“The reason why this is so important and impactful… is because our industry needs you, it needs every one of you,” said Robin Zeigler, Founder and CEO of MURAL Real Estate Partners headquartered in NYC, while addressing the 152 fellows from the 2024 cohort of the Project REAP (Real Estate Associate Program) Spring Academy at the June 10 graduation ceremony. The nonprofit organization has been a leader in diversifying the talent pipeline in commercial real estate (CRE) for over 25 years.
Zeigler, the Commencement Speaker and a longtime supporter of REAP, spoke virtually to a graduating class spread throughout the U.S., primarily in REAP’s key markets of Atlanta (representing the largest cohort this year), Columbus, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and the New York and Washington, DC metro areas. For the past two years, the REAP Academy has followed a hybrid format of online instruction plus in-person events and site tours for those within commuting distance of the market areas, after two years of online only classes during the pandemic. This year drew 45 virtual-only participants in remote markets—including a few located abroad.
Zeigler formed MURAL, which stands for Mixed Use Revitalization Approached Locally, to bolster economic growth by empowering emerging and underinvested communities through the creation of transformative, mixed-use, mixed-income developments.
REAP Acting Executive Director G. Lamont Blackstone introduced Zeigler as a rare pioneer in the retail real estate space who foresaw the potential of mixed-use redevelopment. Focused on the need for individuals from traditionally marginalized communities to become stakeholders in the real estate deals that affect their daily lives and livelihood, she became one of just a handful of Black females who served in the C-Suite of a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust).
Zeigler explained that MURAL is dedicated to helping to create and shape the places where people live, shop, dine, travel and more including mixed-income residential, neighborhood serving retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, and healthcare centers.
She urged REAP graduates to commit themselves to overcome adversity, push boundaries, persevere, cultivate relationships and “always say yes” when offered a challenge. Stressing the need for peer networking to remain constant and intense long after completing the Academy, she said, “Rely on each other, support each other, and make sure that you are constantly connecting with one another to grow your network and opportunities.”
Zeigler encouraged all to find a mentor for advice and guidance as well as a sponsor who will serve an entirely different function, to help “navigate your career, put you in the right rooms.”
“This is a relationship-based business,” she said, urging all to cultivate relationships, know the power players, observe how people are navigating the CRE space, and understand the politics within your sphere.
Ending on an inspiring and upbeat note, Zeigler said, “Real estate done right really does have the opportunity …to effectively change how communities are operating and how families are gathering in those communities as well as the economic viability of [the communities].”
REAP Acting Executive Director G. Lamont Blackstone offered the graduating fellows five key takeaways: “Connect the dots” – find the common elements that dealmakers use as they approach the art of CRE; know that “leaders are readers,” keep abreast of the industry’s pulse through the publications that track the industry; remember that “time is of the essence” and retain a sense of urgency of purpose as this is just the beginning of the journey; make LinkedIn your lingua franca and reach out to your classmates and instructors/presenters; assess your personal value proposition: How can you best contribute – as a sponsor, employer, presenter? “What is the viable niche that you feel you can construct in the next 1 to 5 years?” asked Blackstone.
REAP 2024 graduate Stephanie Hale, part of the Massell Commercial team of Keller Williams (KW) Realty of Atlanta as well as a KW broker in Nashville, said “REAP has given me the opportunity to connect the dots and do what I was meant to do.”
REAP Graduate Kameelah Gloster, a sales executive with CoStar Group in Atlanta, said, “The program was phenomenal. The wealth of knowledge I’ve gained will not only make me an invaluable resource to my existing and future clientele; it has helped me clarify the overall direction of my career in commercial real estate.”
For more information on REAP see https://www.projectreap.org/.
Last updated on July 12, 2024
You must be logged in to post a comment.