Carla Alicea VP, Marketing, Training & Recruiting
Hannah Moriarty Director of Investor Relations
Q: What’s the best career advice you have ever received and why is it meaningful to you? A: When I transitioned from being a Leasing Agent to an Advertising Consultant for a print magazine, I was scared to death of cold calling. We had quotas and we were expected to increase our book-of-business month over month. To do that, we needed to build relationships with both existing and new customers. It was in 2004 when the internet was just gaining momentum. We didn’t have digital ad campaigns generating leads for us at the time. We had to go out and introduce ourselves by knocking on doors and shaking hands. I can be a bit socially apprehensive and found cold calling to be very difficult. As a Leasing Agent, I was used to potential customers knocking on my door, coming to see the community and floorplans they were already interested in. Having to approach unsuspecting prospects with an offer they have not yet inquired about produced an overwhelming amount of anxiety for me and I feared rejection. I had only been in the position for a few weeks and was questioning if this was the right job for me. I remember talking to a good friend about my anxiety. I will never forget the advice she gave me. She said, “You can do this! Just fake it til you make it. Act like you’re a salesperson and believe that they need the ad that you’re selling, and eventually, it’ll become second nature.” Since then, every time something new challenges me and I begin to feel that fear and anxiety arise from within, I tell myself, “Fake it til you make it.” I visualize the situation and how an actor or someone I admire would handle themselves, and I attempt to emulate them. That means researching the part, learning all that you can to fill those shoes, and showing up every day for your performance. One day you’ll realize you’ve stopped acting and you’ve started being! For more wise words that have inspired, motivated, and promoted my inner strength, join me on this Pinterest Board .
Q: What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? A: Believe in yourself, your beliefs, and your gut instinct. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion, even when it differs from the norm. Q: How do you believe we can we value all forms of diversity and inclusion in the current US climate? A: I grew up in the culturally diverse environment of Hawaii as a member of a multiracial family, so diversity has always been ingrained in me. While some people may seem so different from you on the outside, if you put the time in to get to know them, you usually are amazed at how similar you really are. We should celebrate the things that make us all unique and the common hopes and dreams that bring us together.
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