Susan Ansel
Sue Ansel, president and CEO, Gables Residential
President & CEO, Gables Residential
Since joining Gables Residential 28 years ago, Susan Ansel has had positions in acquisitions, development, and operations, taking the chance to learn new skills every step of the way.
“When I got to the point where I had been in a group long enough that I felt that I had learned as much as I could at that time, then I started saying [to myself], ‘Well, let’s see if there’s another opportunity,’ ” says Ansel.
Having that depth of knowledge has really carved out a niche for her in the workplace. Ansel knows the ins and outs of the entire business and isn’t an expert at just one piece, though she believes having a strong foundation in a business’s financial operations is vital to getting ahead.
“You don’t have to be an accountant to be successful, but I do believe understanding how the business operates, and the financing, is a critical component,” Ansel says.
However, one of the most important ways she elevated her career was through diving head first into real estate technology initiatives. At a time when the Internet was just gaining speed, Ansel was thrown into the pool and told to learn how to swim. Being on the forefront of an industry game changer, she was made an expert in a field no one else knew much about.
Ansel’s newest opportunity to drive growth comes with Gables’ recapitalization after Clarion Partners confirmed it was retaining the firm.
“We now have the opportunity to raise capital to take advantage of those opportunities,” she says. “A lot of my focus for the next year or two will be helping lead the growth.”
