Women in Storage: Our Mission at WiSE

The self storage industry might not be the first place people think of when talking about women in leadership, innovation or business growth, but after working within the industry, we think it should be.

Behind the scenes of self storage are women leading teams, managing operations, driving growth and shaping the future of the sector every single day. Yet like many industries connected to construction, logistics and commercial property, those stories are not always the most visible from the outside.

That’s a huge part of why WiSE was created.

Not because women don’t already belong in self storage, but because visibility, connection and community matter. When people can see others thriving within an industry, it changes what feels possible for themselves. Careers suddenly feel more accessible, confidence grows faster and opportunities feel easier to step into.

Why Networking and Community Matter

Across every industry, networking and community continue to play a huge role in career progression, especially for women. Studies consistently show that professional networks are one of the biggest drivers behind leadership growth, confidence and career opportunities. In fact, Forbes reported that over 80% of women surveyed used networking to help secure leadership positions, board seats and negotiate higher pay.

Harvard Business Review also highlighted that women still face greater barriers when building high-status professional networks compared to men - making strong communities and visible support systems even more important.

But building those connections can still feel intimidating at first, particularly when entering a new industry or attending events for the first time. Research has also suggested that women often approach networking differently, tending to build smaller, more genuine professional circles rather than wider transactional networks - which is exactly why spaces built around real connection and support matter so much.

What Makes the Self Storage Industry Different

One of the things we noticed very quickly when working in the industry was how welcoming and supportive it is behind the scenes. There’s a sense of collaboration across the sector, with people willing to share advice, support one another and celebrate each other’s success. You can already see this through communities like the Young Storers Network (YSN), which has grown hugely over the years and become one of the most engaged communities within the industry. From operators to suppliers, the network has created a space where people regularly share advice, offer guidance, celebrate opportunities and help each other navigate their careers. Through meetups, industry events and even day-to-day conversations within its WhatsApp community, the YSN has played a huge role in helping young professionals build confidence, connections and long-term careers within self storage.

WiSE was never created to change the industry - it was created to build on the positive culture already there and create more opportunities for women within it.

Creating More Visibility for Women in Storage

We wanted to create a platform where women in storage could become more visible, where connections could happen more naturally, and where women at every stage of their careers could feel part of something bigger.

Because sometimes confidence starts with something small. A conversation at an event. Meeting someone in a similar role. Hearing another woman’s career journey. Realising there are more women in the industry than you first thought.

Those moments matter more than people realise.

Showcasing the Opportunities Within Self Storage

Self storage is also an industry that deserves far more recognition for the opportunities it creates. From marketing and technology to operations, sales, customer experience, and business leadership, there are incredible careers being built across the sector every day. We want to help showcase that - not only to support women already working within the industry, but also to encourage future generations to see self storage as an exciting, innovative, and welcoming space to build a career.

At its core, WiSE is about bringing people together, celebrating the women already shaping the industry, and helping create more opportunities for others to grow within it too.

Because when women support each other, industries grow stronger. Visibility grows. Confidence grows. And more people begin to see what’s possible for themselves.

That’s what WiSE #WeMadeSpace means to us. 💚