Lauryn Rubash, HCCP, FHS

I attribute my success to resilience, a willingness to learn, and the support of people who have believed in me throughout my journey. My career in affordable housing began through my own lived experience as a resident of an affordable community, when my property manager recognized my potential and offered me an opportunity to become her assistant. That opportunity led to a rewarding career dedicated to serving others. In 2023, I faced one of my greatest personal challenges when I experienced a stroke and had to relearn how to walk and maintain my balance. After eight months of determination and hard work, I returned to the workforce and was recruited for my current role as a Community Manager. That experience strengthened my appreciation for perseverance and reinforced my belief in continuing to learn and grow. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to help residents find housing they truly need, listen to their stories, and provide support during important moments in their lives. Throughout my journey, I have learned that staying curious, remaining open to learning, and surrounding yourself with people who encourage and believe in you can make a lasting difference.

I think the best career advice I've ever received is, "Don't be afraid to take an opportunity just because you don't feel completely ready for it." That's something I've really carried with me throughout my career. When I first got into property management, it was an opportunity I never expected, and I definitely didn't have all the answers. But I was willing to learn, ask questions, and figure things out as I went. That one opportunity completely changed the direction of my career. So now, when a new opportunity comes up, I try not to talk myself out of it just because I don't feel 100% ready. Sometimes you just have to be willing to take the chance, put in the work, and trust that you'll learn along the way.

My advice to young women entering the affordable housing industry is to remain curious, be willing to learn, and never underestimate your abilities. Take advantage of every opportunity to gain knowledge, ask questions, and develop new skills. Believe in your potential, even when you are still building your experience, and remember that growth often comes from being open to new challenges. Your perspective and capabilities have value, so be confident in yourself and the contributions you can make.

I think one of the biggest challenges in affordable housing right now is balancing the rising cost of operating and maintaining properties with the need to keep housing affordable for residents. At the same time, I think we're seeing a real challenge with retaining experienced property management professionals. The work is demanding, and when you lose experienced people, you also lose a lot of knowledge and experience that takes years to build. I think that creates a real opportunity for our industry to focus on developing and mentoring the next generation of housing professionals.

I would say resilience is probably my biggest core value, and it definitely influences my leadership style. I've been through some difficult chapters in my life, so I've learned that setbacks don't have to define you—you have to figure out how to move forward. As a leader, I try to bring that same mindset to my team. When something goes wrong, I don't want people to feel defeated or afraid to make mistakes. I want us to look at what happened, figure out what we can learn from it, and keep moving forward.