Jade Teran
EVP, Business Development | Reef Capital Partners
What unique strengths do you bring to your professional and other roles?
One of my most unique strengths is the ability to strike up genuine connections with complete strangers. Growing up, I never imagined that chatting with someone while ordering food in the Cafe Rio line or making conversation while going through TSA would one day become a valuable professional asset. Yet, over the years, I’ve come to see just how powerful that connection skill truly is.
Connecting with people isn’t just something I’ve practiced; it’s something that feels natural to me. I didn’t fully recognize it as a strength until I found myself alongside others who struggled to connect and suddenly, I was the one carrying the conversation. Those moments revealed the quiet value of being able to put people at ease.
At the heart of it, I believe that people respond to authenticity. I’m genuinely curious about others, their stories, their journeys and the experiences that have shaped who they are. That curiosity fuels every interaction, turning even the briefest encounters into meaningful exchanges.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your path?
Early in my career, I had a manager who often assigned me with complex tasks without direction. These tasks often came with short timelines as well. More than once, I found myself racing against the clock, pulling together resources and solutions in the final hours before a deadline.
There wasn’t space to hesitate. While there were certainly moments of pressure, each assigned task pushed me to think critically, act decisively and deliver results. Over time, those experiences strengthened my resilience and sharpened my ability to solve problems under pressure.
I did not have the option to pass the work along to someone else. I learned to take full ownership and execute at a high level. Looking back, I’m genuinely grateful for that manager. Without intending to, they created an environment that forced me to grow and ultimately helped me become highly effective at navigating uncertainty, solve complex problems and deliver when it matters most.
What’s your next big goal or project in your professional journey?
Right now, I’m focused on a major equity raise to help fund our newest golf-anchored real estate developments across the country. It’s an exciting opportunity to bring the right investors into projects that combine strong fundamentals with unique, experience-driven assets.
At the same time, I’m working closely with our tournament team to secure sponsorships for the Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort, which has quickly become Utah’s premier PGA event. Between capital raising and building out these partnerships, I’m really focused on creating momentum across both our investment platform and the broader brand we’re building.