We’re looking forward to introducing you to Janie Alston. Check out our conversation below.
Janie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
People often think real estate is just showing houses and collecting checks — like it’s all glam, no grit. But what they don’t see are the late nights, the emotional toll, the hours of educating first-time buyers, or the battles we fight behind the scenes to protect our clients’ interests.
As a Black woman in real estate, leading an all-women team, I also deal with assumptions — that we’re just “nice” or “friendly” agents. But this is a business. We negotiate fiercely, study the market daily, and carry our communities in ways that go far beyond contracts. We’re not just selling homes — we’re shifting legacies.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Janie Alston — proud Baltimore native, Realtor®, community advocate, and founder of The Empress Team, an all-women real estate powerhouse serving Maryland and Virginia. I help first-time homebuyers, veterans, sellers, and investors build generational wealth through real estate — with honesty, heart, and hustle.
What makes my brand special is that I don’t just close deals — I open doors. Doors to ownership, to education, to legacy. With nearly 16 years of property management experience and 7 years in real estate, I’ve built a reputation on integrity, transparency, and treating every client like family. When you work with me, you feel protected, empowered, and seen.
The Empress Team was born from my desire to create space for women — especially Black women — to lead, grow, and win in this industry. We show up boldly in our communities, we host free workshops, we support locally-owned businesses, and we give back through school supply drives, charities, community events, ladies night out, and client appreciation events that truly celebrate the people we serve.
My “why” is deeply rooted in legacy — not just for my clients, but for my son. I’m building something bigger than me, something lasting. I want him to grow up seeing what’s possible when you mix faith, passion, and purpose. Every door I help someone walk through is a reminder that where you come from doesn’t define you — it’s how you rise that matters.
Right now, I’m focused on helping more families realize that homeownership isn’t a dream — it’s a plan. I’m proof that with faith, consistency, and real strategy, you can do more than survive — you can reign.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people?
Lack of communication, dishonesty, and unmet expectations — especially when people stop feeling seen or valued. When egos get louder than empathy, when people start operating in survival mode instead of connection, that’s when bonds start to fracture. And let’s be real — life can harden people. Sometimes it’s not intentional, it’s just unhealed pain showing up in how we treat each other.
What restores them?
Truth. Grace. Accountability. And a willingness to be vulnerable again. I’ve learned that relationships — personal or professional — are built and rebuilt in the small moments: showing up, saying “I was wrong,” listening deeply, and choosing love even when it’s not easy. Bonds are restored when people feel safe again — safe to trust, to grow, and to be human.
In my work, I see how trust can transform everything. Whether it’s helping a first-time buyer take that leap, or walking a family through a hard transition — real connection is what makes the work matter. That’s the bond I protect at all costs.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her: “You are already enough. You don’t have to earn love, prove your worth, or carry everything alone to be valuable.”
I’d remind her that her voice matters, her heart is her superpower, and every storm she survives will shape the woman she’s becoming. I’d tell her that one day, she’s going to build something beautiful — not just a career, but a purpose that uplifts others.
And most of all, I’d say: “Don’t shrink, Empress. You were never meant to fit in — you were born to lead.”
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is integrity.
In my life, in my business, in my team — we lead with truth. That means doing what’s right even when no one’s watching, even when it’s not convenient, and even when it costs you something. I don’t cut corners, I don’t sell dreams — I educate, I advocate, and I keep it real.
Especially in real estate, where people are trusting you with their money, their future, and their families, integrity isn’t optional — it’s everything. And as a Black woman in this industry, I know the importance of showing up with character and standing on my name. My clients, my son, and my community deserve that.
It’s not just a value — it’s the foundation of everything I’ve built.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I didn’t just sell houses — I changed lives. That I showed up with integrity, led with love, and gave everything I had to make others feel seen, valued, and empowered.
I hope they say I made people believe in themselves — that I taught women to walk with their heads high, that I helped families break cycles, that I poured into my community without ever expecting applause.
That I fought for what was right. That I loved hard. That I protected my people. That I led like an Empress.
And more than anything, I hope my son says, “My mother built something from nothing — and she never forgot who she was while doing it.”
Because that’s the story I’m writing every single day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JanieEmpressRealtor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janieempressrealtor
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janieempressrealtor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanieEmpressRealtor
