A leading real estate entrepreneur who specializes in serving the underserved, Asha Bonnae Raleigh, MBA, approaches her work with empathy and a clear vision rooted in her own journey of overcoming adversity and barriers. Raleigh is an expert in real estate, an accomplished business leader and the founder and chief executive officer of Sadaya’s Properties LLC, based in Minnesota.
Since founding the company in 2013, Raleigh has remained committed to giving back to her community by providing affordable, high-quality housing to underserved populations. Her dedication to social responsibility and community development is highlighted through her work and is her most remarkable achievement.
Passion Rooted in Personal Experience
After Open Cities gave Raleigh the opportunity to learn medical billing, insurance, and processing benefits, she found a second chance at life. From 2003 to 2004, she served as a scheduler at Open Cities Health Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, gathering experience to help move her career forward and overcome life’s obstacles.
After her time at Open Cities, Raleigh worked at DJO in Shoreview, Minnesota, as a patient service representative from 2004 until the company closed in 2015. During her time at DJO, she excelled in sales despite not having a formal background in the field. Her achievements as a top sales representative earned her accolades such as the President’s Club and Circle of Excellence awards.
During this time, Raleigh delved into the exciting world of mixed martial arts. Crediting the sport for imbuing her with a sense of discipline and resilience that she carries to this day, Raleigh participated in one fight in 2012 against Alena Miwa, which she won by unanimous decision after three rounds.
Raleigh also gained invaluable experience as an apprentice electrician with Elliott Electric Service in Fridley, Minnesota, from 2016 to 2017. In addition to her current position at Sadaya’s Properties LLC, she has also been a senior procurement specialist for a private company in Minnesota since 2024, where her expertise in procurement and strategic sourcing has been instrumental in driving efficiencies and cost savings for the company.
Academic Achievements
Raleigh credits much of her drive and determination to her late mother, Michele Raye Raleigh (1952–2019), whose strength and belief in her left an indelible mark. “My mother named me with purpose,” she says. “She saw something in me before I ever saw it in myself.” Honoring her mother’s legacy has been one of the deepest motivations behind Raleigh’s pursuit of higher education. Finishing her education was something she had promised her mother and herself. “Keeping that promise became one of my proudest accomplishments,” she says.
In addition to her mother’s influence, Raleigh proudly carries the name of her grandmother, Bonnie Raleigh, a powerful woman she deeply admired. Her middle name, Bonnae, is derived from her grandmother’s name. “She used to call me her namesake whenever I did something that reminded her of herself,” Raleigh recalls. That name, and the strength it carries, has been passed down to both of her daughters, whose middle names are also Bonnae, a lasting tribute to the women who shaped her and the legacy she now continues.
Raleigh received a bachelor’s degree in business administration, graduating cum laude and earned a Master of Business Administration from Walden University in 2024. Prior to these achievements, she pursued coursework in sociology at Concordia University, St. Paul, in 1997. She additionally completed coursework towards the licensed practical nurse (LPN) program and vocational nurse training at St. Paul College in 1998. She obtained an electrician apprentice certificate with honors from Summit Academy OIC in 2017.
Motivated to Make a Positive Change
Both her professional achievements and involvement in civic initiatives highlight Raleigh’s passion for making a positive change in the lives of others. One of her most notable contributions was funding and distributing Christmas care packages at Dorothy Day House, a homeless shelter in St. Paul, in 2012. She also volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels America from 2014 to 2015.
Raleigh believes that crime rates drop the more that underserved people are supported in finding and receiving housing. Looking ahead, she aims to continue expanding Sadaya’s Properties LLC, providing affordable housing options in southern regions and furthering her impact on community development and social equity.
