Four UVM and Grossman School of Business alumni and friends shared their professional experience and advice with current students looking to enter the world of real estate at the Careers in Real Estate panel.
The panel represented a wide range of the real estate industry, fromcommercial business and retail development, to affordable housing and land transactions. The breadth of experiences the professionals brought gave current students a varied perspective on the many paths a career in real estate could take.
Moderated by President of the Alumni Association Board and Grossman School of Business Lecturer, Afi Ahmadi. Esq. 93, the professionals provided insights into how their career in real estate started; what skills they are looking for in a new hire; their advice to students and soon-to-be-grads; which soft skills to work on and more.
Over 100 students attended the September 29th panel featuring:
James Aug – ’87, Principal, Sabre Real Estate Group
Biria St. John – ’92, Vice Chairman, CBRE
Deborah McAneny – ‘8, Director, JLL
Stephanie Miller Taylor, Principal, REM Development
The real estate market is booming, and panelists shared opportunities in the industry with students. Deb highlighted the demand for young professionals to enter the field, saying, You are coming into one of the hottest labor markets Ive seen in a long timeyou could enter a career in real estate as an analyst, a researcher, broker, work in appraisals, financial management, cybersecurity. Anything. There is something for everyone!
Chloe Green, a current first-year student at the Grossman School of Business, expressed an early interest in learning more about a career in real estate. Her enthusiastic engagement made the panel a semester highlight.
I am fascinated by the real estate industry and know I want to focus my education in Grossman to learn more about it. Chloe walked away with new insight about the Boston real estate market from panelist Biria St. John, who described how the rental market is returning fully to pre-pandemic levels and demand is increasing immensely. Im particularly interested in the Boston real estate market, so this makes me excited for the opportunities ahead, Chloe said.
Chloe got to spend a little extra time with the panelists during a networking lunch and says, Thanks to the panelist, I learned so much about the different opportunities that extend beyond buying and selling real estate.
Marguerite Jouet, a Sophomore in the Grossman School of Business, asked the panelists, How can you be memorable, and how do you meet peoplehow do you build your network?
Interpersonal skills are extremely important, answered Stephanie Miller Taylor. Its not what you know, its who you know thats going to help you.
Moderator Afi Ahmadi took that moment to remind students about the free campus resource, UVMConnect. An exclusive online community of UVM alums, students, staff and faculty, UVMConnect is the best way to tap into an engaged, supportive and growing global network.
The final question for the alumni was a common one, though loaded in these uncertain times: what would be your advice for an upcoming graduate?
In short, the alumni all agreed: find your passion, be diligent, make your own luck by networking and be comfortable being uncomfortable. If you are passionate about what you are doing the rest will followhowever, you do have to start somewhere.
Thank you Afi, James, Biria, Deb and Stephanie! The UVM and Grossman community thanks you for your knowledge, stories and advice.
