Building a career as a commercial real estate broker is no easy endeavor. It requires confidence, keen communication skills, market expertise and a willingness to do more than the competition. But the rewards — not only financial, but the relationships created and the tangible impact made on the community — make the profession worth the work. Just ask Jesse Rozio, founder and CEO of Ignite Commercial Real Estate, who earned his real estate license in high school and took a leap of faith nearly three years ago to start his own firm at 27 years old.  

AZRE magazine sat down with Rozio to learn more about how he got into the industry, the challenges of entrepreneurship and what he’s learned during the early phase of his career. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

AZRE: Was real estate always your plan considering you got licensed so young?  

Jessie Rozio: My dad is an immigrant who came to the U.S. with nothing and didn’t speak any English. He made a life here but didn’t have a 401k or pension, so he started buying small residential properties to have something to retire on.  

Because of that, real estate and financial security have always been linked in my mind. Even when I thought I’d be going to Wall Street after college, I was hoping to work with real estate somehow. 

Honestly, I didn’t know much at all about the industry until my sister introduced me to her friend who was very successful in the business.  

He brought me on the summer after graduation to see if I liked the the work. We clicked, and after a few weeks, I knew I wanted to stay in commercial real estate. 

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AZRE: A couple years pass and you’re starting Ignite Real Estate. Did you always want to be an entrepreneur?   

Jessie Rozio: It’s been in the back of my mind for a long time, but it’s funny because my wife didn’t know that was my aspiration. But after I left my previous company, I was faced with the decision of trying to become a partner at another firm or starting my own. And that’s how Ignite came to be.

AZRE: Are the realities of being a business owner different than what you envisioned?  

Jessie Rozio: It has been harder than you can imagine. I didn’t know how the marketplace was going to respond to a 20-something starting his own shop in an industry crowded with seasoned superstars. Not only that, but it wasn’t like starting a business was something I had been concocting for years and had a gameplan for. But an opportunity happened to present itself and I took it.  

In the beginning, it was really challenging because I had to wear so many hats. I was the accountant, marketing guy, deal maker — I was doing everything. I gave up time with friends and family, the gym and sleep because I had to invest it all into the business. But two and half years later, I’m pinching myself because of how well it’s going.  

AZRE: You mentioned in an earlier conversation that you’ll be turning 30 this Thanksgiving. Any thoughts you’d like to share as you wrap up this opening chapter?

Jessie Rozio: The first decade of my career was successful and I learned a lot. But now that I’ve put in my 10,000 hours to refine my skills, I really know what I’m doing. For me, the next 10 years and beyond will be like an athlete entering their prime.