Catching Up with the NARPM Women’s Council for Property Managers

 Catching Up with NARPM Women’s Council for Property Managers Christina Wade and Kesha Jenkins of the Women’s Council for Property Managers join The Property Management Show to talk about the progress that’s been made since the last time we talked about the launch of this initiative. We’re revisiting the mission of the council and talking about some of the things that have come out of it. There’s a lot of insight and many success stories that have really empowered women in the property management industry. Women’s Council for Property Managers The Women’s Council for Property Managers is a NARPM group that was founded with the goal of equipping women to grow professionally and personally. The council enhances professional development and networking opportunities for women in property management so they can step into leadership roles that they may desire to fill but don’t feel prepared for. This is for any woman with any role in any property management company. All that’s needed is a desire to grow and expand in any way. It’s a challenge to step out of their comfort zones to access the tools that are needed to succeed. Success Stories and Successful Events Kesha’s first event happened to be a fair housing event, which was extremely informative and shared lots of knowledge. The event itself went off without a hitch and she was surprised that after 22 years in the property management business, she still managed to learn a lot during that event. This is why the Women’s Council for Property Managers is holding these meetings. Even though everyone in the room has been in the business for some time, there’s so much yet to be learned and discovered. By learning together, the women in the council are supporting their own careers and they’re supporting one another. After joining, Kesha quickly felt empowered to step out of her comfort zone and lead the Sacramento NARPM chapter. During another event, a property manager was really struggling because she could not find the answers she needed to a particular challenge within her own company. No one was willing to help her, but the women at this even surrounded her with support and encouragement. They provided referrals to specific people who could help her and get her the answers she needed. This was transformative: understanding that even when it seems no one is willing to help, there’s a support network willing to provide direction. Everything that had been envisioned for this council is actually happening, and Kesha and Christine say it’s been uplifting to witness. The purpose and the mission of the group is actually coming to fruition at these events. Taking Risks to Yield Results Anytime you start something new – whether it’s a company or a podcast or a group, you don’t know how it’s going to turn out. Maybe no one will show up. Maybe no one will get involved. Maybe it will be a complete flop. That’s a risk in trying something – but for the Women’s Council, it’s exactly what women in the industry have needed. Any backlash against the group has been due to people not understanding the mission. It’s not intended to put any one group ahead of another. It’s supporting people who want to step into leadership positions within their industry and their community. Community is at the core of this movement. Like-minded people are getting together to share knowledge and tools and they’re lifting each other up. Property Management Communities are Out There Something that may not be obvious to all property managers is this: There’s always a community that’s willing to help. If you approach one community and it’s not a good fit, keep looking. Many smaller groups and communities can be found within the ...