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Leo Sanchez is dedicated to honoring his mother’s legacy. Following the passing of Dominga Sanchez in 2021, he reflected deeply on how remarkable individuals can just vanish from the world—not just in a physical sense, but also in spirit.
“I don’t think many people know about their family history beyond their grandmothers or grandfathers,” Sanchez explains. “Once upon a time, it was very common for people to honor their ancestors and where they came from.” He’s determined to do that for his mother. “She had a profound impact on my life, and I am determined to create a lasting legacy, even though she may be gone physically.”
Before detailing the creation of the Dominga Sanchez Family Scholarship at Arizona State University, it’s important to take time to understand who Dominga Sanchez was and how her memory will live on. In Leo’s words, she was his unconditional supporter at every step of his own journey. Dominga lived life to the fullest, loved large, and, in all things, acted selflessly.
“My mother worked two to three jobs to make sure I had what I needed,” Sanchez recalls. “I remember wishing she was around more, but she was tirelessly dedicated to doing everything she could to provide. While we certainly didn’t have much financially, we were wealthy in heart, with a home full of love and warmth.”
Sanchez says his single mother could have easily become discouraged and upset with the world, but she didn’t. She treated everyone around her with joy, dignity, and respect. And she wasn’t ashamed to explore different roles in search of her passion.
“I don’t think many people know about their family history beyond their grandmothers or grandfathers … [My mother] had a profound impact on my life, and I am determined to create a lasting legacy, even though she may be gone physically.”
Leo Sanchez
Sanchez witnessed his mother completely reinvent herself by transitioning into the healthcare industry at a time when many her age were already well established in their careers. It took some time, but Sanchez’s mother had finally found fulfilling work that brought her joy. She dedicated her last twenty working years to passionately serving individuals in hospitals and elderly care facilities.
Her work ethic and emphasis on education stuck with Sanchez. The C-suite executive has earned accreditations from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. He also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in real estate development from W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU and has been flirting with the idea of pursuing his PhD.
But what Sanchez focuses on now is raising funds for the next recipient of the Dominga Sanchez Family Scholarship. The scholarship supports a female student from a diverse background, seeking a graduate-level education, who exemplifies the qualities of Dominga Sanchez: a person who embraces life, lives selflessly, and brings love into the world.
Sanchez has spent over twenty years in the real estate industry, a field where women—especially women of color—are not often in high-ranking positions. That’s why he’s focused on empowering women through the scholarship.
“Real estate has primarily been a man’s game, especially at the executive level,” Sanchez says. “I hope the scholarship can grow into something that can have a community impact while also honoring my mother. I hope that she’d be proud.”
Wherever she is, Dominga Sanchez certainly has reason to be proud of her son. Leo was just named chief operating officer at Easy Street Offers. With a track record that includes industry giants of the likes of Zillow, Fidelity National Title, Mynd, and Waypoint Homes (now INVH), Sanchez is making his first run at the C-suite level.
“Leo and I have been industry peers and friends for fifteen years, and I am thrilled to partner with him in a professional capacity to scale our Digital Real Estate Investment platform. Leo’s outstanding reputation and nurtured relationships are set to supercharge our growth,” says Dan Noma, CEO of Easy Street Offers.
“I’ve been trusted to manage people for the last two decades in leadership roles, and this really feels like the right time,” Sanchez says. “I’ve had the privilege of leading high-caliber teams of over three hundred people in large, respected organizations, but now I get to lead the charge from the COO chair.”
While Sanchez is dedicated to empowering more women through education, he also knows what it’s like to be the only person of color in a critical leadership role. In his career journey, Sanchez was often the only person who looked like him, and he admits to not always handling it like his mother would have. The lack of representation became a chip on his shoulder, but not one he would let take control of him. Instead, he used it as motivation to drive him forward in his career.
“I may not be the smartest person in the room, but you will never outwill me,” Sanchez says with such a matter-of-fact delivery that you instinctually believe him. “I paved my own way, I don’t chase material things or bad ideas, and I work intentionally to allow compassion and empathy be my North Star. When I do that, things always seem to work out for the best.
“My goal has never been to be a wealthy or famous CEO someday. Instead, my goal has always been to make a difference, to have a positive impact on as many people as possible and to lead by example in my community.”
Thanks to Sanchez’s success, he’s created an endowed scholarship that will be self-sustaining even if he disappears tomorrow. But that’s not the plan. With the right vision, leadership, investment, and growth, the COO hopes his mother’s legacy can live on in ways he hasn’t even considered yet.
“Leo’s dedication and commitment to giving back to his community and specifically the W.P. Carey School of Business real estate programs, goes beyond admirable, it is a reflection of the person his mother raised. Leo and the scholarship are both legacies of Dominga and we are grateful for his support and continued involvement in young people’s success in her name,” says Mark Stapp, executive director of the Master of Real Estate Development program at Arizona State University.
And now, Sanchez’s children will know about their grandmother through more than the stories their father tells. His future grandchildren and beyond will also know of her. They’ll likely meet the recipients of the scholarship established in their grandmother’s name. They’ll see a father who has created a tribute to his mother. And they’ll understand what it means to pay homage to your family lineage and build a legacy of love and compassion.
