Her Story
About Amber
Amber Pressley is an experienced property management and community leadership professional with expertise in multifamily property operations, project management, and resident relations. She entered the field in 2007 after working in retail, beginning as a leasing professional with a management company and earning a promotion to assistant manager within three months during a company transition. She spent many years in assistant manager roles, including one involving tax credits after moving out of state, before advancing to community manager, a role she has held for 11 years. Through her current management company, she gained experience in project management tasks such as scheduling and vendor coordination. In 2022, she earned a business administration degree with a concentration in project management and a minor in supply chain, completing it in 22 months. She is now pursuing a master's in operations and project management while earning certifications in supply chain and project management. She attributes her success to a strong work ethic modeled by her mother, personal determination, and the ability to balance family, full-time work, and education without delay.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amber
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's a combination. I always saw my mom as a very hard-working woman. ... I've always had that mindset, like, if I really want this, I can do this. ... when it comes to me going to college, for instance, I graduated high school in 2000, and it took me 22 years to go back to school, but once I did it, it was the best thing in the world. ... I am a mom, I take care of a family, I am working full-time, and I'm going to school, so understanding with myself that, hey, I can make this work and not keep pushing it off was extremely helpful for me too.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't overlook something just because you think that it's something that you don't want to do, or that you wouldn't consider. ... don't be shy. Even though you think it's something that you may not want to do, it might be worth trying it, even if it's just for a little while. ... stepping stone, because you never know, you may fall in love with it.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The most challenging thing I can say is remembering that sometimes people come into your office angry, and it's not necessarily directed at you, so not taking those things directly to heart. ... in property management, we are dealing with people's homes, and sometimes things happen ... But it's not at you, you know? ... being able to step back and remember that it's not about you personally.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I find it very valuable not to second-guess yourself. ... believing that you can do it is first and foremost, even if it takes you a little longer than it might take someone else. ... it's important to always have faith in yourself. ... being true to yourself, like, don't do something because somebody is telling you to do it, do it because that's what you want to do ... staying true to yourself is very important as well.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.