We’re honored to share career insights and perspectives on inclusivity from James Hafen, SVP of Product Development at Extra Space Storage and Senior Leadership Sponsor for the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group (ERG). With a career spanning over two decades in technology, James brings both a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole selves to work. His journey, rooted in building relationships and personal growth, underscores the importance of allyship and support, especially for those who may face unique challenges in the workplace.

In this interview, James reflects on his professional journey, his dedication to creating inclusive spaces, and his advice for others navigating similar career paths.

Can you tell us about your background?

I am a Utah native and have spent most of my life in Utah. I grew up here, went to school at the University of Utah, and have a degree in economics. My wife and I spent some time in Minnesota early in our marriage, but returned to Utah where both of our families are. I’ve been married to Lisa, my wife, for almost 31 years and we have four daughters. One is a labor and delivery nurse, another is an elementary school teacher for kids with special needs, and our other two daughters have special needs and will likely live with us for most of our lives.

Can you tell us about your professional journey and what led you to Extra Space Storage?

I’ve been in technology my entire career. My first real job out of college was working for Megahertz, a company started by Spencer Kirk, who eventually became the CEO of Extra Space. I was working as an IT analyst and eventually I worked my way into programming and software engineering. In 1999 a former colleague at Megahertz reached out to tell me he was working for Spencer Kirk again, at a storage company, and wondered if I’d be interested in a change. At the time I was working for a company that built aircraft flight simulators for both commercial and military training, it was a super cool and hi-tech role, but they talked me into the change, and it was a career defining moment for me. I think only Spencer and Bill Hoban, who was the CTO at the time, could have convinced me to swap flight simulators for self-storage! I spent three years at Extra Space with a team creating an early version of an online property management system. We took that software into the public domain as a company named Centershift, and the system was used by Extra Space, Cubesmart, NSA, and many other large and small operators. We sold the company to Yardi Systems in 2014, and in 2018, I found my way back to Extra Space in the role I currently have as the SVP of Product Development. For over 25 years my career has been tied to Extra Space and I feel deep gratitude and loyalty to this company, its exceptional leaders, and the tremendous people that I have worked with in the past and work with every day.

What inspired you to join the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group as the SVP sponsor?

Both for personal and professional reasons—I have a genuine interest and passion to offer support and to be an ally for those who have not had the same privileges as others, and if we’re being honest, have not had the same privileges I’ve benefited from. I’ve seen too many friends and family members, and coworkers, who have faced obstacles in their careers, subtle or otherwise. As the father of four daughters, early on as a parent, my eyes were opened to the biases and headwinds they would face and the things they would have to overcome to have the same opportunities that felt organic and natural to me. I’ve been given some rare and fantastic opportunities in my career and been supported by some tremendous leaders. This feels like a very small way for me to give back.

Have you encountered times when people were unable to bring their whole self to work?

To answer this, I’ll offer a slightly different perspective. One of the most rewarding components of my career has been the relationships I’ve had with coworkers. Some of my closest friends were relationships that started in my first job. I’ve been able to work through difficult situations and deal with the stress we all face in our jobs because of the quality people I’ve worked with and especially because of the meaningful and deep relationships I’ve built with so many people. These relationships have been important because they extended beyond the workplace, having celebrated weddings and the birth of children and grandchildren—to know my coworkers’ spouses and hobbies and passions and to have them know the same things about me. I can’t imagine a workplace where I could not come and share my engagement news with my coworkers, or where they were not there to celebrate the birth of my kids or to commiserate and empathize when life throws challenges at us. To have to hide any of these important things in my life from my coworkers is unimaginable, yet we’ve probably all witnessed situations where it’s not safe or welcomed for some of our coworkers to talk about these life events. I can’t imagine making a commitment to a partner, getting married, adopting a child, and not feeling like I can bring that to work and find support and excitement from my coworkers. Yet, those situations exist—I’ve seen them firsthand. If we want the best talent at Extra Space and want that talent to feel that this is the right place for them to build a career, stay and contribute, and grow personally and professionally, then we need a climate and culture that welcomes, supports, and celebrates them.

What advice do you have for others who may seek a similar career path as yourself?

I’ve been fortunate to have worked for great managers and leaders who have advocated for me, helped me grow, pushed me to do better, and empowered me to take risks and innovate. I can’t say my career path has been very predictable or linear, but I’ve always pushed to do more, not afraid of challenges, and been willing to work on hard problems. My best advice is to look for opportunities to add value, solve hard problems, and continually be willing to learn and grow. Technology and product careers are constantly changing, and thus, you have to change constantly as well and help others navigate change, which is often uncomfortable. Lastly, seek advice and learn from mistakes, and value feedback even if critical. Some of the most impactful lessons of my career have come from mistakes made and from honest but critical feedback when I’ve needed it.

This article is part of an ongoing series of interviews with Extra Space Storage (NYSE: EXR) leadership sponsors of the Employee Resource Group about career growth. James Hafen is the Senior Vice President of Product Development at Extra Space Storage.