About Jen
Getting to Know Me…
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~ Mark Twain
Mark Twain’s quote resonated with me in that I truly believe life cannot always fit in a single box. We are all – layers deeper – multifaceted individuals with many passions that shape us and take us to new, unimagined places. We each hold the power to make our life the way we envision it to be. With a combination of careful, deliberate intentions and a hint of faith in the unknown, we create our own destiny. It becomes the act of living life purposefully and authentically; and you begin to uncover the person you are meant to become.
I am a living testament of this belief system.
My career began as a corporate financial auditor and over the next 10+ years, I discovered new passions in the philosophy of Feng Shui and the teachings of yoga and meditation. As I evolved spiritually and creatively, dormant passions resurfaced after years of hibernation and distraction. Only when I began to practice self-awareness, I found my love and niche as a real estate entrepreneur, motivational writer, and Feng Shui practitioner.
Thank you for visiting my page. I hope you found something here, whether it’s information or inspiration or anything else you were seeking. I would love to hear from you!
You can email me at jen@nicomedesrealestate.com
Jen's Story…
Background and Childhood
Born in Hong Kong to a Filipino mother and Spanish-Filipino father, Jen grew up surrounded by a large, boisterous, and musical family. Jen attended a Chinese-English primary school, where she learned to speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, and English. At the age of 13, Jen and her parents immigrated to Honolulu, Hawaii, and therein lay the beginning of a new (American) life…
The Artful Side of Life
Jen was a trained ballet and jazz dancer; she danced competitively throughout her high school years. She later spent the early part of her college career teaching dance to young children ages 3 to 6. Her father is a renowned singer and musician back in Asia, and he trained her vocally alongside the family’s grand piano. Jen has always nurtured a love for creative writing, too. At the age of 11, she told her dad that she would one day write a book. Over the last year, she has found her “calling” as a contributing writer for an online yoga wellness site, MindBodyGreen. She still aspires to one day write an eBook, blog for ThinkSimpleNow, and spread positive and inspiring messages across the world.
Academic Foundation and Professional Accolades
In 2002, Jen graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a bachelor’s in accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).
Corporate Grooming
Jen began her corporate career in Chicago, Illinois. She first spent seven years with “Big 4” accounting firms KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. She specialized in financial statements and Sarbanes-Oxley audits for publicly traded companies. Shortly before transitioning to entrepreneurship, she worked for 3.5 years as an internal auditor for a solar energy company.
Real Estate
Before calling Phoenix her home in 2007, Jen traveled around the world and lived in many U.S. cities, including Chicago, Portland, Boise, and Las Vegas. Each of these living experiences has taught her that a piece of real estate – whether you are renting or buying – is one of the primary components to creating your own sanctuary called “home.” Jen graduated from the Arizona School of Real Estate and became a licensed Real Estate Agent in August 2011. She is a member of the Southeast Valley Regional Association of Realtors (SEVRAR) and the Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR).
Feng Shui
The philosophy of Feng Shui has since completely transformed her perspective that all things and objects are living elements that support people's life force. With this newfound understanding, she has since integrated the principles of Feng Shui into her real estate business and everyday life. She studied under the loving care of Terah Kathryn Collins, nationally renowned Feng Shui practitioner, published author, and founder of the Western School of Feng Shui. Jen is a licensed Essential Feng Shui ® Practitioner. Jen is continuing her studies with Feng Shui Master Joey Yap at the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics to deepen her knowledge in BaZi/Chinese Astrology, I-Ching Divination, and face reading.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Jen’s mother Corazon was a prominent figure in her young life, instilling a strong independence and influencing her desire to someday run her own “show.” The experience she gained from years as a corporate auditor enabled Jen to transform her professional and management skills into building her own real estate and Feng Shui business. She believes nothing speaks truer than doing what you passionately believe in. Oprah Winfrey, “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
Spiritual Embodiment
Although she was raised in a conservative Catholic home, her spiritual evolvement has since expanded to incorporate the spiritual beliefs of many religions – all of them embodying the power and importance of living our lives in peace and with kindness. Jen also observes the teachings of yoga. As a practicing yogi, she hopes to someday attend a spiritual retreat in India and become a certified yoga instructor.