CU-Boulder senior Leah Canfield approaches learning with the same competitive spirit that gained her recognition as a successful ski racer. Creating the most out of a short amount of time is a strategy that has benefited Canfield in several facets: skiing, school and in co-founding a real estate investment company.
Canfield, a听听major from Breckenridge, is set to graduate Dec. 20 after taking three years off from school to pursue a career in professional ski racing. Her path changed due to several injuries, and she decided to pursue a degree from CU-Boulder after reading a handful of personal finance textbooks.
鈥淚 started reading about how to create wealth for yourself and really became interested in the real estate part of it,鈥� Canfield said. 鈥淏ecause it has a long gestation period, it allows for a lot of personal freedom.鈥�
She is grateful for resources gained throughout her career at CU-Boulder and believes that her experiences at CU helped shape her interest in business.
鈥淚鈥檓 so happy I decided to come to CU,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o many classes have changed my perspective and have given me opportunities moving forward.鈥�
Once her interest in real estate developed, Canfield got involved with the International Real Estate Competition, where she and five of her peers earned a second place award, behind Singapore. 听
鈥淚 gained the confidence to take an idea and be able to present it to a group of professionals,鈥� she said.
Being able to present ideas to professionals is especially crucial for Canfield in building her business. Just a year into her education at CU, Canfield and her boyfriend founded Atlas Property Investment, a real estate investment company that has grown rapidly. In less than two years Canfield has developed an impressive real estate portfolio.
鈥淲e were really interested in the cash flow,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e started researching, and it took us a while to pull the trigger, but once we got our first place we just kept going.鈥�
After learning the ropes of today鈥檚 real estate system, Canfield focuses on raising funds on a project-by-project deal in order to both please investors and expand her business futher.
鈥淎fter I graduate, the biggest goal will be putting together a proposal for our current investors to raise funds,鈥� Canfield said. 鈥淭hey can keep their money with us for a number of years and we can invest it with a little more autonomy.鈥�
Launching a business is no small feat, but Canfield believes her dedicated professors eased the process and provided her with professional industry knowledge.
鈥淚 had great professors who were so committed to their classes and to their students,鈥� Canfield said. 鈥淚 went in with lots of questions on how to raise money...they鈥檝e been a huge support system.鈥�
Among several, Canfield recognizes professor Curtis Sears as playing a distinct influence on her due to his involvement with the real estate investment team.
鈥淗e was always available for anything that I needed,鈥� said Canfield.
As she looks towards a bright future as a business owner, her advice to current students is to stay active, engaged and to decide what kind of learning style works best in the beginning.
鈥淚鈥檓 really thoughtful about how I choose to study and I try to organize myself. When I study for finals, I have to make sure to make it to the gym at least five days a week,鈥� Canfield said.
In addition to adopting an intentional scheduling approach, Canfield emphasizes some of the things that helped her the most.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to take advantage of office hours, pay attention in class and ask questions,鈥� she said.
Canfield is being recognized as the Leeds School of Business "Outstanding Graduate" for the fall semester.