From Layoffs to Legacy: How Shelly Peterson Scaled a $250M Real Estate Empire

In this episode of the ELEVATE Your Business Podcast, host Adam Koós sits down with Shelly Peterson, President of Kahuna Investments, to discuss her remarkable journey from a successful career in pharmaceutical sales to managing over $250 million in real estate assets. Shelly shares how a life-changing investment inspired her to pivot careers and how she leveraged her relationship-building skills to thrive in the world of passive real estate investing.

Shelly also discusses the challenges of transitioning from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, how she and her husband built Kahuna Investments from the ground up, and the power of empowering women to take control of their financial futures. With practical advice on scaling a real estate business, managing investor relations, and maintaining a “white-glove” service approach, this episode is packed with actionable insights for business owners looking to grow and systemize their operations.

Whether you're scaling your business or exploring new investment opportunities, this episode offers a powerful story of resilience, transformation, and the strategic mindset required to build a lasting legacy.

 

---

Episode Timestamps:

 

00:00 - Welcome to Elevate Your Business Podcast
00:36 - Housekeeping and Introductions
01:02 - Introducing Shelly Peterson: From Pharma to Real Estate
01:58 - Shelly’s Journey: Transitioning from Corporate America to Real Estate
08:35 - Building Investor Relationships: The Key to Real Estate Success
09:24 - Empowering Women to Take Control of Their Financial Future
12:51 - Getting Started with Passive Real Estate Investing: Shelly’s Tips
16:00 - High-Level Investor Service: Ensuring Transparency and Communication
18:15 - Financial Reporting Done Right: The Kahuna Approach
20:09 - The Mindset Shift: Moving from Corporate to Real Estate
20:41 - Overcoming Knowledge Gaps: Learning the Language of Real Estate
23:16 - Building a Positive Team Culture: Leading with Heart
25:53 - What’s Next for Kahuna Investments: The Kahuna Fund and Future Plans
27:30 - Hiring with Purpose: Building a Culture-Driven Team
28:26 - Navigating Market Changes: The Role of Market Knowledge and Political Climate
30:03 - Closing Remarks: Free Book Offer and Contact Information

 

 

---

 

Key Takeaways:

• Transitioning Careers: Shelly Peterson’s journey from pharmaceutical sales to managing a $250M real estate portfolio highlights the power of embracing change and leveraging past skills in new industries.
  
  

• Empowering Women in Finance: Shelly is passionate about helping women take control of their financial futures by investing in assets that generate cash flow rather than simply spending.
  
  

• Building Investor Trust: High-quality financial reporting and transparent communication are crucial for maintaining strong relationships with passive investors.
  
  

• Mindset Shifts: Moving from corporate life to entrepreneurship requires breaking away from old identities and fully immersing oneself in the new field.
  
  

• Leadership and Culture: Successful businesses thrive on a strong team culture, clear values, and an all-in mentality. Shelly’s approach to leadership fosters loyalty and motivation among her team.
  
  

• Scaling with Systems: Kahuna Investments is focused on strategic growth, building a culture-driven team, and creating efficient systems to manage their expanding portfolio.

 

 

---

 

Key Quotes from Shelly Peterson:

"I always say the journey is the reward, and so if you're a business owner out there, if you're feeling the hustle and grind and it gets tiring, you have to remember that the journey is the reward." - (00:01:58)

"What really is sexy for us gals is when we put money into something that's making us money." - (00:09:41)

"I love watching women taking control of their finances and really partnering up with their partner and just doing it together." - (00:12:11)

"It hurts my heart because financial reporting should be the gold standard across the industry, but it's not." - (00:18:15)

"I was completely lost for the first year. I thought, 'Why would anybody want to do this?' But shame on me, I thought I was above it." - (00:21:28)

"I told my regionals, 'You're either with us or you're not. If you have one foot in the door and one foot out, there's no business of you being here at Kahuna.'" - (00:24:08)

 

 

---

 

Connect with Shelley Peterson of Kahuna Investments:

• Website: Kahuna Investments Website

• Facebook: Kahuna Investments Facebook

• LinkedIn: Shelley Peterson on LinkedIn

• LinkedIn: Kahuna Investments on LinkedIn

 

Connect with ELEVATE and Adam Koós:

CLICK BELOW to subscribe to the ELEVATE Your Business Podcast on Apple!:
The ELEVATE Your Business Podcast on Apple

For more resources on scaling your business, building a successful exit strategy, and business transition education, visit:
https://www.elevateandexit.com

 

Or connect with ELEVATE and Adam Koós on Social Media:

Facebook: Elevate and Exit Facebook
Instagram: Elevate and Exit Instagram
Threads: Elevate and Exit Threads
LinkedIn: Elevate and Exit LinkedIn
Twitter: ELEVATE and EXIT on Twitter
TikTok: Elevate and Exit on TikTok

For questions or more information, contact:

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.elevateandexit.com
Phone: [phone]

 

---

 

Adam Koos, CFP®, CMT® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and one of only 2,600+ Chartered Market Technicians (CMT) worldwide, as well as a Certified Financial Technician (CFTe®) thru the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA). He’s been named by Columbus Business First as one of their 20 People to Know in Finance, was a recipient of the Forty Under 40 award, is ranked by Investopedia as one of America’s top 100 Most Influential Advisers, and is the winner of the coveted Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethical Enterprising. Adam serves his clients as the president and portfolio manager at Libertas Wealth Management Group, Inc., a Fee-Only Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm, located in Columbus, Ohio.

 

 

*******

 

The audio and video contained herein is intended for those interested in finance, searching for a financial advisor, wealth manager, financial planner, and/or retirement planning.  While we are CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS (through the College for Financial Planning) and work with clients all over the country, our business is run out of Columbus / Central Ohio.  If you are looking for wealth management, financial planning, a financial counselor, wealth advisor, or financial consultant – especially a fee-only, Fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor – we provide money management and financial services for individuals and couples (i.e. – a 401k rollover), as well as business owners (i.e. – 401k, SIMPLE, SEP IRA’s, as well as cash balance and other various retirement plans).