Sarena Hernandez

I attribute my success to believing in myself and doing things that make me proud of who I am. It sounds a little bit cheesy, but I've had a long history of struggling with self-belief, so I try to do these things in my career so I can always look back and have proof that I am good at what I do. At the end of the day, it really is just you that you have to depend on. I put a lot of effort and passion into my work, and I like to leave accomplishments behind so I can look back and feel confident that I'm good at what I do. This career has really helped me discover more confidence in myself and my actions.

The best career advice I ever received came from my mom, who told me to take things with a grain of salt. When you're stepping into the apartment industry, you need thick skin because people can be a little bit aggressive sometimes. It's a simple saying, but it means so much when you're actually on the field dealing with difficult situations. You have to understand that people are coming from a different point of view, and we're just trying to work our way through and do the best that we can. The key is being sympathetic to their situation but not necessarily letting it affect me as a whole. That advice has really helped me navigate challenging interactions with residents and prospects without taking everything too personally.

The advice I'd like to give to younger women is to not let expectations hold you back. When you're walking into the work life or starting something new, a lot of people already have this idea for you on how they expect you to work, but I encourage people to always break out of that. Sometimes we can feel the need to box ourselves into these beliefs that others have about us, but we're always so much more than that. I encourage younger girls to always set the standard for themselves and not necessarily listen to everybody else around them. Don't let other people's expectations define what you can achieve or how you should approach your career.

The biggest challenge I face in my field is being too sympathetic with residents and prospects. I really like to help people and make them feel good, which makes me feel good too. But a lot of times, I struggle when things are out of my hand and I'm not able to fix problems for people. Sometimes I don't take things with a grain of salt like I should, and instead I take it all in and want to do everything for these people. It's been a struggle throughout my career because helping others is so important to me, but I have to accept that there are limitations to what I can control and fix for them.

The values most important to me in my work life are trustworthiness, honesty, and hard work. I really value someone I can rely on, somebody who is honest with their work and can admit when they make mistakes. It's very admirable to see managers admit where they're wrong sometimes and then move forward, because it encourages everybody to do the same thing. I look for people I can depend on, especially when I hit a dead end and need advice regarding my work. Having coworkers and leaders who are hardworking and demonstrate integrity makes all the difference in creating a positive workplace environment.