Gabriella Fernandez is a rising third-year law student at the University of Miami School of Law ("UM"), where she is pursuing a joint degree in the esteemed Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig LL.M. in Real Property Development program. With a firm focus on her academic pursuits, Gabriella's post-graduation aspirations revolve around delving into the intricate realms of zoning law and commercial real estate leases. Her fervent passion for these areas of practice is deeply rooted in her family background, particularly inspired by her grandfather's illustrious involvement in public policy, politics and his transformative impact on their local community. Drawing from her family's legacy, Gabriella is determined to follow in her grandfather's footsteps and bring about positive change in her own community. Gabriella worked at the City of Miami Office of the City Attorney, where she worked in both the planning and zoning and the real estate development department and served as the Secretary of the Youth Advisory Board at the City of Sweetwater. She currently works at the City of Miami in the District 4 Office for Commissioner Manolo Reyes as his Legislative Aide writing and interpreting legislative policies, resolutions, and ordinances.
Jesumiseun Gbotosho is pursuing a MSRE at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. With a focus on affordable housing, she is committed to transforming communities and creating spaces that foster growth and inclusivity. Previously, Jesumiseun worked with leading architectural firms in Nigeria, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic thinking in various design and construction projects. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Jesumiseun has made significant contributions to her community by mentoring young girls in STEM and establishing a fully funded scholarship program that supports outstanding female students from underprivileged backgrounds. She is a graduate of Covenant University, Nigeria where she earned a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Architecture with distinction.
Mika is a senior development manager at EYA, a townhome developer in the Washington DC metropolitan area known for creating walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods. Prior to joining EYA, Mika worked at Boston-based developer Samuels & Associates. To date, she has delivered 450 multifamily units, executed a $7M hotel expansion, and oversaw over 300,000 SF of office and retail fit outs. Mika’s passion for real estate stems from her love for the built environment. Her projects help to create places for people to enjoy through neighborhood building and placemaking. Mika is currently pursuing her Master’s in Real Estate part-time at Georgetown University. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Brown University where she double majored in Business Economics and Architectural History while competing on the varsity Fencing Team. Outside of work, Mika enjoys traveling, skiing, and trying new restaurants.
Peggy is pursuing her master’s degree in real estate development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a concentration in investment and finance. She is a licensed architect and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degree in architectural engineering with a focus on sustainable design in Iran. In her role as a Senior Project Architect at Rad Studio, she led the design and development of residential buildings. She is the founder of GIRD (Girls in Real Estate Development) and mentors underprivileged high school students in her free time. Upon completion of her master's degree, she is hoping to combine her interest in sustainable designs with investing and pursue a career in green investing.
Catherine Hanlon is an MBA Candidate at the Darden School of Business at University of Virginia. She previously served as Business Development Associate at GEM Realty Capital. Her work experience also includes positions with Northern Trust Corporation and Logistics Capital & Strategy. Catherine earned her Bachelor’s in Art History from Georgetown University in 2018, where she also served as a Research Assistant.
Angie is currently in the process of pursuing her Master's degree in Real Estate at Georgetown University, continuing her studies after earning a Certificate in Real Estate Investments at Harvard University. She has experience working in the Real Estate Investments group at both Manulife Investment Management (formerly John Hancock) and Equity Residential. In her prior roles, she has analyzed multifamily, industrial, retail, and office acquisition and development opportunities across the United States. Originally from Boston, Angie is a graduate of Boston Latin School, America’s oldest public high school founded in 1635. She attended Northeastern University as a Boston Scholar, and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with honors, concentrating in Finance. During her time at Northeastern, she worked at both Goldman Sachs and Bain Capital Real Estate, served as Co-President of the award-winning Real Estate Club, studied abroad at the London School of Economics, and obtained her Real Estate license in Massachusetts.
Roxanne began her career at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduating with her BSAS in Architecture. She is currently earning her Master of Real Estate Development and her Master of Business Administration at Iowa State University. Roxanne owns and operates a boutique real estate development consulting and architectural design firm, Talisman Development Group, specializing in adaptive re-use conversions of underutilized historic buildings. She enjoys guiding clients through the design and development process, and helping to bring exciting projects to life, especially in her local Central Illinois community. In addition to her consulting work for third party clients, Roxanne is also the co-developer/co-owner of two multi-million-dollar historic redevelopment projects in the Peoria’s up-and-coming Warehouse District. The buildings are being converted into upper floor loft apartments and ground floor commercial office, retail, and restaurant space. In addition to her interests related to real-estate, in her free time Roxanne also enjoys swimming, traveling, cooking, spending time with family, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
Daniela Ivanov is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She works as a Real Estate Asset Manager at Northern Trust, where she services Trust and guardianship clients. In her role, Daniela manages construction projects, and the acquisition and disposition of real estate assets. She also brings experience in real estate investing and property management. Her professional interests extend to commercial real estate development, community development, affordable housing, and impact investing. Daniela is passionate about using her expertise to drive meaningful change in these areas and looks forward to leveraging the opportunities provided by The Goldie Initiative to further her career and contribute to the growth of women leaders in the industry.
Corinth is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Real Estate at the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, which is part of DePaul University's Driehaus College of Business. Driven by a commitment to excellence, Corinth serves as an Operations Associate at The Obama Foundation for the Obama Presidential Center. In this role, she actively contributes to diverse projects, supporting the planning efforts for the Obama Presidential Center's operations. She began her tenure at The Obama Foundation as a Project Budget Analyst, where she displayed her meticulous approach to tracking and reporting project expenditures to both internal and external stakeholders. Before joining The Obama Foundation, Corinth sharpened her skills with CRG's asset management and accounting team. Corinth's academic journey led her to Barnard College of Columbia University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies with a Specialization in Architecture. She has a keen interest in various fields including real estate development, affordable housing, community development, operational aspects of real estate development, and the socioeconomic impact of these areas.
Katy is currently pursuing her MBA at Columbia Business School with a focus on real estate and strategy. This summer, Katy interned at Tishman Speyer on the Asset Management and New Business team. Prior to business school, she was the Assistant Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Synchrony Financial. Additionally, Katy was part of the Synchrony Business Leadership Program, a two year rotational program within the finance function. Her interests include real estate development, hospitality, and strategic investing. Katy earned her Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Connecticut, majoring in finance and minoring in real estate.
Chinaza is currently pursuing a Masters in Real Estate at DePaul University, where her passion for commercial real estate fuels her commitment to staying informed on market trends, best practices, and cultivating a robust network of industry experts.At Google, she recently transitioned from a legal career to a role on the corporate real estate transactions team as a Real Estate Programs and Analytics Manager. In this position, she supports strategic transactions and asset management, contributing to various projects across the Americas, including Google’s redevelopment of the Thompson Center.An alumna of the Urban Land Institute’s Project REAP program and a member of CoreNet Global’s Chicago Chapter, Chinaza also holds an undergraduate degree from Marquette University. She is dedicated to deepening her expertise and making a significant impact in the commercial real estate industry.
Alicja is a Financial Analyst with extensive background in real estate and tax management. Her current expertise lies in the origination of First Mortgage Loans, conducting feasibility assessments, and underwriting multifamily deals. She has experience in REIT tax accounting from her previous position at Brookfield Properties Retail and Equity Residential. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Accountancy and Economics from DePaul University and is currently pursuing a Master's in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Alia is pursuing her Master of Science in Real Estate Development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is dedicated to upholding ethical working standards and fostering positive long term relationships and investments in the real estate development and construction industries. Prior to attending MIT, Alia worked for CMK Companies as a project manager for Sailrock Development, a 2,400-acre eco-community in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Alia earned her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her unique experience and perspective allow her to confront the challenges surrounding preconceived notions of resource constraints and capabilities.
Kaley is pursuing a JD at Yale Law School, where she aims to develop new tools in the service of building affordable housing. In her career, Kaley has worked across the public and private sectors to promote dynamic cities that are accessible to all. In the public sector, Kaley has worked for government offices and on campaigns on the local, state, and federal level - most recently as Get Out the Vote Director for Mark Levine's successful Manhattan Borough President race, managing a 1,000-volunteer operation. In real estate finance and development, Kaley worked in real estate at Blackstone, and subsequently for Fairstead, a national purpose-driven affordable housing developer. At Fairstead, Kaley's work included a $600M+ transaction to bring comprehensive renovations to an 87-building, 3,400+-resident portfolio in Brooklyn, which won Fannie Mae's 2023 Deal of the Year. Kaley graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from Yale University with bachelor's degrees in Economics and History, and holds a master's in History from Yale, for which she focused on 20th century American urban and real estate history.
As a Vice President at LaSalle Investment Management, Brigid sources new investment opportunities and leads dispositions across the East Coast, Midwest, and Mountain region. She previously worked on LaSalle's Asset Management team, focusing on assets for open-ended funds and separate account clients. Brigid holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration and minor in Real Estate from Cornell University. She is currently an MBA candidate at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
Deb is pursuing a Master’s in Interior Architecture at George Washington University. She is a Director at Glencrest Group, responsible for the firm’s underwriting and institutional equity functions. Prior to joining Glencrest, Deb was formerly Director of Investor Relations for a leading multifamily development firm in the Washington D.C. area, after starting her career in Finance and Investor Relations at a real estate investment trust. Deb graduated from the University of Virginia, earning a BA with distinction in Economics and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Her interests include commercial and residential interior design and sustainability in the built environment.