Leslie H Pico
Intro
Writing a book due Spring 2025
In the Media
“If you’re entering CORe, it’s important to view the program as more than a personal commitment. It needs to become one of your top priorities. CORe isn’t something you can cram at the deadline or complete in your spare time, but the experience is incredibly gratifying and rewarding” read more…
“None of the startups in the [real estate] space had been able to successfully meet the needs of the entire market and the process of purchasing property was still arduous, complicated, and wrought with fees. When Propy came into the landscape, utilizing blockchain as a solution, I knew I needed to be involved” read more…
In September 2018 WeMAR hosted its Economic Development Forum at WeMAR. Among our guest panelists was Leslie Pico, the first Arizona real estate agent to close a transaction using blockchain technology read more…
“When it comes to starting a business, Phoenix is the ideal place to be. Aside from Phoenix being a friendly and easy place for businesses to transition to, I think that people are starting to realize that this city is one of the biggest exporters of talent” read more…
Today we get to know Leslie Pico of Propy. Propy is a global real estate marketplace with decentralized title registry. We aim to solve the problems facing international real estate transactions by creating a novel unified property store and asset transfer platform for the global real estate industry. read more…
“If you’re entering CORe, it’s important to view the program as more than a personal commitment. It needs to become one of your top priorities. CORe isn’t something you can cram at the deadline or complete in your spare time, but the experience is incredibly gratifying and rewarding” read more…
Blockchain is also transforming the real estate market. Pico works for Propy, an online platform that allows people to buy and sell blockchain verified real estate. This platform allows properties to be bought and sold using Bitcoin—about 10 properties in Phoenix currently are available to purchase using the cryptocurrency read more…
In honor of International Women’s Day, we thought it would be fitting to celebrate some of the diverse, inspiring women in the HBS learning community who are pursuing their dreams, excelling in their careers, and empowering others. read more…
Public Speaking
2019
AZ Bar Convention
Panelist
“Blockchain: From Digital Currency to Smart Contracts and Beyond”
Beginning with an introduction to blockchain technologies, with a brief history of cryptocurrency and early blockchain initiatives, political representatives and thought leaders discuss the expected impact on industry, economy and society, as well as current plans and policies designed to leverage these technologies. Legal scholars discuss the implications in a variety of practice areas, including smart contracts, estate planning, finance and securities, etc. The program concludes with a debate on the pros and cons of the development and implementation of Blockchain.
Presented by: Intellectual Property Law Section
Chair: Matthew L. Bycer, Bycer Law PLC
Moderator: Robert Copple, Copple & Associates PC
Faculty: Jay Carpenter, Phoenix Blockchain, Nicole Ong Colyer, Deputy General Counsel to Gov. Doug Ducey; David Kinsey, Total Networks; Gary Marchant, Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law; David McCarville, Ryley Carlock & Applewhite; Leslie Pico, Insurmi; Bryce Suzuki, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP; Jeff Weninger, Arizona State Representative, LD17
Panelist
“Cryptocurrency: Is your business cashing in on the money of the future?”
Panelist
“Smart Contracts, Logistics, International Implications, and Future Applications”
Moderator: David McCarville, Of Counsel at Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite and adjunct professor for ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies: Policy and Law course
Jay Carpenter, founder of Desert Blockchain
Michael McFall, ONLI, inc.
Leslie Pico, Pacific So West LLC
2018
Girls in Tech x McKesson McKHackathon
Guest Judge
“Girls in Tech x McKesson Hackathon”
Participated Alongside:
Kathy McElligott, McKesson, Executive VP, CIO and CTO
Paul Black, McKesson, VP Cybersecurity and Services
Giovanni Carpini Delli, McKesson Specialty Health, Sr. Director
Andy Zitney, McKesson, SVP Infrastructure Services
Michelle Tinsley, Tinsley Retail Insights, Founder
Ron Wince, Myndshft, Founder & CEO
2018
ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Guest Lecturer
“Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies: Policy and Law course”
I presented a lecture on blockchain, real estate and implications of the technology on the future of law.
2018
AZ Biz Con
Panelist
“How Cryptocurrency can Change the Way You Do Business”
Participated as panelist alongside other Phoenix based blockchain engineers
2018
SRP Economic Forum
Panelist
Participated as panelist alongside executives in blockchain based in Phoenix
2018
Venture Madness
Mentor
Live pitch competition presented by Invest Southwest in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority
Career History
Civicd App June 2019 – 2020
Founder
A platform that pays registered voters for their personal data based off their level of civic engagement. Data brokers generate billions in revenue selling your aggregated data. Take back your data.
- Winner First Place “Founders LIVE” Pitch Competition June 2019
Insurmi Oct 2018 – May 2019
V.P. Insurer Engagement
A Phoenix based startup. Customer engagement in insurance powered by conversational A.I.
Contracted role. I established the foundation for a sales department positioned to scale in a niche insurance industry including CRM, sales handbook, funnels and lead reporting. Clients revenue ranged from $1.6B to $71B+
Provided direction, development and maintenance of complex high priority software contracts
Managed revenue models, process flows, operations support and customer engagement strategies
Propy Inc Nov 2017 – Dec 2018
Consultant Ambassador
Propy has processed $4bn in transactions for consumers and agents from Compass, eXp, The Agency, Redfin, KW, Remax, Realty Austin, ACME, and others. Propy is a real estate transaction platform that empowers buyers, sellers, their agents, and escrow agents to close a traditional real estate deal entirely on the blockchain.
- Instrumental to the 1st AZ real estate transaction & land title committed to the blockchain. 3rd in the nation.
- Founded and grew a local blockchain meetup from a handful of participants to 300+
- Engaged with local government officials and initiated conversations for proof of concept of land registry
- Secured adoption of Propy platform by several AZ real estate brokerages
- Secured an event with the Maricopa County Recorder, Adrian Fontes as Guest Speaker
North & Co July 2017 – Nov 2017
Real Estate Agent
- Closed a $1.5 million sale within 30 days of being independently licensed
- Placed Top 10 Nov 2017
BVO Luxury Group Sept 2016 – June 2017
Dir of Sales Operations & Marketing
A real estate team representing luxury properties on the sell side.
- Increased average list price of resale properties our team represented from 750k to 1.2mil
- Increased monthly sales profits to ~$335k from ~$78k
- Reduced sales cycle by 76.4% (17mo average days on market -typical for luxury real estate- to 4 mo)
- Increased regional market share 45% within 6 mo
- Restructured processes, and created a digital marketing department
- Implemented Salesforce, sales paths, metrics and gamification in sales department
- Increased sales volume YoY YTD 30% building and managing a team of 15 inside sales agents
- Top 100 Remax Team in the nation 2016
Pacific So West, LLC Dec 2015 – Present
Principal
A lean consultancy for sales and digital branding / web development. Past Clients include Duck & Decanter, Karma Juice, Antraquip, Sunbelt Ins Group, Andrew Velazquez Artistry and more.
Downtown Phoenix Journal 2015 – 2016
Blog Writer
Covered family life in Downtown Phoenix
Storage Treasures 2015
Chief of Operations
- Directed technological improvements, reducing waste & bottlenecks
- Led the first customer experience initiative / developed the strategic plan
- Boosted team productivity through enhanced systems replacing email and google drive, streamlining customer service tasks
- Left this role due to poor compensation – not competitive
Early Career Highlights
2000 – 2015 | Various Employers
- Experiential Marketing / Promos | Scottsdale, AZ | 2015 – 16
- Server | Cafe Sevilla San Diego, CA | 2014
- Assistant Manager | HiFi Bars Scottsdale, AZ | 2013
- Program Manager | EventProStrategies Scottsdale, AZ | 2011
Staffed and executed Match.com pilot Happy Hour program nationwide with a 99% success rate based on quality, results and number of events. Nationwide program with 3-4 events executed nightly - Server / Trainer | Hooters Peoria, AZ | 2007 – 08
- Server | Applebees Prescott and Peoria, AZ | 2007 – 08
- Executive Assistant | DirecTV San Diego, CA | 2006
One of the largest DirecTV resellers in nation
Assisted the Head of Customer Service
Managed Call Center Escalations - Office Assistant | Miracle Business Inc Ontario, CA | 2005
Managed daily operations for wholesale touchscreen computer company - Receptionist | St John the Evangelist Riverside, CA | 2001 – 04
- Cashier | The Green Burrito Mira Loma, CA | 2000
Politics
2018 Midterms
Candidate AZ Secretary of State
On May 30th, 2018 I qualified for the August Primary Ballot, submitting 6916 signatures, 1115 more than the requirement. I was officially a candidate for the office of secretary of state.
I was subsequently sued off the ballot before the primaries by one of the other candidate proxies.
In the Media : “Arizona election challenges are messed up. But how do we fix them?”
Volunteer Work
Maricopa County Recorder’s Office Deputy Registrar | 2018 – 20
Volunteer Organizer Phoenix Chapter 1 Million Cups | 2018
Education
- Harvard Business School Online | Core: Credential of Readiness, Pre MBA | PASS 2015
HBX CORe (Credential of Readiness) is a 150 hour certificate program on the fundamentals of business. Comprised of three courses – Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting – developed by leading HBS faculty and delivered in an active learning environment based on the HBS signature case-based learning model. - Harvard Business School Online | Leading with Finance Certificate | PASS 2017
Leading with Finance provides participants with a thorough understanding of the principles of finance—a conceptual toolkit for making smart financial decisions and the confidence to clearly articulate those decisions to key stakeholders - The Linux Foundation Blockchain for Business – An Intro to Hyperledger Technologies | Certificate, 2018
Overview and intro to Hyperledger key frameworks. - IBM | IBM Blockchain Essentials | Certificate, 2018
Understand blockchain technology and how it can solve business problems. Learn the basics of developing applications with chaincode.
Estrella Mountain CC / NAU | Some College 2015 – 18
Concentration in Small Business Administration
Minor in Programming & Sys Admin
Member Phi Theta Kappa – Honor Society
UCSD Lactation Educator Certification | Pass 2008
Rec’s
