Recently, the Princeton Property Management team joined industry peers at the 2026 Multifamily NW Women’s Summit. This year’s theme, Rooted in Purpose, was a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and heart that women bring to our industry as they lead with grace, confidence, and intention. We left re-energized to do good work and “rooted in purpose,” ready to show up for our residents and our teams with regulated nervous systems and a lot of heart.
The event brought time for connection, encouragement, and meaningful dialogue on what a leader is, the power of leading from a place of intention and grounding, and how we can lift each other to create lasting change in the industry. With a keynote from Marli Williams, discussion roundtables, and fireside chats with industry greats, including Princeton CEO and President Amy Gross, everyone left feeling encouraged and connected by a core truth: we don’t grow alone.
Leading Beyond the Title
The summit’s atmosphere was distinct from that of typical networking events. Attendees were encouraged to set aside their titles and connect on a human level, discussing strengths and vulnerabilities rather than the roles they hold. This philosophy aligns perfectly with Princeton’s belief that leadership isn’t about being “the boss” and that we all have opportunities to lead, regardless of title.
As Princeton’s Jenny McCord, one of the table leads, shared during the small-group discussions, a leader is simply anyone who helps others be better. It is about being a resource for the “good, the bad, and the ugly,” providing support that goes far beyond daily tasks. In a room full of prominent women in the multifamily industry, it was powerful to see that, while we all hold different positions, we are connected by a shared desire to make a lasting impact, lead well, and help the people around us succeed.
Key Takeaways: Energy, Resilience, and “The Tribe”
Spending the day with that many influential and inspiring women, it’s no wonder our team came back to the office with many “pearls of wisdom” to ponder:
- Protect Your Energy: Keynote speaker Marli Williams challenged us to harness “energy intelligence” to lead fully charged and ready to navigate whatever comes our way, rather than facing challenges depleted and drained.
- Be Where Your Feet Are: A major theme of the panel discussions was presence. In an industry as fast-paced as property management, it is easy to get lost in the “chaos.” Staying grounded and present allows us to lead with intention.
- The Power of Your Tribe: We were reminded that we’re all in this together. Having a supportive community of peers for encouragement, wisdom, and guidance is essential for long-term success.
- Work/Life Harmony: Leah Sykes from Andor Law spoke on the necessity of balance. At Princeton, we echo this philosophy: work hard and be present during your day, but after hours, we want our teams to go home and enjoy their lives. We do our best work when we are balanced.
Why We Show Up
Property management can be taxing and challenging, but as the summit highlighted, we are doing something amazing by providing one of the most essential human needs: housing.
By supporting events like the Multifamily NW Women’s Summit, Princeton continues its commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders. We believe that by giving women the space to be themselves, trust their instincts, and lead with vulnerability, we create a stronger, more compassionate industry for everyone.
As Amy Gross shared during her session, she is dedicated to lifting others and permitting other women to lead with their own truth. We model this dedication in how we show up every day, whether in the office, at a property, or in the community.
Thank you to Multifamily NW for putting on such an incredible event.
