Her Story
About Nikki
Nikki Bounds serves as Executive Vice President of Business Services for a property management company focused on short-term rentals such as Airbnbs. In this role, which she has held for the past four months, she oversees the non-operational aspects of the business including HR, finance, pricing, marketing, sales, and compliance. Bounds brings more than 20 years of experience in hospitality, having started as a front desk associate at a Marriott property in Knoxville around 2004 after beginning college in 2003. She quickly moved into sales and later spent 16 years at Wilderness at the Smokies, an indoor water park resort, before joining her current organization. In 2023 she completed a bachelor's degree in business leadership, and in 2016 she was named Lodging Manager of the Year by the State of Tennessee Department of Tourism. She has also served on the executive board of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, including as chair, and remains involved as ex officio.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nikki
01What do you attribute your success to?
Hard work, dedication, listening, taking notes, willingness to change and adapt to whatever situation is thrown your way, and the ability to pivot when Plan A doesn't go according to plan. Being able to continue to learn and want to learn and want to understand how business truly functions. Digging into the financial pieces for big picture understanding.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Care about what your people care about. If they value time with their family, you need to value time with their family, as far as encouraging them to be available, and the family comes first. Making their important objectives important to you, and supporting them in those things. People feel cared about. They're usually a lot more loyal to your organization.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be adaptable. Don't try to fit the mold, but be willing to change and be open to change. Always stay open to change. I think change is the one thing that is inevitable. Openness to take criticism, good, bad, or ugly, and build on that.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Currently, biggest challenge is it's a newer organization, so creating positive brand awareness. We are a franchise, and our franchise purchased another franchise of a similar property management company. That business was not a profitable business, and so it's changing mindsets along the way, and creating positive brand awareness and brand reputation.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Always making time for what matters, and being able to prioritize what it is that matters. Taking that conversation with a frustrated employee so that they feel seen and heard is valuable. Spending time where it counts. Be honest in your feedback that you provide to people. Be honest but mindful of how you position and say certain things even during those tough conversations.
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