Danielle Ferrari, Assistant Director at Savills North America, serves as a Commercial Real Estate Advisor in Washington, DC and Tysons, VA. Her journey at Virginia Tech shows her strong commitment to the career she is in and the steps she took to find the right path for herself.

Danielle began her freshman year at Virginia Tech as an undecided major. She initially chose to pursue finance with a minor in real estate due to her family’s background in construction. However, she quickly realized that finance was not the right fit for her. Through her coursework, particularly the Principles of Real Estate class, she discovered a genuine interest in the real estate field. That experience ultimately led her to major in Real Estate and minor in Business, a decision that aligned far more closely with her strengths and passions.

During her time at Virginia Tech, Danielle was deeply involved in the Real Estate program. She served as both an Ambassador and Peer Mentor for the department and was a member of the Career and Professional Development Student Advisory Board for the school. She emphasized the importance of being fully committed to your career goals, building close relationships with faculty and staff, and consistently networking. Danielle shared how grateful she was for her strong relationship with Willis Blackwood Professor Emeritus, Kevin Boyle, who has contributed to award nominations for her and helped connect her with the Blackwood Department of Real Estate Industry Advisory Board opportunity. She believes that doing the things you do not have to do, such as going above and beyond expectations, is what truly demonstrates commitment.

Looking ahead, Danielle’s long term goals center on continued success and growth within the commercial real estate industry. She aspires to build more business independently, expand her network, and establish her name in the industry at a young age. She is focused on creating a strong personal brand while continuing to develop professionally.

Reflecting on her academic and professional journey, Danielle encourages students to take every opportunity presented to them, always say yes, put yourself out there, and strive to be well rounded. She emphasized the power of the Hokie community, noting how important it is to stay involved both during and after college, as those connections continue to support her career today. She also mentors students herself, giving back to the community that helped shape her. Finally, she stressed that real estate is not a field where you can afford to take the back seat. Being proactive, assertive, and confident is essential for long term success.