Location: San Francisco, CA
Prior Degrees: London School of Economics - Master of Science in Finance; University College London - B.Eng in Electronic & Electrical Engineering
Pre-MRED+D Position: Vice President, Apis Partners (private equity fund manager)
Post-MRED+D Position: HiPE Leadership Development Associate, Prologis

Why did you decide to pursue a graduate education in real estate?

Spending a full year immersed in a real estate development course helped me fast-track my transition into real estate from finance. By pursuing a graduate degree, I hoped to learn key real estate concepts, build relationships in a new industry, and figure out if I wanted to specialize in any particular area by gaining a broad exposure to most real estate verticals. The Abbey MRED+D delivered on all these fronts.

What about the UC Berkeley Abbey Master of Real Estate Development + Design attracted you to the program?

The reputation of UC Berkeley's world-class research centers such as the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, the focus on sustainable real estate development, and the small class size relative to other programs attracted me to the program.

What was your favorite MRED+D class?

The Affordable Design and Development Studio was one of the most valuable experiences, as it was the closest experience to a real-world ground-up development. I particularly enjoyed working with students from other departments; the competitive tension amongst groups, which made the class even more exciting; and the opportunity to present our ideas and get feedback from industry leaders.

What did you learn in MRED+D that most prepared you for your current role?

It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing, as we learnt so much in a short time. As my background was not in real estate, with hindsight, I’m even more glad I joined the program because I now realize how little I knew previously. Still a long way to go, but it feels much easier as part of the MRED+D community.