AMANDA LAKE

manda Lake grew up with six siblings in an 800-square-foot house in West Dallas. She became a hairstylist and opened her own salon and a westernwear store in the Bishop Arts District in the late ’80s. She learned to deal with city code and planning cases as a business owner and soon began taking on cases for other people to make extra money. Soon she was handling planning cases full time, and then she bought properties and became a commercial landlord. Now she is married to Jim Lake Jr. and has joined his business, Jim Lake Cos., as vice president of operatons and partner. She is a co-founder of Mammogram Poster Girls Inc., a neighborhood nonprofit that funds mammograms for people who otherwise couldn’t afford one. She also supports The

Well, an Oak Cliff nonprofit that provides mental-health services. She serves on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit board of directors.

Career accomplishments she’s proud of: Chairman of the board of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce and being a property owner of the Bishop Arts District. Misconceptions about her profession: As an urban redeveloper, the misconception is that we tear down buildings, but the truth is we repurpose them.

What she looks for in employees: Honesty, integrity and a good work ethic.

What she’s proud of besides work: My family and being able to be active in their lives. My gardens.

The best advice she’s ever received: Don’t underestimate people.

The best gift she’s received: My children and my beautiful granddaughter, Aubrey.

A strong leader is… Someone who listens.

Advice she would give to her younger self: Go to college and get a degree. Focus on yourself and your goals.

Advice she would give to someone who wants to go into commercial real estate: Surround yourself with positive people with knowledge in that field. Learn from experience.

How she would like to be remembered: As someone who gives back to the community and as someone who was involved on boards and commissions, where impacting decisions are made.

On gender discrimination: It has been key to my success because others underestimate me.

How she achieves work/life balance: Having a great staff is crucial in balancing the work/life load.

How she relaxes: Cooking, decorating my home, gardening.

The biggest problem our community faces: Homelessness.

How she would spend $1 million on the community: I would help those with mental illness.