Desiree Reavis

I would say my work ethic is the foundation of everything I've accomplished. Beyond that, it's my ability to keep fighting when something happens that I can't control - when there's a loss, I still fight no matter what. I'm very resilient. I do not give up. That resilience has been crucial because I make the impossible possible. That's always one thing about me - if it's not possible, I will make it happen. I will find a way. My success also comes from the relationships I've built through my philanthropic work. I give so much and donate so much of my time, and it's given me relationships that are just unbelievable, and they've led to my success in my professional career.

Because I'm in sales and business development, your network is everything. It's really about surrounding yourself with the right people - like-minded people, leaders. The people around you influence you, so you need to choose wisely. This advice has been fundamental to my career because those connections and relationships have opened so many doors for me.

Don't be discouraged when you're one of the few women in the room. Do everything for the next generation. In technology, there's not a lot of women - I just came back from a conference, and out of 200 men, I think there was maybe a dozen of us that were women. Being outnumbered is a reality in this field, but that shouldn't stop you. You have to push through and pave the way for those who come after you.

The biggest challenge right now is the overall economy. People are hesitant about spending money on updating properties, and there's a lot of things that have been happening in the multifamily space that are creating uncertainty. But with challenges come opportunities - technology is constantly changing, and because people have less resources and more responsibility, there's a real need for what we do. Where I'm at now at Kastle, we're very hands-on and we manage their technology for them. We're able to take that load off of property managers who don't have the experience and knowledge to manage all the technology that's out there, and we become the experts for them.

Integrity is at the core of everything I do. You do what you say you're gonna do - that's non-negotiable for me. Being open and honest is essential, and authenticity matters deeply. I believe in showing up as my genuine self in every interaction, whether it's in business or in my personal relationships.