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BACK
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Nicolas Merle

Nicolas Merle

Abbey MRED+D Class of 2020
EDUCATION
University of Buenos Aires - B.Arch and M.Arch
IAE Business School - MBA
Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina - Master of Finance
Location

Miami, FL

Pre-MRED+D Position

Development Manager, City of Buenos Aires

Post-MRED+D Position

Senior Investment & Development Analyst, Metro1/Future of Cities

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

Real estate development is only learned from bold venturers and experienced industry professionals. As an architect with a finance background, I realized that I still had a long way to go and needed a different approach to develop my career in the real estate market. The MRED+D gave me a holistic vision, language and education to think as a designer, developer and finance professional.

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

I believe in triple bottom-line projects, where real estate projects can be developed involving communities and respecting the environment, without undermining investor’s profits. UC Berkeley has a long tradition of caring about what matters most–people–and I wanted to be part of that tradition.

What was your favorite MRED+D class?

It is hard to choose only one, but in my daily job I have realized that many of my tasks and duties are part of assignments made for Cal Inman’s (Professional Practice of Real Estate Development) and Chris Calott’s classes (Integrated Development, Architecture + Urbanism; Preparing for Practice; and the Capstone Project).

Please share your favorite memory from your time in the program.

The ULI Fall Meeting in Washington, D.C. The entire cohort attended, and it was one of the first steps in a long lasting friendship. [MRED+D sponsors this annual cohort trip.]

Tell us about your current role, and how MRED+D prepared you for it.

I am working in a real estate fund whose vision is to think and re-invent the cities of tomorrow. The MRED+D allowed me to be in a unique position to transform blighted neighborhoods and turn them into vibrant places, creating cultural, art and innovation districts. The MRED+D taught me to think about problems from human, environmental and financial perspectives all at once.

What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing the Abbey MRED+D at UC Berkeley?

Networking is as important as taking classes. Your professors, classmates and the Berkeley alumni network are some of the best resources one will ever have.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Go Bears!

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