Forty Under 40: Latriece Watkins

Latriece Watkins has had six jobs in the six years she has been with Wal-Mart Realty, which she describes as the largest real estate company in the world.

She started off as real estate entity integrity manager. Then she was promoted to senior manager in lease administration. From there, she became director of realty management with the responsibility for property management of all Wal-Mart and Sams Clubs in the U.S. After that, she was realty and transactions director, then director of asset management before landing her current job.

Originally from McGehee, Watkins earned a bachelors degree in political science in 1996 from Spelman College in Atlanta. In 1999, she received her law degree from the University of Arkansas.

The most rewarding part of her career came after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, she said. Watkins helped set up vacant Wal-Mart stores as far away as Maryland to be used by the Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA and city governments.

Watkins credits Robert Laurence, her property law professor, for getting her interested in real estate, and Kim Saylors for being an inspiration to her at Wal-Mart.

Her advice to young people is focus on the work, not on promotions.