Selena Vives is an influential trailblazer in the property management industry, with over 25 years of experience, especially in affordable housing. She began her career as a leasing agent and has served in various leadership roles, including vice president, district vice president, and chief operating officer, before stepping into the role of CEO at Vistula Management Company. In her current role, Selena is steering the company into a new era. While continuing to focus on affordable housing, which is the company’s core DNA, she is pivoting Vistula Management toward market-rate housing.
Selena has a stellar track record of leadership in major companies, such as 5812 Investment Group, Village Green Property Management, SPM Property Management, American Homes 4 Rent, Excel Residential Group, and more. She is known for her strategic mindset and innovative approach, but what truly sets her apart from other leaders is her consideration for the human impact of the decisions she makes. During one town hall meeting, a long-tenured employee stood up to express her gratitude for implementing a flexible scheduling pilot, which had transformed her work-life balance. This made Selena note how a single policy could “tangibly improve” someone’s day-to-day life. “It made me acutely aware of the human impact of executive decisions,” she says. “Since then, I’ve committed to evaluating every strategic choice through the lens of its real-world effects on our people and communities.”
Major Achievement in a Short Time
Vistula Management Company, founded four decades ago, is a property management company based in Toledo, Ohio. It manages more than $100 million in development projects. It is committed to affordable and market-rate housing solutions and building strong, vibrant communities. The primary mission of Vistula Management Company is to plan, develop and manage quality housing for families, elderly, and handicapped persons.
Selena was appointed as CEO in March 2025. In a short time, she has ensured remarkable results. She is particularly proud of their recent enhancement of resident services through the launch of an integrated digital platform using RealPage software. This enabled them to streamline maintenance requests, rent payments, and community engagement into a single app. “Following this, we increased resident satisfaction scores by 25 percent and reduced response times by 40 percent,” Selena says. “Beyond operational gains, this initiative reinforced our brand promise of customer-centric service and positioned Vistula as an industry leader in prop-tech innovation.”
Learning from Experience
Selena’s personal experience has shaped her into the leader she is today. Early in her career, she worked under leadership that focused less on people and more on authority. “Witnessing the impact of poor leadership — low morale, high turnover, and stifled creativity — taught me that empowering your team is far more effective than merely issuing directives,” she says.
So, when she took the helm at Vistula, Selena decided not to be an authoritative leader. Instead, she adopted a servant-leadership approach. She believes in listening first, removing obstacles for her colleagues, and celebrating their successes. “This philosophy has been foundational in building trust, fostering collaboration, and driving sustainable results across our organization,” she says.
Selena has also learned a great deal from the challenges she encountered in her long professional journey. She particularly remembers a challenge she encountered quite early in her tenure as a regional director at a company. At the time, she and her team faced severe cash-flow issues. She points out that they were dealing with financial constraints due to delayed construction timelines and unexpected regulatory fees.
“Rather than defaulting to layoffs, I led a cross-functional task force to reprioritize projects, negotiate extended payment terms with vendors, and identify quick-win revenue opportunities,” she says. From this experience, Selena learned the value of collaborative problem-solving and transparent communication. “By involving stakeholders at every level, we preserved jobs, rebuilt trust, and ultimately emerged stronger,” she points out.
Facing Discrimination
Selena’s rise to the top has not been easy. And, even after stepping into leadership positions, she often faced discrimination because of being a Black woman. She remembers that, early in her career, there were situations when her colleagues and clients questioned her qualifications or assumed that, as a woman of color, she did not belong at the decision-making table. “Those experiences taught me the importance of fairness, empathy, and unwavering confidence,” Selena says. “They inspired me to build organizations that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion — not as an afterthought, but as a core value.”
Today, because of her experiences, Selena believes in leading with “intentional transparency.” She also advocates for DEI programs at every level of the company. As a result, under her leadership, every team member feels respected, supported, and empowered to contribute their fullest.
Working for Companies Supporting DEI
“One of the most formative experiences of my career was working at SPM Management in Birmingham, Alabama,” Selena says. In spite of the regional stereotypes that existed at the time, SPM was “profoundly committed” to inclusion.
Selena was hired by one of SPM’s owners, Bill Welden. She fondly recalls that he treated her with the same respect and high expectations he extended to every other leader in the company. From SPM’s bias-free collaboration, she realized how powerful it was to lead without preconceptions. It also convinced her that a company’s location or history should never dictate its values.
Previously, she worked at Village Green in Southfield, Michigan as well. She served under the leadership of Diane Batayeh. According to Selena, the company’s DEI initiatives were woven into every aspect of their operations, from recruitment to their annual “Look Book,” created by EVP Ashley Sinclair. “Look Book” featured employees of all races, backgrounds, and styles. “Seeing this guide celebrate diversity affirmed for me the kind of leader I aspire to be,” Selena shares. “One who not only talks about inclusion but embeds it into the everyday fabric of the organization.”
A Black Woman Leader’s Perspective
Selena’s experiences have taught her the importance of leading with both empathy and conviction. And, as a Black woman, she has a keen awareness of the diverse needs and aspirations that exist within a team or community. According to her, she brings this perspective into every strategic discussion. This is to ensure that their decisions reflect a balance of financial discipline and human-centered values.
Selena says, “Whether we are evaluating a new development project or refining our tenant engagement strategy, I ask: ‘Who benefits, and how can we do even more for people who have been historically underserved?’”
An Influential Leader’s Key Attributes
Selena believes that an influential leader must combine vision with adaptability. They need to have a clear sense of where they are headed — a leader’s North Star — but must also remain agile enough to pivot when circumstances change, according to her. She also underscores the importance of transparency and integrity, as the team expects leaders to be honest. They trust that they will communicate honestly, even when the news is tough, Selena says.
“Finally, empathy is non-negotiable,” she adds. “Understanding and valuing individual perspectives creates the psychological safety that fuels innovation and resilience.”
Additionally, Selena believes in having clear expectations. She values continuous feedback and recognition as well. She explains that each team member has defined goals linked to company objectives, and they hold regular one-on-ones to discuss progress and development needs.
“Our ‘Voice at the Table’ initiative invites employees at all levels to propose ideas,” Selena adds. “Six ideas have been adopted as company-wide policies in the last year.” And she celebrates diverse contributions and offers transparent pathways for advancement.
“We have fostered a culture where everyone feels valued and motivated to excel,” Selena says.
Three-Pillar DEI Strategy
The leadership team of Vistula Management are vocal proponents of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Selena points out that they have instituted a three-pillar strategy that focuses on recruitment, retention, and community impact.
Within the organization, Selena and her team have set “bold representation goals” for mid- and senior-level leadership. In addition, they have launched mentorship programs, where they pair emerging talent with executive sponsors. On the other hand, externally, they partner with local nonprofits to create affordable housing pipelines in underserved neighborhoods.
“These initiatives ensure that our company culture reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and that our business decisions advance equitable outcomes,” Selena says.
Vision for the Future
Affordable housing has been Vistula Management Company’s core business, and under Selena’s leadership, the plan is to deepen its footprint. Selena informs. Along with that, they intend to expand into new market-rate developments.
And Selena says that they will continue investing in prop-tech solutions, such as AI-powered leasing assistants and predictive maintenance analytics. These investments will allow them to enhance operational efficiency and resident satisfaction.
Additionally, they are focused on strengthening their sustainability commitments. Selena points out that they expect to achieve net-zero energy usage across their portfolio by 2030.
“By balancing growth, innovation, and social responsibility, we’ll solidify Vistula’s leadership position in the industry,” she says.
Family Is a Top Priority
For Selena, work is important, but her family is her top priority. “My husband, Daniel, and my son Javier, who’s now a college student, are at the center of everything I do,” she says. Even though she has a demanding work schedule, she makes sure to spend as much time with her husband and son as possible. She does this through Sunday dinners, weekend walks, or by cheering on Javier at campus events.
“To model this balance and support my team, I encourage every member to carve out quality time with their own families,” Selena says. She also shares that within their executive team, they have instituted a fully paid “mental health day” policy. It allows them to take a day off, on demand, to unplug and recharge. She herself takes these days whenever she feels that a reset is needed.
Additionally, on the operational side, she has set clear boundaries on her calendar. Along with blocking family time, she has empowered her leadership team with decision-making authority. According to her, this prevents bottlenecks and lets her “switch off” work mode when she is home.
“The combination of intentional scheduling, delegation, and a supportive culture keeps us all energized, engaged, and sustainable over the long haul,” Selena says.
The Three Pillars
Selena leans on three pillars to keep herself grounded, energized, and ready to tackle whatever comes next. Her three pillars are: core values, support network, and a commitment to continuous learning.
“When decisions grow complex, I revisit our mission and values to guide the path forward,” Selena says. She also relies on a circle of peers, her fellow CEOs and mentors, and gains from their candid advice and perspective.
“Finally, I carve out time each quarter for professional development, whether it is attending industry symposiums or reading the latest on leadership and organizational psychology,” Selena shares.
Message to Aspiring Black Women Leaders
Black women continue to be underrepresented in top leadership positions across sectors. But many young women are determined to break barriers, overcome challenges, and eventually reach the upper echelons of the corporate world. Selena, a role model for them, advises aspiring black women leaders to own their expertise and be unapologetic about pursuing opportunities.
She encourages them to seek out mentors — and importantly, sponsors –who will advocate for them when they are not in the room. Also, in her message, she stresses the importance of building a support network of peers to share insights and encouragement.
“Finally, invest in your personal brand,” Selena tells aspiring black women leaders. “Develop a clear narrative around your strengths, achievements, and the unique perspective you bring. When you articulate your value with confidence, you create momentum for your advancement.”
