Alicia Corbett

I attribute my success to a strong sense of empathy shaped by my upbringing and life experiences, which taught me resilience, self-sufficiency, and compassion for others. Growing up in a household where my parents worked multiple jobs, I learned to take responsibility early, and later I was deeply impacted by supporting my brother through serious injury, addiction, and homelessness after his military service. That experience, along with caring for my mother during her battle with stage 4 cancer until her passing in 2022, strengthened my commitment to service and meaningful impact. In my professional work in housing, I’ve seen firsthand the realities of homelessness in the communities I serve, which led me to become more involved in housing advocacy. Ultimately, my success is driven by a personal mission to honor my family’s experiences by using my expertise to help address housing insecurity and create lasting change.

The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my mother, who consistently encouraged me to be a strong, independent woman and to never allow external circumstances to limit my potential. She modeled confidence, discipline, and a commitment to using her voice, often reminding me to be an inspiration to others, focus on building my own path, and create a lasting legacy. Her guidance shaped how I approach both life and work, and it continues to motivate me to pursue meaningful impact and lead with purpose in everything I do.

The advice I would give to young women entering my industry is to be strong, independent, and confident in their own voice, regardless of where they are in their career. I’ve learned the importance of leading from where you are, rather than waiting for a title or position to make an impact. Building meaningful relationships is also essential, as collaboration and trust open doors and strengthen your ability to serve others effectively. Most importantly, I encourage women to use their influence—no matter how big or small—to educate, advocate, and create positive change in the spaces they work in.

The biggest challenges in my field include the stigma surrounding affordable housing programs like Section 8, as well as the financial and operational pressures that come with increasing regulatory requirements and affordability mandates. At the same time, housing demand continues to outpace supply, contributing to ongoing homelessness and access issues. However, there are also meaningful opportunities, particularly in Colorado, where policy changes are expanding affordable housing requirements and strengthening tenant protections. If we can continue to pair these efforts with education and outreach to reduce stigma and better connect people to available resources, there is real potential to create more equitable and sustainable housing outcomes.