The hardest part of adopting new technology isn't the software. It's the people.
Chris Lahna is Partner, President of Property Management and Chief Talent Officer at Dominium — one of the country's largest affordable housing operators, with 50 years in business and more than 40,000 apartments across 19 states. His path to the role wasn't traditional. He's helped build jet engines, worked in asset management, and started at Dominium leading HR.
Now he leads transformation across people, process, and technology — in the unique position of owning both sides of it: what changes and how you bring your people with you.
Jacob Kosior and Chris get into what it actually takes to reinvent operations at that scale. They talk about why change is fundamentally difficult for humans, the paradox of needing patience when you're the most impatient person in the room, and the moment Chris stopped worrying about losing his job and started doing his best work. Plus, Chris shares how he sees roles evolving across the industry and why AI doesn't have to mean fewer people.
In this episode:
00:44 — This or That rapid fire
01:23 — Why every operator is going through transformation right now
02:19 — From building jet engines to running property management
02:40 — "You probably should not hire me as the head of property management"
03:26 — Signals that transformation is actually working
04:56 — The uncomfortable truth about patience and urgency
06:44 — Why process, technology, and people are all connected
07:06 — From handwritten applications to digital transformation
09:50 — Coaching advice for leaders stepping into change
10:15 — What it means to believe your people are fundamentally good
12:30 — Why AI doesn't have to mean fewer people
13:13 — How specialized roles could reshape staffing across the industry
15:43 — How Chris is using AI in his personal and professional life
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In Good Company is a multifamily podcast by EliseAI.
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