Her Story
About Ilenia
Ilenia Vsquez is an affordable housing property management, regulatory compliance, public administration, operations coordination, leasing, resident services, records management, and customer service professional. She has experience managing LIHTC and USDA RD community operations, handling income certifications and recertifications, supporting audits, coordinating vendors, managing public records and compliance processes, and overseeing leasing and tenant relations. She currently serves as Community Manager at Buckingham Property Management. Her background includes deputy clerk work with County of Ventura, operations roles with City of Boulder, leasing and residential management with Central Street Capital, and choral section leadership with Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Music minor from Metropolitan State University of Denver, graduated in 2021, and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at CU Denver. Ilenia is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ilenia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to any person who's believed in me. I've always been a very ambitious person. I've always put myself in spaces to learn. I'm not afraid to make myself look silly, but if I learned something and gained some perspective, then it was worth it. My childhood putting me on a stage since I was so young has been a benefit to be on a stage and be perceived. It has made me incredibly resilient.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The worst thing anyone can tell you is no, and a no doesn't mean stop. Don't be afraid of looking like the dumbest person in the room. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and challenge you. Gain emotional intelligence and learn when to speak up and when not to.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Find people who inspire you and don't be afraid of making a connection with them to spark a conversation. Ask them a question that you've been thinking about. A lot of people are more likely to help you than you would think. I'm a big advocate of informational interviews.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges: Some folks think that I'm not qualified because I'm young or overqualified due to credentials. In government spaces, credentials don't always matter but higher degrees are preferred even if not required. Opportunities: Government is a large and vast level of opportunity touching everything in an individual's life from birth certificate to W-2s. Skills are portable.
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