Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Rygalski.
Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story: I was born in Washington, D.C., at Andrews Air Force Base to two incredible parents and spent most of my childhood growing up in Toledo, Ohio. I’m one of four siblings, and early in life our family experienced profound loss when my brother Jimmy passed away from a heart defect while we were very young. That experience had a big impact on who I am and how I view life. Growing up, I was very active in sports and driven academically. I graduated as valedictorian of my high school class and earned my Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Toledo. I then spent nearly 20 years in corporate America, holding a variety of roles including Internal Auditor—where I had the opportunity to travel internationally—outside sales, global sales training, and business leadership. Those roles took me across the country, including moves to Charlotte, North Carolina and Cincinnati, Ohio. I was fortunate to receive multiple sales awards along the way, including recognition from customers, which always meant the most to me.
After leaving the corporate world, I took a bit of a leap and explored a few different paths before finding my true fit in real estate more than 12 years ago here in Michigan. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay to reinvent yourself. Every experience, the good and the challenging, teaches you something and helps shape who you become.
On the personal side, I’ve been married for 35 years to my husband, who is a project engineer and an international marathon runner. What always surprises people is that he was actually my neighbor growing up — I’ve known him since I was three years old. We have two incredible children who make us so proud. Our daughter is 33 and works as a lawyer in Detroit, and our son is 30 and in his fourth year of residency in Nashville, training to become an ENT surgeon. We’re also incredibly blessed that our son is engaged to an amazing woman who has truly become a wonderful addition to our family.
Outside of work, we love to travel and explore new places, and I enjoy volunteering, gardening, cooking, baking, shoes and little sparkle. At the heart of everything I do is a belief that we should leave the world better than we found it and always lead with kindness.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Has it been a smooth road? Not at all. I don’t think it ever is for anyone, even if those challenges aren’t always visible to the outside world.
Like many people, some of my biggest obstacles came early. Losing my brother Jimmy to a heart defect when we were so young was incredibly difficult, and later, the unexpected loss of my father at just 49 years old, only a week before my son was born, was life-altering. I’ve also faced job changes, personal significant challenges, health challenges, and moments of uncertainty that forced me to pause, reassess, and find a new way forward.
What I’ve learned is that it’s rarely the challenge itself that defines you, it’s how you handle it, what you learn from it, and how you choose to move forward. Progress isn’t always linear. Sometimes it’s one step forward and two steps back, and that’s okay. Giving yourself grace, practicing forgiveness, and allowing space to grow are essential.
One of the biggest personal breakthroughs for me has been learning to be my authentic self and finding my circle—those people who support you, challenge you, and walk alongside you. That, to me, is one of life’s greatest upgrades.
I’ve learned that some of the most healing moments come when you’re hurting the most and still choose to help someone else. In those moments, even the smallest act of kindness can gently lift you, remind you of your purpose, and help your heart begin to heal.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I found my true passion in residential real estate more than 12 years ago here in Michigan. It’s really the perfect blend of everything I’ve done before—my business background, sales experience, leadership skills, and my love for working with people. I often joke with my clients that I plan to be their favorite Realtor® for life, and the truth is, many of my clients have become close friends and even feel like family.
One thing I’m known for is encouraging my clients to “think marathon, not sprint.” Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions most people will ever make, and I take that responsibility seriously. My goal is always to guide, educate, and support my clients every step of the way so they feel confident, informed, and truly cared for.
One of the highlights of my career was being selected as a host for The American Dream TV: Selling Mid-Michigan. It was an incredible experience and a true honor to be chosen as a Power Player, representing the top 1% of real estate and mortgage professionals nationwide. The show itself was an amazing opportunity to showcase our local culture, lifestyle, and our amazing community!
I’m deeply grateful for the recognition I’ve received over the years, including the 2023 Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce Spirit of the Chamber Award, the 2024 East Central Women’s Council of Realtors® Realtor of the Year, and being voted the 2024 Fenton Tri-County Times Favorite Agent and the 2024 Grand Blanc View “Best of the Best” Realtor. While those honors are incredibly meaningful, what I’m most proud of is the trust my clients place in me and the lasting relationships we build together.
At the core of my work is a genuine passion for helping people and giving back to the community that has given so much to me. I’m honored to serve on the Impact 100 Genesee County Board of Directors, the Junior League of Flint Board of Directors, and the Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Keller Williams Agent Leadership Council, and a Productivity Coach. I also volunteer with several local nonprofits, including Lasagna Love, and have served on various industry boards and committees over the years. The relationships, connections, and friendships formed through this work are truly what fuel my purpose.
What I value most are the people I met along the way and the genuine friendships that naturally grew along the way. Those relationships continue to mean so much to me and are at the heart of everything I do. I recently came across a study that shared how even a 12-minute conversation with a friend can change how the brain processes stress, and I hold that close, because the people in my life know I will always make space for those 12 minutes.
And finally, yes, I’m also known for my love of shoes, sparkle, and my signature phrase, “Doing Deals in Heels.” It’s a little fun, a little bold, and very much a reflection of how I show up: professional, passionate, and unapologetically myself.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I believe that growth often asks for a quiet kind of courage. One of the biggest risks I took was leaving the familiarity of corporate America and stepping into real estate on my own. It meant starting over in a new industry, in a new place, without an established network of friends or family. That leap came with uncertainty, but it was made possible through the support of others and a willingness to trust myself even when I didn’t have all the answers.
Over the years, risk has also shown up in smaller, more personal ways, changing roles, navigating transitions, saying yes to opportunities that stretched me, and even walking into rooms where I didn’t know a single person. Those moments can be uncomfortable and intimidating, but they often become the very places where confidence is built and connection begins.
I’ve learned that risk doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s simply showing up as you are, even when you feel vulnerable. That was certainly true when I stepped into a hosting role on television, something totally outside my comfort zone. I’ve joked that I’m no longer as young or as thin as I once was, and yes, there’s plenty of gray now, but that experience reminded me that authenticity matters far more than perfection.
On a personal level, my husband and I took risks each time we moved our family and built a life in a new community. With every move came excitement, doubt, and those quiet moments of wondering if we were making the right choice. Looking back, those experiences taught our family resilience, trust, and the ability to grow through uncertainty.
What I’ve come to believe is this: risk isn’t about being fearless, it’s about being willing. Willing to walk into unfamiliar rooms, to try something new, to trust the process, and to keep going even when the path isn’t clear. And more often than not, those risks lead to growth, connection, and opportunities we couldn’t have imagined if we’d stayed where it felt safe.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://buildingdreamswithjen.kw.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rygalskijen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jen.hornyakrygalski
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenrygalski/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenrygalskirealtor
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jennifer-rygalski-keller-williams-realty-grand-blanc
