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Everybody has to work, but I need to work. ?? This powerful moment from Sheri Killingsworth’s Humans of Multifamily episode sets the scene for the entire conversation. Sheri joined Shiv Gettu to share her journey from growing up in a tiny Texas town (graduating with just 11 classmates!) to becoming AVP at Avenue5 Residential.??? Here are three key insights from someone who values authenticity and creating environments where people thrive: 1/ The Power of Stability in Growth While many jump between companies, Sheri found that staying at Lincoln for 23 years actually provided multiple career paths in one organization. "It seemed like many different careers all in one," she explains, highlighting how loyalty to people rather than companies created deeper professional relationships. 2/ The "Family" vs. "Team" Dynamic Sheri offers a refreshing perspective on workplace relationships: "Whenever you start to talk about it being a family, sometimes it gets a little toxic. When you're a team, the lines are a little bit clearer." This thoughtful distinction reveals why setting proper expectations matters in professional environments. 3/ Finding Balance in Priorities As her career progressed, Sheri's priorities shifted: "Health and family is definitely higher on the list than it was before. Your perspective definitely changes as you start losing family." Her honest reflection shows how personal loss can reshape professional ambition. Sheri's story reminds us that success comes in many forms, and that finding your fit is sometimes more important than chasing titles or status. Watch the full episode wherever you get your podcasts! ??? #HumansOfMultifamily #Leadership #MultifamilyMarketing #CareerJourney

"I've never wanted to have to depend on anyone else for my own livelihood." This determination has driven Margette Hepfner's remarkable journey from 40-hour weekly babysitting gigs as a teenager to Chief Operating Officer at Lincoln Property Company (now Willow Bridge Property Company). In our latest Humans of Multifamily episode, Margette joins Shiv Gettu to share her path from childhood in Dallas to leading one of multifamily's most respected organizations during a pivotal transition. Here are three key insights from someone who embodies work ethic and strategic leadership: 1/ The Value of Self-Reliance At any given point in college, Margette worked three jobs simultaneously - Blockbuster, Victoria's Secret, and an eye doctor's office - while attending classes. This drive wasn't about escaping hardship, but rather embracing independence. ?? "When I look at my childhood, I don't think I had anything given to me. So I had every desire in the world to be successful at whatever it was that I chose to do." 2/ The Courage to Close Margette landed her first industry job by boldly closing her interviewer: "Can we go ahead and set up the next meeting?" - turning what was supposed to be interview practice into a job offer. Her competitive nature and willingness to ask for what she wants became hallmarks of her career trajectory. 3/ Leading Through Transition As the leader of Lincoln's rebrand to Willow Bridge, Margette navigated the emotional challenge of changing a 58-year-old name while honoring the company's history. ?? "It was playing chess every day with four or five different chess boards," she explains, sharing how they balanced tradition with transformation in selecting their purple branding. Margette's story offers a masterclass in perception, closing skills, and the power of asking for what you want - while always staying true to your core values. Watch the full episode wherever you get your podcasts! ??? #HumansOfMultifamily #Leadership #Willowbridge #MultifamilyIndustry #WomenInLeadership #CareerJourney

Shiv Gettu recently sat down with Demetri Themelis of Knock? CRM on the Humans of Multifamily podcast, and the conversation revealed some powerful truths about the entrepreneurial journey in multifamily tech. ? Here are three key insights that still resonate with us: 1/ Prepare for the Marathon, Not the Sprint ??♂? It took Knock nearly 3 years to receive their first customer check! This persistence through the pre-revenue phase is something we deeply understand at Zuma. Building something meaningful requires emotional resilience and unwavering vision. 2/ Customer-Driven Evolution is Everything ?? When Knock received 63 feature requests from their first potential client, they didn't panic—they delivered. As Demetri puts it: "The product that achieves market fit rarely resembles the founder's original vision." This customer-centric approach has been fundamental to our growth too. 3/ Complementary Leadership Drives Success ?? Creating a "Venn diagram of complementary capabilities" within your leadership team balances customer-facing skills with technical expertise. This diversity of strengths creates the foundation for sustainable innovation. Read Shiv's account of the conversation on our blog to discover more about entrepreneurial motivation, building credibility in multifamily, and finding balance after acquisition! https://lnkd.in/d_e9D7DC #Multifamily #PropertyManagement #PropTech #Leadership #HumansOfMultifamily

Our most unique Humans of Multifamily episode dropped yesterday! ?? Shiv Gettu was joined by the dynamic mother-daughter duo of Melanie Stiles and Sara Stiles, who offer a rare glimpse into how actual family ties can strengthen professional journeys in multifamily. ?? Here are three key insights from their candid conversation: 1/ The Balance of Empathy and Action While Sarah navigates life as a naturally empathetic person, Melanie brings a practical "let's solve the problem" approach. Their contrasting styles highlight how different processing methods can complement each other in the workplace - and why telling someone to "calm down" never actually works! 2/ Finding Your Path Through Uncertainty Melanie's career advancement came from embracing uncertainty when others fled. "Don't cut ties and run because it's uncertain," she advises. "Be fiercely loyal but don't blindly follow" - wisdom that helped her navigate multiple company mergers while others jumped ship. 3/ The Value of Authenticity in Relationships In an industry built on connections, both women emphasize that genuine relationships are the foundation of multifamily success. As Sarah notes, "When you find those people that feel genuine, the sales conversations feel less transactional." Their perspective shows why multifamily feels different from other industries. Their story offers a refreshing blend of wisdom and vulnerability, with Sarah's revelation that her "aha" moment came when realizing "we're all just pretending" and Melanie's admission that sometimes even executives don't have all the answers. Watch the full episode wherever you get your podcasts! ??? #HumansOfMultifamily #MultifamilyIndustry #Leadership #PropertyManagement

Thank you, Shiv Gettu & Zuma ? for stopping by and allowing us to showcase one of our beautiful properties during your city tour. It was a pleasure to see the RV in person and sharing our story with you and your team. We look forward to working with you again. ???????? Devona Stamps Brian A. Nina Torres

Property Management’s toughest collector isn't human. After rolling out Zuma’s Collections AI, we found that when AI says 'pay up,' residents listen! ?? Here’s how Case & Associates transformed their Rent & Move-out Collections: ? 30% reduction in demand notices posted? ? Increased promise-to-pay commitments? ? Streamlined process across all properties = time savings for on-site teams ?? "People give me a lot more promise dates. It's one less step for us – Kelsey beats us to it!" Three Reasons Why Property Managers Love Collections AI: 1/ Multi-channel automated comms? Sends rent reminders, late fee notifications, and follow-ups via text, email, and ringless voicemail with escalating urgency to maximize response rates. 2/ Smart promise-to-pay tracking? Collects commitment dates from residents, automatically confirms and reminds them of payment deadlines, then follows up if promises are broken. 3/ Walkthrough threat automation? Sends notifications to unresponsive residents that their unit will be inspected, triggering immediate responses from previously non-communicative residents. ?? "With this size of property, I normally have a list of 50 people and split it between my team. 'You get 10, you get 10, let's call them.' Kelsey really cuts down on everyone's time here, not just my own.” ? Ready to transform your collections process? Visit getzuma.com/collections-ai!?

I’m stepping into an exciting and brand-new role next week…and I need your help! Ok, it’s just for one episode, and no, this is not a real job. But I’ll be taking over the Humans of Multifamily podcast for a day! My guest? None other than my friend Shiv Gettu, CEO of Zuma ? and the mastermind behind this popular podcast. You know Shiv as the guy leading the most real, unfiltered conversations in multifamily. You’ve probably also seen him rolling across the country in an RV, hitting 20+ cities on an epic four-month tour. But how well do you really know Shiv? Let’s change that. I’ll be flipping the script and putting him in the hot seat. And this is where YOU come in! What do you want to know? Drop your best questions in the comments or DM me. Shiv has promised to tell all. No fluff. Just the real story behind the guy you see everywhere. This is going to be a must-listen episode, even if the host isn't very good! ------ And if you’re at Multifamily Social Media Summit next week, keep an eye out—the Zuma tour bus will be parked right out front. Follow the journey here: https://lnkd.in/eFHNUbfc Now, what should I ask Shiv? Drop your questions below! ??