Carolina, but Greenville is my absolute favorite, so much so that I moved back after a two-year hiatus in Texas. What I love most is the deep sense of community that each town in the Upstate possesses. There is such a diverse range of activities and ways to get involved that there truly is something for everyone, regardless of their interests.
However, as someone working in real estate, I see the complications that come with our rapid expansion. While my industry is certainly profitable from this growth, I am concerned that many of our local spots that have been here for a long time are being pushed out due to rising rents. These beloved community landmarks are often replaced with non-local, pricier options, which can change the authentic character of the neighborhoods we love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sc.nestrealty.com
- Instagram: @ivey_jacops
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ijacops/
