Leeds Faces: Danny Goldman (OpMgmt’06) | Leeds School of Business

Goldman Real Estate Group

Danny Goldman splits his time between California and Colorado – both of which he calls home, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I have a complex life and I’m lucky to have a complex life,” he said.

Goldman was born and raised in Los Angeles. He knew he wanted to come to Colorado for college, and it was the view from Highway 36 that sold him on CU.

His plan was to major in engineering. “I told my grandfather I was going to be an engineer so I could create things,” he said. “But then he said, ‘Why don’t you go to business school and hire the engineer?'”

Goldman took his advice and switched gears to study operations at Leeds while earning a real estate certificate. Once he had his degree in hand, he returned to LA to work with his father at the Goldman Property Group. Today, they own a portfolio of over 40 apartment and commercial buildings in the LA area.

The connections he made in Leeds often draw him back to Colorado. There are many mentors who have helped shape their lives today. Realtor Toni McClain offered him his first job while in college, managing real estate at The Colorado Group. Doug Wilson, a former CU environmental design professor, taught him the importance of taking the initiative to learn outside of school.

“The people of Colorado opened their hearts to me,” he said. “I made it my mission to come back and pay it forward.”

As a Leeds graduate, he mentors students through the Leeds Mentoring Programme, teaches real estate courses as a guest lecturer and coaches students for the annual Real Estate Case Competition. He strives to bring the real world of real estate into the classroom, encouraging students to continue to build their knowledge base and apply it outside of the classroom.

“What you learn within these walls will be the foundation for the learning you will do when you walk out these doors,” he says. “You weren’t born with all the knowledge, so don’t let anyone make you feel bad that you don’t know something.”

Goldman takes a very pragmatic approach to life; he believes that compassion and business can coexist with financial returns, a belief he has integrated into the way he runs his own business.

He also keeps his word when it comes to learning: he says it’s lifelong.

“College is the beginning of your learning that you’re going to do your whole adult life,” he said. “Keep your ears open. Keep your minds open. Listen to those with experience and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand.”

Goldman recently turned 40. While he doesn’t have specific goals for the next part of his life, he feels he’s done enough to make an impact.

“My next thing is to take one day at a time, one step at a time – and use my brain power in positive ways.”