NE North Dakota News

Brianna Castillo, a University of North Dakota (UND) alumna and partner at Haven Realty Group in Dallas, was the featured speaker at the 10th annual Women for Philanthropy luncheon. Castillo, who has been recognized on RE/MAX’s “40 under 40” list, spoke about the importance of philanthropy, sharing insights from her own career and personal life.

“Philanthropy means the love of humanity. It’s not just about giving money; it’s about sharing your time, your talents and your wisdom to lift others up,” Castillo said during her conversation with DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.

The luncheon, which marked a decade of Women for Philanthropy, gathered alumni, students, and friends of UND to recognize women who contribute to their communities through service and generosity.

Castillo traced her commitment to philanthropy back to her upbringing in North Dakota. Her mother, one of two women in UND’s mechanical engineering program in 1984, encouraged her to pursue her ambitions. “She has always empowered and encouraged me and said, ‘You can do whatever you want to do. You want to go walk on the moon? Start by flying airplanes,’” Castillo recalled.

Initially considering a career in aviation at UND’s School of Aerospace Sciences, Castillo changed direction after an aptitude test suggested she would thrive in an environment focused on innovation. She attended the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration and graduated in 2010. Despite initial reluctance, she began her career in sales, which she found was about building relationships and problem-solving rather than persuasion. “Sales is built on relationships. It’s all about making relationships with people, understanding who they are, what their needs are and then solving problems for them,” she said.

Castillo later established her own photography business before becoming a Realtor in Dallas. With support from her husband, Oscar, she built a successful real estate company and was recognized by RE/MAX. She spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing her career with raising two young daughters. “I am naturally very competitive and super driven, often to a fault. I would put it first, and everything else could figure itself out,” she said. A conversation with her husband prompted her to seek balance between work and family. “I’m obviously going to choose my family, but I’m not going to let that come at the cost of not growing a business.”

She emphasized the importance of seeking help and building a support network. “You have to ask for help. You have to surround yourself with people who help you and can help you — whether that be people who are further ahead of you, or people who you need to hire to come in and help support you so you can do it successfully.”

Castillo described her approach to life and work with the motto: “Give it all away.” “Anything that I have of value, I want to give away,” she said. “I want to leave a legacy — whether that be wisdom that I’ve learned or influence that I have, or money that I received. At the end of the day, I don’t want to have held up any of it for myself.”

Her company donates a portion of every home sale to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, an organization that cared for her daughters when they were young. “I’ve seen them do things in a very excellent manner. I was happy to give back and support in that way,” Castillo said. “We call upon our clients to do the same. Not only do we give with each transaction, but each year we also do some sort of drive to include our clients and challenge them to give to Children’s as well.”

At home, Castillo and her husband encourage their daughters, Kayla and Grace, to view entrepreneurship as service. Each summer, the girls start a new business, learning financial responsibility and philanthropy by reinvesting profits and donating a portion to others. “They’re learning that we can take a little bit of money and turn it into something more,” Castillo said.

Looking ahead, Castillo shared her long-term goal with the audience: she and her husband aim to give away $100 million in their lifetimes. “It sounds wild,” she said, “but for my personality, that keeps me going and pushes me to think outside the box. How on earth am I going to get there in this lifetime?”

As the event concluded, Carlson Zink offered advice to those inspired by the stories shared at the luncheon.