When I first arrived at Purdue, I felt like a small fish in a very large pond. Having spent half my life in Italy and the other half in Colombia, stepping into life in the United States was something I had never experienced before. I was the type of person who needed everything planned, certain, and in order. I had my path drawn up: major in business analytics and information management, ace every class, join as many organizations as possible, graduate, and eventually become a business analyst for Google Maps. My 10-year plan was so detailed I could recite it in my sleep.
But life has its own sense of humor when it comes to our plans.
The turning point came one ordinary day, as I walked through the front doors of the Daniels School’s Krannert Building. There it was: a billboard that read “New Real Estate Finance Minor.” It seems small now, but in that moment, something clicked inside me. Anyone who knew me growing up knew about my fascination with building. First, it was the dream of owning my own parking lot. Then it expanded into owning a bar, and later, even a casino. I had always been intrigued by the physical spaces around me, but I never imagined it could be a career. Until then, real estate to me meant becoming a realtor, and I was convinced I didn’t have the skills or the personality for that.
Normally, I weigh every option carefully, but this one felt different. I knew immediately I had to go for it.
Suddenly, I started seeing real estate everywhere. The Chick-fil-A on campus where students gather between classes, real estate. The data centers that quietly hold trillions of gigabytes of our information, real estate. The homes that keep us warm after walking through a freezing Purdue winter, real estate. Once I stepped into the space, I couldn’t stop asking questions. What factors go into deciding whether to develop a new Panera? Why would someone buy an old, rundown building? How do interest rates ripple into the decision of whether to acquire or wait? Each question led to another, and my curiosity kept growing.
Along the way, I met incredible mentors who shaped my understanding of the field. Purdue alumnus Greg Burns (BSME ’15), vice president of real estate acquisitions at BlackRock, asked me one of the first questions every real estate professional encounters: equity or debt? He had experience in both, and the way he spoke about equity caught my attention immediately. The way I see it, equity is about shaping communities. It’s about deciding what gets built, what assets are acquired, and how they fit into the bigger picture. Equity drives the vision, while debt provides the support to make it possible. Both areas play a role, but equity is where my curiosity, creativity and drive naturally align.
Another pivotal figure in my journey has been Professor Mike Eriksen, director of Purdue’s Dean V. White Real Estate Finance Program and a passionate advocate for women in the field. He encouraged me to apply for the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network Scholarship, which opened yet another door. Through CREW, I was introduced to two of the most encouraging women I’ve ever met: Carrie Sermersheim and Kristin Hornberger. They’ve inspired me and shown me the mentorship I hope to one day offer others. Being selected for the 2025 CREW Network Scholarship was an incredible honor, but the real gift has been the relationships and community it has given me.
Looking back, I can’t help but smile at my old 10-year plan. I no longer cling to rigid timelines because I’ve learned that life has a way of unfolding on its own. My long-term dreams are now like a city skyline on the horizon, always shifting as I move toward it.
What I do know is that one of the directions I’m most drawn to is working in acquisitions on the equity side of real estate. The creativity and strategy involved in deciding what asset to acquire, when, where and how — that is what excites me, a feeling further enhanced by my internship at PGIM Real Estate. At the same time, I remain open to wherever this journey might lead. The mentors, peers and opportunities I’ve found so far have given me the confidence to take risks in ways I never could have imagined as a freshman.
And this time, I know I don’t have to do it all alone. I have mentors who believe in me, a network of women in CREW who inspire me, and a program at Purdue that has given me the skills and confidence to move forward. What started as a chance encounter with a sign outside the Daniels School has turned into a passion, a community and a career path that feels not just meant for me but one that I can build from the ground up.
