THE MOGUL: JUNY FRANCOIS

Juny E. François has become an aggressive force in real estate development.  Her passion for investment and development sparked ten years ago while purchasing and rehabilitating a four-story brownstone in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York.  Since then, Ms. François went on to develop over $10 million in new construction and rehabilitation work.  Presently, Ms. François is Principal for J. François & Associates, LLC, a real estate development and consultant firm that specializes in negotiating and consummating complex commercial transactions and constructing condominiums and cooperative housing.  She is a principal in Heavenly Destinations Development LLC, an investment and development company that supports development projects in emerging markets.  Ms. François is also licensed New York and Florida real estate broker. 

Prior to her career in real estate, Ms. François practiced corporate and entertainment law for more than a decade at top-level law firms (Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis) and Scholastic Inc., the world’s largest children publishing and media company.  Her expertise in these areas include: licensing, copyright and trademark, talent & artist management, technology, new media and e-commerce.  Ms. François also combines her development and entertainment skills as a principal in BF Management LLC, an international sports and entertainment management firm.  She also is a consultant with American Express Technology Law Group. 

Ms. François compliments her professional career with a “hands-on” approach to community development.  She sits on the founding boards of the Emmanuel Works Multimedia Company, LLC and EMC Music, LLC, two companies that she helped her church to create to promote and develop local artists. Ms. François’ love for the arts and her commitment to youth development led her to volunteer in leadership roles for local, community and youth-based organizations.  She currently serves on the steering committee for the International Children Outreach Ministry, a mentor program that hosts children from developing countries every summer.   

Ms. François has also been a successful fundraiser for local and national political campaigns and has served as a keynote speaker for a number of organizations, including Columbia University, College Bound Success and real estate associations. 

Ms. François earned her bachelors degree in English from Columbia University in 1991.  She went on to achieve her J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude in 1994.    She enjoys fashion and interior design and is an avid marathon runner.  She resides in Brooklyn, New York with her adopted son, Samuel, from Mabopane, South Africa.