Her Story
About Kari
Kari Holmstrom is a seasoned professional with approximately 25 years of experience in affordable housing. She began her career as a property manager and progressed through roles including compliance management at a housing authority, director of compliance for a national company, and VP positions in property management companies before becoming RVP over the central United States. Holmstrom is recognized in the industry as a fixer who takes on broken systems or properties and implements solutions to improve them. She holds an associate's degree in management from Rasmussen College, an HCCP credential, public housing manager certification, and additional certifications. Beyond her professional work with CCI, she created a faith-based family app and co-developed the nonprofit Ryland's Reach for children with physical differences. She is affiliated with ABC and attributes her success to patience and a diverse career path that built her knowledge base. Holmstrom is passionate about developing people, leaving a legacy through mentorship, and supporting causes including Faith Forward, Lucky Fin, Shriners Hospital, and St. Jude.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kari
01What do you attribute your success to?
Patience and diversity. Even though I wouldn't consider myself the most patient person, it's the patience in order to understand that when you fix something, you can't see what you're doing immediately. It takes a little bit of time. Having the patience to watch things as you start to fix them, they progressively get better. And then, diversifying what I've done throughout my career in order to build my knowledge and be able to have that strong background.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Stop waiting to feel ready. I have never once felt ready for anything that I've done or anything that really mattered. If you don't like it, fix it. Fix the system as you go. Develop people relentlessly. Leadership is not always about being the smartest person in the room. It's about making sure that everybody survives after you're gone. Don't worry about the title, worry about your legacy that you're leaving.
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