At Tailwind Group, we believe that who we are is just as important as what we do. Over the course of the past year, we have focused on better defining who we are by creating a new mission statement and refining our core values.

Our mission defines why we exist as an organization, and our core values are the guiding set of principles and beliefs that help guide every decision we make so that we can live out our mission.

This process is a true team effort. We gather direct and indirect feedback from employees across Tailwind Group; host workshops, conduct surveys, and engage in meaningful conversations. Our goal is to take the mission and values that have always guided us and put them into words, formalizing what was once unspoken. Below are some of the insights shared by our on-site and corporate team members:

“Tailwind is a people-first company.”
“… as a resident or a community assistant, I always feel like my opinion is valued.”
“… no one’s voice ever gets lost, everyone’s voice matters, and you never feel alone.”
“… every day I am surrounded by people who support me, challenge me, and inspire me to be the best version of myself… It’s about creating a culture of trust and belonging, where everyone can grow and be their true self.”

Our Senior Leadership Team leads this process, which began in the Fall of 2024 and continues through the Spring of 2025. It is then passed along to our Employee Leadership Team for their refinement in the Spring of 2025, and we finalize the mission statement and core values in the Summer of 2025. We proudly roll out the finished product at our Leadership Summit to our entire management team on September 9th, with resounding positive feedback.

Our Mission
“Our Mission is to fight for the highest possible good of the people that matter the most: our team members, residents, investors and partners, and the communities we serve.”

Our Core Values

We Prioritize People

  • By fostering care and respect for everyone.
  • By having an environment of high support and high challenge.
  • By placing trust, well-being, and growth at the heart of every decision we make.

We Embrace an Innovative Spirit

  • By refusing to be outhustled.
  • By our commitment to being solution-focused and responsive.
  • By pushing the boundaries of industry “norms.”

We Have Unwavering Integrity

  • By taking full ownership of our decisions.
  • By cultivating a culture of full transparency and accountability.
  • By doing what’s right, even when it’s hard.

“Despite our many years of rapid growth, we remain committed to staying grounded in these statements to ensure our culture continues to strengthen,” said Brandon Smith, President and CEO. “I don’t want people just to read our mission statement and core values and think this is a great place because of what we say—I want them to feel it.”

Tailwind Group is a vertically integrated real estate company. Its core focus is off-campus student housing, in which it is a top twenty owner and manager in the country. Its current real estate portfolio consists of approximately $1.5B in assets under management, 20,000 student housing bedrooms, and nearly 700,000 square feet of commercial real estate. Its reach spans 16 states and 23 different college communities.