Jennifer Dillard and Makena Finger Zannini are the dynamic co-founders of Brick by Brick Collective, a fast-growing business support company for real estate professionals. Jen brings over a decade of real estate experience, running a team that generates over $1 million in annual revenue and managing an investment portfolio of 700+ doors—all while being a present mom and wife. Makena, a Wharton grad, built a multi-seven figure business before turning 30 and now leads The Boutique COO and Brick by Brick Collective, employing over 120 people. Together, they combine deep industry knowledge and operational expertise to help real estate agents and teams scale, automate, and thrive in a competitive market.

On this episode we talk about:

– How Jen and Makena each made their first dollar—from lemonade stands and golf ball hustling to jewelry sales

– The story of how they met, built trust, and formed a business partnership rooted in shared values and open communication

– The challenges real estate professionals face with operations, marketing, and scaling—and how Brick by Brick Collective fills that gap

– The “shovels in the gold rush” approach: why supporting an industry can be more lucrative (and less crowded) than competing in it

– What it takes to run a service-based business at scale, including automation, high standards, and building a strong team culture

– The realities of entrepreneurship, from tough conversations to the importance of resilience and grit

– How to leverage your skill set to build a business that fits your personality and goals

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Shared Values Make Partnerships Work: The foundation of a successful business partnership is mutual respect, open communication, and aligned values—not just complementary skills.

2. Support Businesses Are Gold Mines: Instead of competing with thousands of agents, Brick by Brick Collective supports them—proving that “selling shovels in a gold rush” can be the smartest play.

3. Service Businesses Teach Real Entrepreneurship: Running a service-based company forces you to master every business function, from sales and operations to HR and finance, and is a powerful way to launch your entrepreneurial journey.

Notable Quotes

– “Everything you want in life is on the other side of a hard conversation.”

– “One size fits all fits no one—real estate professionals need support that understands their world.”

– “There’s always going to be a need for real estate agents, and there’s always going to be a need for support.”

Connect with Jennifer Dillard & Makena Finger Zannini:

– Instagram: @jendillard and @makenafingerzannini

– Business: @brickbybrickcollective

– Website: brickbybrickcollective.com

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