Joséphine is a German native who came to Nashville, TN, as a D1-Track athlete recruit in 2011. Joséphine sponsored her Green Card by providing ground-up housing opportunities in Middle Tennessee, adding to the American economy as a real estate developer. As part of making her American Dream a reality, she built Sapphire Development Group, a vertically integrated real estate development and investment firm based in Nashville, TN. Sapphire & Co delivers a one-stop-shop real estate experience, from offering off-market deals and developing ground-up single and multi-family to helping investors build and sell real estate portfolios. Joséphine is working on her first brownfield project, which entails redeveloping a former metal plating facility site for 32 townhomes. She’s built a development pipeline of $30M+ focusing on elevating targeted neighborhoods within a 10-15 min radius of Downtown Nashville. Sapphire Development Group is committed to developing real estate that creates lively communities in Nashville’s Urban Core. Joséphine loves to travel and explore new cultures and places.
Can you share more about your educational and professional background, and how have these experiences contributed to your success in the real estate development sector?
I grew up in an architectural and design-oriented family in Stuttgart, Germany. I began working at the age of 13 in a German architecture office for residential housing and new developments. In 2011, I was recruited as a 400m and 400m Hurdle Track athlete to a D1 school in the Nashville area. I studied finance and international management in college and have won financial awards. I quickly began to focus on real estate investments upon graduation. I have prior work experience in the European M&A group at Deloitte and in Equity Research of a $1.3bn fund at an Asset Management firm in Franklin, TN. Coming out of college and taking a real estate development and investment firm from essentially scratch to multi-millions has been a big personal accomplishment. I live for improving the lives of others and increasing safety in our neighborhoods.
How does Sapphire Development Group’s vertically integrated business model operate, and what strategies have propelled your rapid growth within the real estate industry?
I built Sapphire Development Group to be a vertically integrated real estate development and investment firm because I believe that the investor and client experience is much better when the same trusted team can assist all around with their real estate investment needs. My team delivers a one-stop-shop experience, from offering off-market deals and developing ground-up residential to helping others build and sell real estate portfolios. This means we provide our investors with a hands-on deal experience that includes access to off-market deals that can yield better returns, and also protect development investments as our Realtor Team, Your Sapphire Team, handles the sales aspect. Sapphire & Co. handles much of the real estate cycle in-house, which has helped the company grow quickly.
Based on your experiences, what key lessons would you share with aspiring entrepreneurs, especially in navigating challenges and building character?
Don’t ever quit. No matter how difficult something may seem, it’s worth the undertaking. Character is built during persevering tough times, and character is what will make all the difference in the world. I believe the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” is what makes for successful entrepreneurship.
In what ways do you believe your vision for architecture and design, combined with an understanding of urban planning and human trends, has made Sapphire Development Group successful?
I believe it’s my vision for architecture and design that meets a deep understanding of urban planning and understanding human trends that have been inspired by having lived abroad in various cultures from Germany to China, as well as in metropolitan areas such as NYC.
What have you learned about the importance of communication and authenticity in business, and how has this understanding shaped your entrepreneurial journey?
I’ve learned that communication in business is everything. It’s vital as an entrepreneur to be able to communicate during great as well as during difficult times, whether that’s with investors, clients, or employees. I also have come to the realization that most people don’t know what they’re doing and that we all are just trying to figure things out as we go. We’re all in this human experience together looking for opportunities to grow, unfold, and be. The more authentic we are, and the more we feel connected within our community, the more successful our journey will feel as an entrepreneur.
What personal skills and attributes do you consider critical for your success, and how have they helped you adapt and thrive in various circumstances?
As a person, I’m very adaptable, open-minded, and durable. I’ve had to pivot and restart several times which has built character and perseverance. I love learning and get bored easily so I try to stay super active in whatever I do. I’m just a generally curious person; curious to learn about others and curious to figure out how to unfold my full potential in building businesses.
Why do you believe mastering online marketing and diversifying business models is crucial for entrepreneurs today and in the future?
I believe that attention is the new currency and that we, as entrepreneurs whether digital or more traditional entrepreneurs, need to learn how to market online well in order to stay relevant over the next 10+ years. I also love the diversification of business models within a business umbrella.
Can you tell us more about the Sapphire Developer Academy and how it aims to empower real estate professionals with the knowledge to succeed in development?
I recently launched “Sapphire Developer Academy” in which I coach Realtors, Wholesalers, and Investors on how to break into real estate development. In this program, I share the exact strategies that I’ve used to build a multi-million dollar company and how they can too.
To discover more about Joséphine Saffert’s journey and Sapphire Development Group’s projects, explore these links:
Company Website: https://sapphiredevelop.com
LinkedIn & Instagram Handles:
– LinkedIn: @josephinesaffert https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephinesaffert
– Instagram: @josephinesaffert https://www.instagram.com/josephinesaffert/
& @sapphirdevelop https://www.instagram.com/sapphirdevelop/
More on Sapphire Developer Academy:
Sapphire Developer Academy
https://academy.sapphiredevelop.com/developer-academy
Podcasts Joséphine has been featured on:
-Spotify Episode
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vU2QrsBYqVsTlXmo0nhGW?si=BDwXOiSbQMSh6GE0YduZTA
– Spotify Show
https://open.spotify.com/show/3p1JTW0mx9auFQxns4vL7Z?si=lKEeBfBqQO6BbqPkvn1jew
