Even after ten years in this industry, people are still surprised when I’m introduced as the manager. Just ask my team—every time a future resident comes in for a tour, their reaction is the same: 'Wait... that’s your manager?!' It’s become our unofficial slogan. Layer that with the fact that my office team is all women of color, and I cannot even begin to tell you how many leases we’ve signed based on that alone.  

The element of being surprised that we are leaders aren’t rare for women of color in the multifamily industry. In fact, we often come to the table knowing we must work twice as hard as everyone else in the room. We know we are present, capable, and front leaders, but we are also being underestimated from the back.

The Reality Check

For many women of color, stepping into leadership isn’t just our personal desires to bring innovation and results. It’s also about navigating bias, underrepresentation, and assumptions. Too many times, we are thought to be more junior than we are, or that we lack knowledge and an inability to contribute. Our tone is policed and our ability to speak clearly and direct is met with the age-old comment of, “You’re so articulate,” as though this should not be the standard. Our ideas sometimes must be said twice. Not because they weren’t heard, but because it needs to be validated by someone else first.

While we work tirelessly to lead with excellence, we still get questioned. While we work diligently to execute, we still are sold short in our performance. We show up fully and authentically just to be asked if we’re in the right room.

I wish I could say these things are a figment of my imagination, but they’re not. These are real exchanges that unfold in our everyday operations: meetings, opportunities, and for some, during time for promotion. And yet, we still find a way.

Struggle or Strength?

What some in the world view as our downfall is surely becoming our greatest strength. Because we’ve had to work harder to be seen and heard, we lead with a level of empathy that exceeds most others. Because we personally know advocacy for ourselves, we show others how to find their voice and use it.

We’ve embraced the power of “no” to a point that our resilience is sharp and every moment of doubt has strengthened our drive, brick by brick. We’ve learned to read the room and find power in our presence often while carrying an invisible load. It’s moments like this we realize, this is no longer just leadership, it’s brilliance.

Here’s My Blueprint

Leadership isn’t just about what you do. It’s the impact your presence makes on those around you.

Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way navigating my own journey:

• Build your brand. Speak on panels and podcasts that align with your personal values. Write the blog. Teach others. Let your experience and expertise be visible and undeniable.
• Find a sponsor, not just a mentor. You must have someone that says your name is rooms you’re not in and that mentions your expertise for opportunities you’ll thrive in.
• Document your wins. Let this be for you and no one else. Visibility to yourself is currency.
• Your boundaries are a part of your leadership. Protect your time and learn to say no without guilt, in moments that require it.
• Create brave spaces. It’s your job to help build support for others that you may not have had yourself.

While it’s easy to think these are all the pieces to the puzzle, every day brings an opportunity to learn something new and do something more.

Beyond the Standard Leadership Model

For far too long, strong leadership has been structured by the appearance of dominance, perfectionism, and assimilation. But as we all know, our industry changes every single day. And because of this, we must work to be open minded to the shifts.

As women of color, we bring cultural intelligence, adaptability, emotional depth, and community-centered thinking. I’d say it’s a strategic advantage if you ask me. The properties we manage, the teams we lead, and the residents we serve benefit when we show up as our whole selves.

We’re not here to do things the way they’ve always been done. We’re here to bring transformative thinking to the forefront.

To the women of color who are leading in any capacity while underestimated (and not even just in multifamily): I see you.

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