Scholarship Spotlight: Ellen You

Thursday, Dec 8, 2022

Scholarship Spotlight | Ellen You 

Ellen Yous headshot

Ellen is in her second year of studies at UBC’s Sauder School of Business specializing in Finance and Real Estate. She was drawn to the real estate industry at an early age; originally from Edmonton, Ellen has lived in eight different cities within Canada.

Can you please provide a brief introduction?

I am in my second year of studies at the UBC Sauder School of Business.

What are you career aspirations upon graduating from UBC?

I am currently exploring the various job opportunities with commercial real estate, and I am hoping to leverage my Finance specialization with real estate.

How did you initially become involved in commercial real estate?

This goes back to my upbringing, having lived in eight different cities, and being exposed to the various property types and markets.

What excites you about the industry?

How many more women are becoming involved and the strong support network. Within CREW, members are willing to share their experiences, prior struggles and provide guidance.

What are your plans for growing and leading the industry?

I plan on participating in the Student Mentorship program to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a woman in the industry and learn from mentors’ experiences and key takeaways. Further, by attending UCREW events, I can meet other females interested in the industry. Ultimately, I want to build knowledge and a network and eventually pay it forward and share my own knowledge to help future generations.

What are your key takeaways from your experience with CREW Vancouver so far? Do you plan on joining CREW? If so, can you please share a few things you are looking to gain by being apart of this network?

My key takeaways are that the network is incredibly supportive. I will be joining CREW as it is an empowering organization, and I am so excited to be joining the industry. I look forward to building knowledge and relationships.

If you were asked to give one piece of advice to university students looking to build a successful career in commercial real estate, what would it be?

Be curious and have the drive to succeed. Be authentic and show gratitude towards people that are willing to volunteer their time to help you.

Outside of school, what are your hobbies/passions and what advice do you have for maintaining a good school/life balance to be able to enjoy them?

Outside of school, I am a part-time Resident Advisor, which allows me to mentor first-year students. I am also very active and enjoy running with friends and weightlifting.

 To maintain a good balance, I recommend understanding your priorities and scheduling your time around them.