Kara Thompson: From Hairdressing to VP, Turning Adversity to Leadership

In this episode of Humans of Multifamily, Shiv Gettu sits down with Kara Thompson, VP of Operations at Oakwood Management Company, to discuss her remarkable journey from hairdresser to multifamily industry leader. After a divorce left Kara seeking both employment and housing, a chance encounter led her to a career in property management. Kara opens up about her early life being raised by a single mother in Columbus, Ohio, the challenges of overcoming anxiety, and her non-traditional path to success. Throughout the conversation, Kara emphasizes the importance of empathy, relationship-building, and hard work. She also shares innovative strategies implemented at Oakwood and her views on the balance between technology and personalization in property management. This episode provides an inspiring look at resilience, leadership, and the value of human connection in the multifamily industry.Humans of Multifamily is presented by Zuma, the AI assistant for your full-resident lifecycle. Visit getzuma.com and follow Shiv Gettu on LinkedIn