Ariel Douglas Empowers Sites by Building Connections

From a Community Assistant to a Senior Leasing Specialist, Ariel Douglas has carved out an inspiring path in student housing. Ariel plays a crucial role in turning around focus sites, enhancing leasing efforts, and fostering a dynamic team culture. Read more about her experience at Campus Advantage and why she loves working with her team.

Tell us a little bit about your current role and how long you’ve been with the company.

I am currently a Senior Regional Leasing Specialist (RLS), and I oversee all of our focus sites. My main priority is helping to turn sites around and help boost their leasing efforts. I’ve been with Campus Advantage since March 2019 when I started as a Traveling Leasing Specialist and have since become an RLS as of 2022.

What first attracted you to work for Campus Advantage?

Prior to Campus Advantage, I was a Community Assistant with another company at the college I went to. I started there in 2013 and moved up within the organization. Unfortunately, there just wasn’t very much room for growth or promotion within. I knew a few people at Campus Advantage, saw there was more opportunity, and I liked the values, which led me to apply. When I did apply, I had such a great conversation during my interview, and it really spoke to me that this was where I belonged.

What is your professional background?

I started in 2013 at Campus Crest, and at the time they had “wow workers”. As a wow worker, we weren’t full-time employees, but we were able to move in early and would help out on move-in day. That allowed me to get an idea of what being a Community Assistant entailed, and when they had an open position, I applied and was hired. In that role, I learned how much I enjoy being on site and eventually moved up to a full-time leasing agent, then later a leasing manager prior to coming to Campus Advantage.

What does a typical day look like in your role?

Every day is different — it just depends on what’s going on at a site. I update website rates and banners, review the marketing action plans for sites, review and handle social media, and help push through pending leases. I will also host leasing and marketing calls. I travel a lot to the sites and do a lot of training with the on-site teams, so it really just depends on the need on any given day.

What three words best describe you (inside or outside of work)?

Funny – it’s not seen as much at the office, but I love to have fun with things!

Passionate – not just about what I do, but about my family and personal life.

Outgoing – I don’t always feel like I’m outgoing, but I’m happy to walk up to a stranger and introduce myself or strike up a conversation.

How would you describe the Campus Advantage culture?

Electric. Once you really get in and see what Campus Advantage embodies, you feel electric from it and feed off of it. It’s empowering to have the tools you need to move up and become anything you want to be. Also, supportive — the culture across the board is very supportive.

What is one of your favorite moments with Campus Advantage so far?

There are so many. This year’s Momentum Conference was great. We were able to take all of the leasing managers on a cruise and even had our own awards in a decorated and catered room. It was so fun!

Thinking about your most successful peers and teammates, what characteristics do they share?

Supportive; I keep saying that a lot, but it’s just so true. They’re also compassionate, detail oriented, and very strong willed. I think the leasing team as a whole is very determined — we lean on each other a lot.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I know I’m on the road a lot, but I still like to travel. I’m a huge sports fan – Roll Tide! I have season tickets to Alabama games and like to go to those or to softball games. I hang out with my family a lot; there are so many of us that each month we do something to get together, and I can’t wait!

If your life had a soundtrack, name some songs that would be on it?

“Rise Up” by Andra Day