Q&A with Division Vice President Tammika Hernandez

Tammika Hernandez has been promoted to Division Vice President for Extra Space Storage, stepping into the role in February 2026. In this new role, she'll oversee District Managers and store teams across the New Jersey market.

Hernandez joined Extra Space Storage in 2019. As a Senior District Manager, she's led markets across New York City, Upstate New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Originally from New York City, she spent 13 years in the retail industry with Abercrombie, rising from part-time associate to District Manager and working in Nashville, Indianapolis, and Tampa. She studied fashion merchandising in Miami before earning her business management degree from Ramapo College.

Outside of work, Hernandez enjoys traveling, pilates, and spending time with her family, friends, and godson. We recently asked Hernandez to share about her leadership journey and what motivates her to invest in her team.

What do you like most about your current position?

What I love most is the people. I love to see my team grow, take feedback, and improve. I appreciate that they're passionate about their jobs and always looking for ways they can make their sites better, themselves better, and how they can help the district as well.

How do you balance work and personal life?

Being a natural workaholic, this is something I had to learn over time. I remember starting at Extra Space and wanting to be super involved and in the know at all times. I wanted to be there for my team whenever they needed me. Over time, I've had to learn that I can still be available and engaged while also having some boundaries around my time. I set clear boundaries to protect my time off and weekends. I prioritize what really matters, learning that it's okay if everything doesn't get done today—what can I delegate, or what can wait until the next day? Lastly, I make time for myself, blocking out time on my calendar whether it's for my personal development, hobbies, or health.

How has Extra Space helped in your professional development?

I've had the pleasure of being part of several leadership programs at Extra Space, such as the Leadership Development Program and Executive Development Program. These programs have given me additional exposure to senior leadership and different departments at the Salt Lake Support Center that will be beneficial in my new role, while also helping me build better relationships with my peers.

What motivates you to come to work every day?

What motivates me to come to work each day is time with my team and the progress we're making. I value spending time with people. The relationships and growth within my team motivate me to show up and keep improving.

What advice would you give to future leaders?

A few things come to mind. First, lead by example, not by your position. When you lead through your actions rather than your title, people follow because they respect you, not because they have to.

Similar to that, focus on building people, not just hitting metrics. When you invest in your team through coaching and trust, you create a team that performs not because they have to, but because they want to do better. That's when you know you've built something lasting.

Finally, I think it's important to listen more than you talk. I've found that asking the right questions often leads to better solutions than trying to have all the answers myself. And when you do communicate, do it clearly and often. Be transparent with your team and set clear expectations so everyone knows where they stand and what success looks like.

This article is part of an ongoing series of interviews with Extra Space Storage (NYSE: EXR) leaders. Interested in a career with Extra Space? Visit our careers page to learn more about our culture and job openings.