Resilience to Revenue: Aisha Govani’s Pivot to Profitable Midterm Rentals
Have you ever wondered if there’s a smarter, more profitable way to rent your property—hidden in plain sight?
In this episode, I sit down with Aisha Govani—a dynamic entrepreneur who turned financial rock bottom into a midterm rental success story. From living in her in-laws' basement with two young kids and zero income during COVID, Aisha and her husband rewrote their future through grit, resilience, and an entirely new approach to real estate.
We dive into the world of midterm rentals, where Aisha reveals how this overlooked strategy can be your golden ticket—especially if you’re battling short-term rental restrictions. She breaks down how she built a thriving platform connecting independent hosts with corporate clients, turning properties into profit through business-to-business bookings.
You’ll get actionable tips on everything from cold calling corporate contacts, networking with relocation agencies, to landing contracts with insurance companies. Aisha peels back the curtain on how to structure deals, vet hosts, and maximize bookings—all while building a sustainable, values-driven business.
This isn’t just a roadmap for better bookings—it’s a blueprint for reinvention. Aisha’s story will challenge you to rethink your strategy and show you what’s possible when you bet on yourself. Get ready to turn resilience into revenue and learn why midterm rentals are the smart investor’s next big move!
HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:
[01:01] A short introduction about our guest Aisha Govani and her journey from nonprofit work to real estate entrepreneurship
[06:07] Aisha recalls the tough COVID days living in her in-laws’ basement, where grit triumphed over fear
[09:56] The importance of commitment over hesitation, framing failure as an essential step toward mastery and fulfillment
[13:30] How Aisha’s own entrepreneurial evolution reshaped her view on education to empower her children with personalized, real-world education inspired by her entrepreneurial growth
[17:18] Aisha talks about the intensive work behind securing B2B midterm rental bookings and how her platform simplifies access for independent hosts
[22:45] Aisha explains why cold calling often triggers discomfort and shares the key to overcoming
[25:38] Aisha breaks down how to identify decision-makers for B2B bookings and highlights the mindset and approach needed to succeed in cold calling
[30:49] How Aisha’s midterm rental platform connects hosts to both B2C and B2B bookings with a focus on ease and quality of guests
[32:24] Aisha + details the streamlined vetting process for hosts on her platform and highlights high-demand areas, especially in the Greater Toronto Area
[35:57] The lightning round
Golden Nuggets:
“Decide and ignore the noise.”
“I always choose grit over fear.”
“There are days I wake up and I'm like, should I be doing this? Is this the right choice? What have I decided to do? Can I even do this? Am I capable of doing what I think I can do? And when those questions come into your brain, you're really the only one that can quiet it. So I always try to choose, one foot, one foot, one foot. Don't worry about the rest of the race.”
“We have to commit to what we want first before we do anything else.”
“What I would say to anyone who's trying to cold call anything is, when you call that person, you speak to them like you're providing a solution for their problem.”
“It's going to be harder than you think, but networking is going to be a large part of the answer.”
“If you work on your mind and your body, all else will align.
This episode is brought to you by
The STR Sisterhood
Whether you’re brand new to Airbnb or an experienced Superhost, you’re giving yourself the gift of financial freedom and FUN when you enter the short-term rental space. If there’s anyone who knows this, it’s Stacey St. John. She built a 7-figure STR portfolio in less than two years and was able to leave her W2 thanks to the earnings from her properties. Today, she’s living the life she was always meant to live – on her terms. And on her new podcast, The STR Sisterhood, she’s sharing how you can, too!
On this show, it’s all about you and your short-term rental journey. You’ll hear actionable advice from industry experts as well as inspiring stories from real women about their experiences, achievements, frustrations, and challenges…and how they’ve managed to turn their short-term rental dreams into reality. If you’re an ambitious woman who’s looking to have a 5-star Airbnb business on your hands without having to sacrifice the things you love, then tune in every week for all the goodness!
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