Celebrating a Decade of Isa Aguilar at Cardinal Group

At Cardinal, our culture embodies many different elements: it’s about improving as a team while having fun growing together both personally and professionally. Our team members are the heart and soul of our culture! We are so grateful for the efforts our team members put in daily to go the extra mile to help change the industry and challenge the status quo.

Today we’re celebrating Isa Aguilar and her dedicated years of service to the growth of our team over the last 10 years.

Learn more about Isa’s journey below!

What is your role?

In my role as Associate Director of Systems Transitions at Cardinal, I work closely with our Transitions, Operations, and Systems Support teams to ensure that new communities are smoothly onboarded into our platforms — Entrata, RealPage, and Yardi. My main responsibility is to make these system transitions seamless so that teams can quickly adapt, avoid disruption, and continue operating efficiently.

Describe your Cardinal Journey

My journey with Cardinal truly feels like destiny. Long before I officially joined the company, I was building connections and experiences that would eventually lead me here.

I first entered the apartment industry while renting my first apartment in Savannah, GA, where I began as a Conventional Leasing Team Member while still in college. After several years on the conventional side, my community sold, and my network led me to Trinitas as a Sales and Outreach Specialist. In that role, I traveled to multiple markets, supporting move-in days and leasing efforts. I even helped open a property that became part of C2 Communities—where I still think the C2 lounge is one of the best clubhouse/office designs I’ve seen.

One of my assignments in Richmond, VA introduced me to Carmina Cabo, a connection that would come full circle later in my career. When I settled in Kennesaw, GA, I had the privilege of working with Melody Miles and Henry Phillips—an incredible team that knew how to make even turn season fun. At Collegiate Kennesaw, I earned a promotion to Assistant Community Manager under the guidance of Eli Routh, who shaped my early leadership skills and taught me what it takes to be a strong manager during challenging times. Along the way, I also built relationships with Christina Tarumoto and Brandon Isley—further proof that Cardinal connections were always part of my path.

From there, I moved to Tuscaloosa, AL, to become a Community Manager at Alpha Alabama, where I successfully opened a lease-up and led a smooth move-in against tough competitors like The Lofts and The Retreat (now The Cottages at Lake Tamaha). After that success, I relocated to Denver, CO, taking on the role of Portfolio Sales and Marketing Manager for Cell 1.1, working alongside Will Conroy, Scott Montgomery, and Danielle Winn.

Wanting to broaden my impact, I transitioned into a National Trainer role under Alex Casas—a career highlight for me. I loved helping our teams learn, grow, and succeed. One of my proudest contributions was leading training initiatives during Entrataganza, when we migrated all of our communities to Entrata. I traveled to multiple properties, hosted multi-day training sessions, handed out Entrata swag, and made the platform transition both seamless and fun.

All of these experiences—and the incredible people I’ve met along the way—have led me to where I am today at Cardinal. Looking back, it’s clear that every step prepared me for this chapter, and that the connections I made along the way were pointing me here all along.

 

Who has been influential in your life, and how have they helped guide you?

Professionally, I’ve been influenced by multiple mentors and leaders who taught me the importance of leading with patience, clarity, and trust. Throughout my career, I’ve grown by observing the managers and leaders around me – learning not only from their strengths but also from their shortcomings. Both the positive and challenging examples have shaped the kind of leader I strive to be today. Eli Routh and Gretta Dare encouraged me to face challenges with strength and optimism, reminding me that difficulties do not define outcomes. Shannon Failla gave me confidence. Sarah Cheers taught me balance, patience, and composure. Cara Athmann encouraged me to find and use my voice as a leader, empowering me to contribute my perspective and advocate for my team. Aylin Guven has been a consistent mentor and a leader who not only coaches but also cheers you on every step of the way. I’ve been shaped not only by leaders who mentored me but also by the people I’ve had the privilege to lead. Their feedback, perspectives, and experiences continually influence the kind of leader I strive to be. As far as personally, I do not think I could have gotten through this last year without my mom group of friends – Briana Peterson, Jessica Bauer, and Autumn Hall. They are my constant motivation to be the best mom I can be while having fun failing and succeeding each day. And I can’t forget my husband Fernando Aguilar (who I met while at Cardinal) and our 9 month old son Zion. I am always motivated to succeed for them so that we can have the best life we can have.

What is something about the culture at Cardinal that you value or enjoy?

I value the work culture that supports work-life balance – where people can thrive in their roles while also maintaining time for personal lives. Another thing that is extremely important to me is the healthy workplace I am offered. There is a safe space for open dialogue, feedback and ideas can be shared, knowing they will be respected and heard.

Can you share a home office tip that has improved your work-from-home office experience?

I love a dedicated workspace with a big desk to fit everything from my notebook to my Starbucks and snacks. Each night, I am able to walk away from my home office, which is in the front of our home and enjoy the rest of our living area not being near my computer.

If you could spend a day in any department at Cardinal, which one would it be and why?

1000% Legal and Compliance. Not only do they have all the information, but they are in the know on everything. The team is phenomenal and they are all so knowledgeable. I would love to pick their brains and help in any way I can.

What is a skill you have developed during your career that you didn’t know you had?

The skill that has been most impactful for me, even though I didn’t always enjoy developing it, is resilience under pressure. Throughout my career, I’ve faced the voices of doubt–‘you can’t,’ ‘you’ll fail,’ ‘don’t try’ — and each time I’ve pushed through, coming out stronger than I was before. High-stakes situations have taught me how to stay calm, think clearly, and problem-solve quickly, which has become one of my greatest strengths as a leader.

What’s a memorable project or initiative you’ve been part of at Cardinal?

One word: Entrataganza. It was by far one of the most memorable initiatives I’ve been part of at Cardinal. It was a high-stakes project that required extensive training, clear communication, and keeping teams engaged through a big change. I had the opportunity to travel, host multi-day trainings, and help teams not only adapt to a new system but also feel excited about it. It was memorable because it combined problem-solving, leadership, and culture-building, and it showed me how much I enjoy guiding teams through major transitions. After the completion of the project, a group of us were invited to Entrata Summit to present Entrataganza to other clients and Entrata team members. During the presentation, I wore a red tutu on stage to show my excitement for what we had created as a company. Best memory ever!