At the sixth Tomorrow’s Real Estate Leaders program, 25 college students from universities across the country came together for a virtual experience designed to accelerate their careers in commercial real estate and institutional investment.

Tomorrow’s Real Estate Leaders is American Realty Advisors’ immersive workshop for college students, offering exposure to industry professionals, insight into the many career pathways within real estate, and hands-on experience through a case study competition.

Students touted the program’s practical value and the meaningful connections they made as highlights. Eunice Rivera, a junior at the University of San Diego, said she was grateful for the opportunity to participate.

“It was so rewarding to connect with the team, learn from industry professionals, and dive into the case study,” she said.

The program featured a keynote conversation between ARA Chairman and CEO Stanley Iezman and Jennifer Keith, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Ethos Real Estate. Their discussion explored Ms. Keith’s career journey and the importance of hard work.

“Real estate requires persistence, because you’re going to be told no so many times,” she said.

Mr. Iezman echoed the sentiment.

“No is not personal,” he said. “It has no relevance to me, and it’s just another way to get to yes.”

Students also engaged in a broker panel featuring Anna Josephson from KBC Advisors, Chelsea Jervis from Berkadia, and Gyasi Edmondson from JLL, gaining insight into brokerage careers and market dynamics. Additional sessions were led by ARA professionals, including Managing Director of Research and Strategy Sabrina Unger, who spoke about macroeconomic and demographic forces shaping real estate investment, as well as Eric Cannon and Martha Shelley, who provided an overview of the portfolio management function within investment funds.

For many participants, the depth of information was a highlight. Lia Johnson, a senior at Seton Hall University, shared that she took 17 pages of notes during the program.

“The workshops were truly informative, and they exposed me to areas of real estate I had never learned about before,” she said. “My interest in the industry grew so much over the past few days, and I can now see myself pursuing a career in real estate.”

Through the case competition, students analyzed market research, reviewed offering memoranda, and ultimately presented an investment recommendation to a panel of senior executives in a simulated Investment Committee setting.

Parker Schloss, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, said the case competition was a standout component of the program.

“I was able to put what I’d learned throughout the weekend into practice,” he said.

Ivy Holz, Program Director and an Assistant Vice President of Investor Relations at ARA, emphasized the level of engagement shown by the students throughout the sessions.

“It’s wonderful to observe how involved the students are during the panels and presentations,” she said. “They truly take advantage of each session by asking insightful questions and engaging deeply with the material. I’m excited to see what lies ahead for these students!”