鈥淚 came across my mentors by accident,鈥� she recalls, 鈥渨hich is the best way ever to find them. I met my first鈥揑 have two鈥揳t an 乐竞体育赛事直播 luncheon. She gravitated to me, introduced herself and offered to help me.鈥� Of course, I said 鈥榮ure thing.鈥欌澛� And here, she makes a simple but critical point for all mentees: 鈥淵ou have to be open to those opportunities.鈥澛�
Mentor #1 was 乐竞体育赛事直播鈥檚 2022 chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Board, Kaci Hancock, CPM庐, ACoM庐. 鈥淗er mindset was, 鈥榣et me teach you what I鈥檝e learned and help you to move forward.鈥� She plays a very important role, even within my growth in 乐竞体育赛事直播. She鈥檚 always supported my choices and provided information that wouldn鈥檛 have come otherwise. She鈥檚 always there.鈥� (Hancock is also the Houston Chapter鈥檚 immediate past president.)
Mentor #2, as more than a couple of Building the Future subjects have attested to, was Debbie Phillips, Ph.D., CPM庐. Again, her future mentor approached her at an 乐竞体育赛事直播 luncheon, 鈥渁sked me a few questions and I told her one of my goals was to be a national speaker.鈥� Phillips鈥� response was a simple, 鈥淚鈥檒l help you.鈥澛�
Her support, like that of Hancock, has been unwavering. And clearly impactful. Livingston gave her first public address at the 2022 National Apartment Association Conference in San Diego. Her topic? Not surprisingly dovetailing with her focus on mentorship, was how all generations can work together with mutual respect and understanding.聽
But Livingston鈥檚 success to date has not been solely at the hands of her mentors. As she indicates, property managers of all ages need to be open to opportunities. And this drive was reinforced with her being named last year to 乐竞体育赛事直播鈥檚 30 Under 30 and, in 2020, to the Houston Chapter鈥檚 Future Leaders.聽
鈥淚 use these platforms for two purposes,鈥� she explains. 鈥淧ersonally, I find encouragement in them and the inspiration to keep pushing forward.鈥�
But there鈥檚 also a broader focus: 鈥淚 see myself as a voice for the younger generation,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to let them know that property management is a very good choice for a career.鈥� Youth gravitates toward youth, she says, and 鈥測ounger leaders can do a lot to attract and retain younger talent. That鈥檚 how this profession will keep growing.鈥�
For people coming up in the industry, her advice is to never stop asking and learning. 鈥淣o matter what level you鈥檙e at when you enter into the profession,鈥� she says, 鈥済ain as much knowledge as you can. It鈥檚 always evolving. And remember that every position is important in property management.鈥� It鈥檚 a lesson more seasoned pros can learn as well, she adds.聽
So, she continues to gain education and develop her skills. But where does Livingston see herself in 10 years? 鈥淚 want to have my own small property management company either in Houston or back in Michigan or maybe both.鈥�
No matter the location, she sees herself holding true to her vow to pay it forward. 鈥淚 will be a mentor. No matter where we are in life, there鈥檚 always someone we can assist. I always ask for help, and I was never told no. I want to be that for someone else.鈥澛�