Five years after being named a DISI Leader, Jaymi Lacap, CPM®, continues to
A seasoned property management professional with more than 15 years in the business, Jaymi was already a CPM® when she was selected as an IREM DISI Leader in 2021. Even though most DISI Leaders are working toward achieving CPM certification, Jaymi wanted to expand her perspective, build her network, and find new ways to make an impact beyond her local market.
At the time she applied, Jaymi was deeply involved in the Greater Los Angeles market and eager to take her engagement with IREM to the next level.
“I was looking for a way to get more involved with IREM at the national level,” she said. “I knew my local market well, but I wanted exposure to other markets and leaders across the country.”
The DISI program offered exactly that with national visibility, meaningful mentorship, and opportunities to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds and geographies. For Jaymi, the chance to broaden her professional network was one of the most compelling aspects of the experience.
Connection has played a defining role in Jaymi’s journey. Through the DISI program she built relationships with fellow leaders across the country that have endured well beyond the program year.
“When I see people at leadership retreats or PropertyCon, there’s already that sense of community,” she said. “It makes IREM feel smaller, in a good way.”
In a fullcircle moment, one of those connections ultimately led Jaymi to her current role at CBRE. A former DISI mentee, and now a colleague, referred her for a position about 18 months ago.
“It was almost a reverse mentorship,” Jaymi reflected. “That relationship, which started through DISI, directly impacted where I am today.”
Not only did the DISI experience expand Jaymi’s network, it also influenced how she leads.
Inspired by what she saw at the national level, Jaymi helped advocate for the creation of a DEI-focused position with the IREM Greater Los Angeles Chapter Board. Shortly after completing the DISI program, the chapter launched more DEI-focused programming, including the creation of a VP of DEI position on the board, and Jaymi went on to serve Chapter President in 2024 and 2025.
“The program helped me see where there were opportunities locally,” she said. “It gave me the confidence and perspective to say, ‘This matters, and we can do more.’”
One of those initiatives included rethinking how the chapter engaged emerging professionals. What was once labeled a “young professionals” group was rebranded as “Ascending Leaders,” intentionally broadening the definition to be more inclusive of professionals at different stages and entry points in their careers.
“As soon as we made that shift, people started raising their hands,” she said. “They realized, ‘This includes me.’”
Today, as the General Manager of Century Plaza Towers in Los Angeles with CBRE, Jaymi credits DISI with shaping a more informed approach to leadership and decision-making, particularly when it comes to vendor selection, hiring, and daily operational choices.
“It made me more conscious,” she said. “Taking an extra couple of seconds to ask: Are we giving everyone a fair chance? Are we being intentional about the choices we’re making?”
That mindset aligns closely with her company’s commitment to diversity initiatives and continues to influence how she shows up as a leader every day.
Asked what she’s most grateful for, Jaymi points to the relationships she’s built, and to attending her first IREM Global Summit (now sunset) in 2021, an opportunity made possible by the DISI program.
“That experience really broadened my perspective,” she said. “It helped me understand how different markets operate and gave me a deeper appreciation for the industry as a whole.”
When asked to sum up her DISI experience in a single word, her answer was immediate:
“Transformative.”
Jaymi doesn’t hesitate when encouraging others to apply.
“Apply, apply, apply,” she said. “It’s a program that opens doors, exposes you to new perspectives, and connects you with people who truly want to see you succeed.”
For Jaymi, DISI was a career catalyst that continues to shape her leadership, her network, and her impact with IREM and the property management profession.
We can’t wait to see more of Jaymi in future leadership roles, both as a practitioner, and with IREM.