Foot in the Door

Zack Braca is negotiating a boom market for the study of real estate at Sacred Heart.

From the Spring 2025 issue of Sacred Heart University Magazine

Zachary Braca ’25 isn’t one to wait for opportunities— he makes them happen.

After the management major gained his real estate license at the age of 19, he started interning in the Greenwich office of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, where his talent was recognized. “Even in the interview, they told me that they wanted me out selling immediately,” Braca says.

And he has been selling. Braca has moved over $10 million in real estate, including closing on a $2.3 million property in Darien.

Rather than keep his success to himself, Braca was inspired to help fellow Pioneers find the same. “Giving back is important to me,” he says. “I wanted to mentor those who were asking me how to get into real estate.”

Braca and a few of his friends started a club on campus. David Taylor, the dean of the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT), attended the first meeting. He had told Braca that he needed to find 10 other students to start a club. “When I walked into the classroom for their first meeting, I was blown away,” Taylor says. “There was standing room only, and I would estimate 40 to 50 students attended.”

The Real Estate Club has grown into the largest club in the WCBT. “We really built something special,” says Braca, who is the club president. “It’s wonderful to be among like-minded people who share the same passion for real estate.” The club offers a platform for students to share ideas and insights about how to excel in the industry.

Inspired by the amount of interest, Braca urged faculty to create an academic program in real estate. Bridget Lyons, professor of finance, and Bo Meng, assistant professor, collaborated with Braca to develop courses and build a minor program. As the minor continues to grow, Braca engages students for feedback, surveying club members to uncover what courses they believe will help them the most.

Sacred Heart’s Fairfield location is ideal for this program. “The University sits within one of the best real estate markets in the nation—the Gold Coast of Connecticut,” Braca says. “We had to capitalize on that.”

“Zack’s vision, commitment and enthusiasm drove the development of the real estate minor,” says Lyons. “It has been a pleasure working with Bo and Zack on this initiative.”

Meng agrees. “Zack’s initiative in taking the lead on the real estate club truly demonstrates a strong entrepreneurial spirit,” he says. Meng also credits Lyons for her ability to identify opportunities and turn ideas into action.

“While I knew that there was a great deal of interest, the student response has exceeded our expectations,” says Taylor. “In its first year, we already have more than 90 real estate students, ranking it as one of the three minors with the highest enrollment in the WCBT.” The course offerings will continue to grow for the 2025-26 academic year.

“They’ve listened to feedback, and I feel that being able to contribute a student’s aspect as the program builds is very important,” Braca says.

“Real estate is such a dynamic industry with numerous career options,” he adds. “You can go into lending, commercial, residential, construction— there are lots of opportunities and lots of money to be made.”

As for his own future, Braca would like to transition to commercial real estate. “My dream is to be a real estate mogul in Manhattan,” he says.

Braca’s real estate vision has has a real impact at Sacred Heart. The class of 2025 will be the first cohort of candidates to graduate with a real estate minor.