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For Jo Boothroyd, Director of Ray White Lara, real estate was more than a job; it was a mission born of necessity, nurtured by passion, and ultimately passed down to the next generation.
As a young mum navigating long days, high expectations, and the weight of being the sole provider, Jo built a career that not only sustained her family but inspired her children, especially Zac, now a partner in her business, to follow in her footsteps.
“I started in real estate doing the books for an agency,” Jo said. “I loved it and it progressed from there. I had three little ones. Zac, his brother Jess, and our daughter Madison. It was tough. We worked seven days a week, sometimes 12-hour days, and juggling that with a family was really hard. But I absolutely felt I had found my niche.”
Zac’s earliest memories of his mother’s career are quiet yet vivid.
“I think it would have been when I was in high school, getting off the school bus at the front of your office at The Professionals,” he said. “You’d give me a dollar to get some hot chips. I’d sit and eat them while I waited for you to take me home. I think I did that most nights back in high school.”
Those casual moments masked the intensity of Jo’s responsibilities. When her husband suffered a life-altering head injury, Jo stepped into the role of sole breadwinner.
“I often wonder if the kids missed out because I was working so much,” she said.
But Zac remembers things differently. “I can’t remember ever not having what I needed. Dad was home, and we spent a lot of time with friends or grandparents. I don’t think Mum ever dragged me off to work.”
That balancing act left an impression and shaped the way Jo would eventually lead.
“That guilt from those years made me a better principal,” she said. “I wanted an office where women could balance both career and family. I understood that guilt and tried to create a workplace where others didn’t have to feel it.”
Years later, when Zac found himself questioning his career in the automotive industry, it was Jo who gently nudged him toward a new path.
“Zac would call me regularly, every few months, and we’d talk about how unhappy he was,” Jo recalled. “I remember telling him, ‘If nothing changes, nothing changes.’”
Zac spoke about the tipping point for him. “Toward the end of my time at Ford, I wanted a more professional role,” he said.
“I didn’t feel I could achieve that at Ford. We went back and forth for a couple of years before I accepted Mum’s generous offer. It’s been nearly 10 years now, and I haven’t looked back.”
Jo made the transition easy by offering him a role that respected his life stage.
“Zac didn’t come in as a salesperson,” she said. “It was a different role, more suited to someone with a young family. It required Monday-to-Friday work, which made the transition easier,” she said.
And it wasn’t just about easing Zac in, it was about setting him up for success.
“Mum put me with some great mentors, like Mark McLeod and Jess Densley. I owe a lot to them (and to Mum) for initiating those relationships,” Zac said. “We didn’t know where it would lead, but after a few years, it became clear this was the right path for me.”
Working with family, however, hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
“It’s not rainbows and puppy dogs every day,” Jo admitted. “The culture depends on how I interact with my family in the business. We have our lively debates.”
Zac agreed.
“Our relationship brings unique challenges, but also opportunities that you don’t get in a regular business relationship,” he said. “We’ve found a balance over the last decade, and the fact that we’re sitting here now is a testament to that.”
That deep familial bond carries through in how they speak about each other. Asked to sum Jo up in one word, Zac doesn’t hesitate.
“Generous,” he said. “Mum’s generosity, both in the family and the business, is unmatched. She always shared her success with others.”
For Jo, the word is loyal.
“Zac is incredibly loyal,” she said. “To me and to the business. He’s someone I can lean on.”
Their admiration is mutual.
“Mum’s leadership is very motherly,” Zac says. “She treats her staff like family, and I admire that. It doesn’t come naturally to me, but it works really well for her.”
Jo, in turn, beamed when she spoke of her son’s growth.
“I love watching Zac as a dad,” she said. “He’s reliable, steady, and someone I can always go to for a good conversation. He’s also been our family’s rock through a lot of tragedy.”
Zac attributed much of his character to Jo’s example.
“You’ve helped me understand that nothing comes from wanting,” he said, addressing Jo directly. “You have to work for everything. My work ethic comes from my upbringing.”
Now, as Jo prepares for retirement, she sees Zac not just as a successor, but a testament to her life’s work.
“You’re my succession plan,” she told him. “I’m proud and excited for the next chapter.”
That next chapter is shaped not just by business goals but by the same values Jo has always lived by: unconditional love, hard work, and purpose.
“What makes Mum the best is how she handled the hard stuff,” Zac said. “That’s not always natural for parents, but she did it better than anyone I know.”
Reflecting on their journey, both Jo and Zac understand the deeper lessons that emerged.
“Creating an environment where my son can grow into a good man and contributing member of society, that’s something Mum did for me, even under pressure,” Zac said.
And Jo, ever the learner, finds herself still growing thanks to her children. “They’ve taught me to be more accepting of different opinions,” she said. “They’re their own people now.”
Asked what advice they’d offer working parents, both come back to one word: balance. “Appreciate that it’s a two-way street,” Zac said. “Know when to work hard and when to take time off for family.”
Jo added, “It’s not always easy, but it’s possible.”
In the end, theirs is a story of resilience, reinvention, and a bond that has withstood the pressures of business and life. As Zac put it: “Thank you. None of us would be where we are without your hard work and influence.”
And Jo, with a smile, responded simply: “Thank you, Zac.”
