Stephanie Ortiz: The Childhood Struggle That Built A Multifamily Leader

In this episode, Stephanie Ortiz, Marketing Manager at Legacy Residential Group - shares the remarkable journey that took her from a childhood defined by constant change to becoming the marketing leader overseeing 38 properties and nearly 7,000 apartment homes. Growing up, Stephanie attended nine elementary schools, moved frequently due to financial instability, and learned early how to adapt, build relationships, and start over. At just 11 years old, she found herself taking on adult responsibilities after her parents' divorce, experiences that would shape the resilience and perspective she carries today. Stephanie opens up about dropping out of college after only two days, choosing real-world experience over a traditional path, and building a successful 15-year career in multifamily housing without a degree. She reflects on the lessons she learned from her parents, the challenges of raising two very different children, and the importance of finding opportunity in unexpected places. From a life-changing road trip through all 48 continental states to a bold answer during a job interview that altered the course of her career, Stephanie's story is a powerful reminder that success isn't always built through stability—sometimes it's built through learning how to thrive in uncertainty. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Growing up and discovering her parents' divorce 03:30 Attending 9 elementary schools 10:00 Learning to adapt and make friends everywhere 19:30 Becoming an adult at age 11 20:45 The 48-state road trip with her grandmother 23:00 Lessons learned from her parents 24:30 Finding the silver lining in setbacks 29:20 Childhood dreams of journalism 30:00 Dropping out of college after 2 days 33:00 Raising a gifted son and an artistic daughter 37:30 Parenting philosophy and family values 43:30 Breaking into multifamily housing 45:00 Why she hated commercial real estate 46:00 The job application that changed her life 48:00 Why relationships open doors Humans of Multifamily is presented by Zuma, the AI assistant for your full-resident lifecycle. Visit getzuma.com and follow Shiv Gettu on LinkedIn.