Built on Trust: A Mother-Daughter Partnership Years in the Making

When Jen Burkamper entered real estate nearly 26 years ago, she was searching for something entirely different than the corporate path she had started on after college.

“I hated every day of it,” Jen, 2021 Iowa REALTORS® president, recalled. “I had always been interested in real estate, but I didn’t know how to get started.”

A classified ad in Waterloo promising to help new agents launch their careers served as a catalyst for what would become a rewarding, and eventually, a family-oriented career, as she now works side-by-side with her daughter, Jaelynn. 

“I called them and met with them,” she recalls. “They really highlighted that you wanted to start this business somewhere that you want to permanently be. We didn't want to be in Waterloo permanently.” 

Instead, Jen’s parents had recently relocated to Boone, and her young family quickly decided to make that jump.  

“So not only was I a new REALTOR®, but I was new to Boone. It was a hard start, but I was determined. I had a five and a one-year old, so it was scary to jump into an only commission job. I told myself if I couldn’t make it work in six months, I’d go get a ‘real job.’”

She never looked back.

Growing up, Jen’s daughter, Jaelynn, had a front-row seat to her mother’s career, both the rewarding moments and the realities behind the scenes.

“It was inspiring, but it wasn’t always glamorous,” Jaelynn says. “She was always on the phone, always running to the office. You couldn’t even listen to music in the car sometimes because she’d be negotiating.”

While the flexibility of real estate allowed for meaningful family time, it also required constant availability. As a result, Jaelynn once thought the profession wasn’t for her.

“If you had asked me when I was younger, I would have said I’d do anything but real estate,” she says. “It’s kind of ironic that now I’m doing it alongside her.”

After building a career in graphic design and marketing, Jaelynn found herself burned out by remote work and craving more human connection. When she made the decision to move back to Iowa, real estate began to feel like a natural next step. 

“Honestly, I would have been silly not to work with the best,” she said of eventually teaming up with her mother. 

Jaelynn officially joined the profession in early 2025. While she had plenty of behind-the-scenes exposure, she quickly learned that client-facing work comes with its own learning curve.

“No amount of behind-the-scenes experience can fully prepare you,” she said. “Working with clients is something you learn on the job.”

For Jen, her daughter’s decision felt inevitable - and welcome.

“I had always anticipated this might be the path,” she said. “But as a mom, you want your kids to explore their own dreams. When she moved back, it felt like a natural transition.”

Their partnership came at the right time for both. Jen noted that it took a load of her plate to have Jaelynn working beside her. 

“It’s probably put too much on her plate, but it’s been nice to balance out that workload a bit more,” Jen said, adding that she also runs a second family business, The Strength Shop. “I can trust her. When you have employees you might not see things done to a level that you want, but I know that I can pass things to her and she’ll take care of it how I would, or more often better than I would.” 

Working together has allowed them to share responsibilities and better serve their clients, often stepping in for one another throughout the process. What some see as a competitive industry, they view as an opportunity for collaboration.

“There’s so much business to go around,” Jaelynn said. “Why not work together?”

Their partnership is rooted in a deep understanding of one another, both personally and professionally.

“She knows how I think,” Jen said. “She can anticipate what I need and how I want things done. That level of trust is hard to find.”

Jaelynn agrees, noting that their similarities create a seamless experience for clients.

“There’s a different level of trust when you’re working with people who already know you, or know your family,” she said.

At the same time, their differences strengthen the business. Jaelynn brings a fresh perspective and strong marketing background, while Jen offers decades of experience and proven strategies.

“I might get stuck in my ways,” Jen admitted. “Creatively we think a lot alike. It's nice to brainstorm ideas and have people to work together to execute them.” 

Beyond their day-to-day business, both credit each other for influencing their professional growth. Jen points to Jaelynn’s natural leadership and lifelong involvement in activities as inspiration for her own engagement within the industry. 

“One of the reasons I got so involved was in watching her grow up, she is a natural born leader, she always leads the way,” Jen recalled. “She was involved in everything and anything she could possibly be involved in. Watching her grow up that way, made me want to be more invested and watching her do it helped me gain leadership skills.” 

Jaelynn, in turn, has been motivated by her mother’s involvement beyond transactions at the local, state, and national levels.

“I've seen her take on these roles and be so involved in the business of real estate as a whole, not just our business,” Jaelynn said. “It's encouraged me to get involved at different levels and learn from a different perspective.”

For Jen, one of the greatest sources of pride is watching her daughter’s independence and confidence.

“She’s a natural,” Jen says. “People gravitate toward her. She’s positive, she’s driven, and she’s built that on her own.”

Jaelynn, meanwhile, has gained a deeper appreciation for what her mother has built over nearly three decades.

“Knowing what I know now, it gives me so much appreciation of what she's achieved,” Jaelynn said. “I’m grateful to have that foundation.”

At the heart of their work is a shared mindset: a commitment to continuous improvement and building meaningful relationships with clients.

“We take this business seriously,” Jaelynn said. “Our clients feel like family.”

Their advice to other women considering real estate is rooted in both honesty and encouragement.

“It’s a leap of faith,” Jen said. “But if you’re willing to work hard, anyone can be successful.”

Jaelynn emphasizes the importance of support.

“Find a mentor you trust and build a community around you,” she said. “Having people to learn from and lean on makes all the difference.”