Alumni Spotlight: S. Lovey Parker (SCS'23), Founder & CEO of EVOLVED homes®

Interview by Marissa Dai (B’26)

Meet S. Lovey Parker (SCS’23), Founder & CEO of EVOLVED homes®. EVOLVED owns, operates and develops a collection of premium private residences, dedicated to increasing access and equity in luxury real estate.

For more than 20 years, S. Lovey has been an innovator and a community-builder - producing elevated luxury experiences within the hospitality space. As a CEO and Founder, S. Lovey shares some insight into her journey to and through entrepreneurship as well as her aspirations for future of EVOLVED and investment in the hospitality industry.

When did you know that you wanted to become an entrepreneur and how did your experience at Georgetown influence your career path?

I was raised in Prince George's County. I worked and did a part of my undergraduate studies here. During the recession, I realized that I wanted a different experience, so I ended up moving to New York. I loved the work that I was doing but came back home because I was curious about what else was out there. I was doing some consulting, really liked it, and saw that as I was partnering with other third-party providers, they were small businesses. And I was like, “Okay, I like the sound of that. I can get with that vibe of being independent.” That's really what drove me. 

While I was here in DC, I also discovered the startup ecosystem, and DC Startup Week was a really big part of that. I got involved as a volunteer and it was like a whole world opened up for me beyond what I understood previously about entrepreneurship, that solopreneur kind of lifestyle. The venture ecosystem opened up my view to not only the finance side, but also on how you can change people's lives, how you can innovate and create amazing things just for human betterment. That's what really inspired me: that intersection between venture capital, social impact, and ownership. As an entrepreneur or founder, you're able to have that sense of ownership over the solution that you're introducing to the market. And I wanted all of those things, I wanted the impact, I wanted the ownership, and I wanted that sense of independence for myself. I really wanted to create my own track as opposed to being in a corporate institution that was setting that course for me. Those things inspired me to become an entrepreneur and a founder.

Now, the experience at Georgetown influenced that a lot. I was a part of the Summit Launch Incubator team, and I was always really inspired by the Hoya founders that came from Georgetown. I always thought that founders are absolute superstars, but I was impressed by how Georgetown creates a space specifically for Hoya entrepreneurs. As I became affiliated with the incubators and accelerators, I became an even more proud Hoya.

Once you knew that you wanted that sense of ownership and independence, how did you settle on the idea to create EVOLVED? 

I am a hospitalian, through and through. I've been in the hospitality industry over 20 years at this point, primarily on the management side. So I knew that it had to align with my previous background, just because I love that space. My master's is in global hospitality leadership, so I wanted to make sure that there was a return on my investment into my education and the effort I had put into my career up until that point. Again, I loved the space, and I love what that says about me and other people who are hospitality professionals. So, I started doing some digging through the influences of my coursework and my professors, and I found this intersection of hospitality and finance paired with the fun side of branded residences that has been growing at a phenomenal rate over the past 10 years. 

So, I saw that there was a market demand, but I was also curious about the social impact part. How can I take hospitality investing, and also the fun fast growth brand side of it, and create something that is uniquely positioned to create impact for owners of color? I was toying around with it, and then there was one day when I was doing all the research, and I was going down a rabbit hole. I came across this business model called private residence clubs. It literally had almost all of the use cases and aspects of what I thought EVOLVED homes® could look like. After doing some tweaking and having conversations with over 100 Black and brown accredited investors here in DC, I knew that I found a specific niche and a specific solution that the market would be really ready for.

Do you think being a woman of color has influenced your entrepreneurial journey? 

I would say yes, but also I feel like because of the lens that I have, as a Black woman, being in the business of hospitality has certain connotations. I feel as though being a founder has kind of helped me shift that connotation from being of service, or in a servitude capacity, to more so nurturing a social good and a social benefit. That's kind of how I see it. I feel like it's also helped me tune in to the possibilities of the market, because I have an insider's view into the experiences of owners of color and for people who have traditionally been pigeon-holed into a certain professional context in hospitality.

What do you think is the best part of your job? The hardest?

The best part of my job is innovation, number one. I really feel like innovation is probably one of the most vital pieces of life. Without innovation, you kind of become a little stagnant, right? I feel that innovation definitely helps to fuel life and provides that really big piece of creativity in my life. The second part is community. Community is absolutely vital. Just having that point of connection, having a shared experience whether it be with one person, four people, or 400 people. I think it's phenomenal to have that deep sense of connection and that opportunity to cultivate a space and experience with your people, whoever they are, whatever they look like, however you define that. It's one of those irreplaceable things. And those things keep me going. 

The worst part: just because everything is always so new all the time, you're constantly working to make your mental frameworks more efficient for you. And at times, you're starting at ground zero. It's interesting and fun, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But when you're talking about this concept of time travel – how can you collapse time and make innovations happen quicker? – you’re having to fail fast. But sometimes that failure isn't as easy when you feel like there is so much potential to the solution that you're bringing to the market, so you still have that sense of responsibility. Oh, and rest, prioritizing rest. That one is difficult for sure.

Is there anything you wish more people knew about your work?

That could be a whole book, two books. But what I would say primarily is that there should be equitability and accessibility for all types of people to be in the ownership echelon of hospitality and investing. I know that with my solution coming to market that will definitely change for the better on the hospitality investment side. 
Also, on the startup slash small business side, ownership is fun. It takes a lot of faith to go out on a limb, which is exciting and thrilling, but it's also scary as Hell sometimes. So be resolute in your vision because once you have that vision, it is yours. And if it doesn't go away, it's going to stay there until you make up your mind that it's going to get done, and that you're going to be the one to do it.

What is your vision for EVOLVED homes® moving forward?

My vision for EVOLVED homes® is accelerating the rate of hospitality, specifically hotel and resort owners, at a rate that is eight to twelve times faster, more efficient, and more perpetual than any other model that currently exists in the market.

Is there any advice you would give to students who might be interested in entrepreneurship or the hospitality industry? 

First would be to embrace change, lean into it all the way at every possible turn. It’s there to make you the more evolved version of yourself. Number two is to tap into your community. I'm very grateful for the individuals who have been in my community, and they've helped to sustain me. It keeps me from working in a silo – being able to reach out to people for advice, and even sometimes just to have a coffee, or a drink of champagne. It's just good to have that community of people who understand the founder journey, the innovation journey, the funding journey, and what that looks like. 

My last piece of advice is that you have to remember rest, to take time for yourself. I am a huge proponent of rest. There are times in this founder journey where you're just going nonstop, and there are other times where it seems like absolutely nothing is happening. During those times, it's so important to make sure to keep your energy maintained. Resting yourself and finding balance and peace is paramount to fuel those times where it's just nonstop and go and go. Self love and self care and practices of rest are different for everybody. So just find something that works for you. For me, it can vary. I could lay down, watch a movie, or take a nap and be good. Other times it's getting out and being outside in the world, going for a walk, having a coffee with somebody. So it really just depends, but I think what I seek the most is balance and community.