Hidden Gems: Meet Carla Ferreira of The Aurora Highlands

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Ferreira.

Hi Carla, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I don’t think my path was a very traditional one. I studied anthropology in college and then spent about a decade working in the art and fashion world. I’ve always been fascinated by people, culture, design, and the way environments shape how we experience the world. Looking back now, those interests probably prepared me for development more than I realized at the time.

I eventually joined my family’s business and began working alongside my father on The Aurora Highlands. Development wasn’t completely foreign to me because I grew up watching him build projects. Some of my earliest memories are of being around construction sites and seeing him bring big ideas to life. Even as a kid, I could see how passionate he was about the work. Thta said, stepping into this world professionally was still a huge learning experience. As you can probably imagine, there was a lot to absorb.

Today, I’m the CEO of The Aurora Highlands, and I spend my days doing everything from working with builders and consultants to overseeing our public art program. One minute I’m talking about infrastructure and land planning, and the next I’m discussing a sculpture installation. That’s honestly one of the things I love most about this work. No two days look the same.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Absolutely not.

Development is complicated on its best day. You’re dealing with long timelines, changing markets, permitting, construction challenges, infrastructure, and a million moving pieces that all have to come together at the right time. There are always obstacles.

Personally, I also had to earn credibility. I was a younger woman entering an industry that has historically been very male-dominated, and my background wasn’t engineering or construction. It was art and fashion. There were definitely moments when people underestimated me.

I eventually realized that being underestimated wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It became motivation. I’ve always felt that if you’re willing to do the work, learn the details, and ask good questions, people eventually recognize that.

Building a community the size of The Aurora Highlands is not a quick process. It’s years of decisions, setbacks, adjustments, and problem-solving. That’s just part of the job.

We’ve been impressed with The Aurora Highlands, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

The Aurora Highlands is a master planned community in northeast Aurora that I helped create alongside my father, Carlo Ferreira. From the beginning, we wanted it to be a community that felt welcoming to as many people as possible. We weren’t interested in creating a neighborhood that only appealed to one type of buyer. We wanted people to be able to find a home that fit their life stage and budget, whether they were buying their first home, raising a family, or looking for something different later in life.

What probably makes us the most different is that I’ve never looked at development solely through the lens of housing. Because my background is in the art world, that has influenced so much of how I think about communities. I’ve always believed that the places people remember are the places that make them feel something.

Because of that, I pushed really hard for public art to be part of The Aurora Highlands from the beginning. Our Art in the Park program now includes more than 20 permanent installations throughout the community, and it’s become something we’re known for. The art has received national and international attention and has brought visitors to Aurora from all over the world. That’s still pretty amazing for me to think about. Some of the artists we feature are people whose work I admired long before I ever got into development. I’ve even been able to bring home pieces after first discovering them at Burning Man, which is something my younger self never would have imagined.

I’m incredibly proud of what the art program has become, but I’m just as proud of the fact that people genuinely enjoy spending time here. They come for community events, concerts, markets, Aurora Pride celebrations, and all kinds of activities throughout the year. They bring visiting family members to see the artwork. Kids ride their bikes through the parks. Neighbors get to know each other. To me, that’s what success looks like.

At the end of the day, we’re building homes, but we’re also creating a place where people can build a life. The Aurora Highlands has developed its own identity, and that’s something that’s very difficult to manufacture. It has happened because of the people who live here, the partnerships we’ve built, and a willingness to do things a little differently than what you might expect from a traditional master planned community.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?

I think finding a mentor starts with being genuinely curious and building relationships naturally. My father has been the greatest example of mentorship in my life. He always encouraged my curiosity and creativity, supported the things I was passionate about and gave me the confidence to create my own path. That has shaped what I look for in mentors today: people who are willing to share their experience, challenge me and support my growth while allowing me to be myself.

When it comes to networking, I think it’s less about collecting contacts and more about building genuine relationships. Ask questions, take an interest in people’s experiences and find ways to stay connected. Some of the most valuable professional relationships I’ve built have come from simply being curious, following up and looking for ways to be helpful. You never know which conversation might turn into a mentor, colleague or lasting professional relationship.

Pricing:

• Homes at The Aurora Highlands are available across a broad range of price points, with offerings generally starting in the $400,000s and extending beyond $1 million, depending on builder, floorplan, lot location and available upgrades.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theaurorahighlands.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaurorahighlands/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAuroraHighlands