A View From the Center: Spring 2023 Newsletter

Each semester the Paul Milstein Center welcomes distinguished real estate professionals to meet with students to discuss their career path, observations of the market, programs and initiatives that they are involved in, mentorship, and advice for MBA students about to embark on careers in the real estate industry. The Spring 2023 distinguished speakers included: 

• Spencer Rascoff, Co-founder & Chair of Pacaso, Recon Food, Queue, dot.LA, 75 & Sunny Ventures
• Alfonso Munk, Chief Investment Officer, Americas, Hines
• Pamela Thomas, Managing Director, Head of US Real Estate, CPP America, Inc.
• Tony Malkin, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Empire State Realty Trust

In partnership with the Digital Future Initiative the Center hosted a panel that discussed how a sharp shift toward remote and hybrid work will impact commercial real estate and reshape cities. 

The panel featured Nicholas Bienstock ’96 BUS, Managing Partner at Savanna, Julie Stein, Executive Director of the Governor- and Mayor-Convened “New” New York Panel, Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, the Earle W. Kazis and Benjamin Schore Professor of Real Estate and Professor of Finance at CBS, and was moderated by Stephan Meier, the James P. Gorman Professor of Business at CBS.

In recognition of April being National Fair Housing Month, the Center hosted a discussion as part of the Phillips Pathway to Inclusive Leadership initiative, on the topics of homeownership, evictions, fair housing practices and appraisal biases. Led by Co-Director and Professor Chris Mayer, the panel of speakers each offered specific expertise in policy, advocacy, research, and business leadership, in addition to real estate investment and development.  The discussion amplified the complexities of several of the laws and policies around fair housing and homeownership, as well as highlighted opportunities in real estate for investors and developers, and for policy changes. 

The panel was comprised of all Columbia affiliates: Boaz Abramson, Assistant Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, Thomas Cambell '09 BUS, Founder & Managing Member at Thorobird Companies, and Jillian White '02 CU, Operations & Business Development Executive.   

Deirdre Steel '23

Dani Glouberman '23

Natshalie Cabán '23

Thirty different companies convened at the Manhattanville campus for the Real Estate Career Forum in late February. Students spent the morning networking with potential employers, many of whom are alumni.

REA board members Javaughn Griffin '23, Aakash Bhatia '23, Zack Reber '24, & Joe Pitsor '24 planned and executed this year's event making it such a success.

In March, a group of MBA students traveled to Sydney, Australia for a real estate study tour. The group made the most of their time down under and visited 8 real estate, infrastructure, and banking companies, while also enjoying an alumni reception with Australia based CBS alumni. A trip to Sydney wouldn't be complete without visiting the Blue Mountains, meeting some koalas, and spending some time on the beach. Also in attendance were Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Finance and Economics, Brian Lancaster and Managing Director of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate, Kristin Svenningsen. The trip was sponsored by the Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business and the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate. The trip was organized by Richard Alty '23, PJ Carollo '23, Brenden Keen '24, and Ned Yale '24.

The Columbia Business School Real Estate Association and the Columbia MSRED Women in Real Estate Development (WIRED) joined together to present the inaugural Women in Real Estate Summit. The event consisted of two panels; Leveraging the Columbia Network to Advance Together and Breaking Barriers and Building Careers, followed by a networking reception. 

Thank you to REA Executive members Kennedy Shields '23 BUS and Deirdre Steel '23 BUS for your time and dedication to organizing the inaugural program.

Presented annually to the faculty member or administrator who most clearly demonstrates commitment to students through accessibility and an overall contribution to the improvement of student life. Established by the Graduate Business Association in 1982 and named in honor of executive in residence Robert W. Lear.

Each semester the Center hosts a Student-Faculty Lunch & Learn with one of our Real Estate faculty members. In April Adjunct Professor Camille Douglas, Senior Managing Director, Acquisitions & Development at Lefrak, met with a group of students to talk about a present case, her career, and advice for soon-to-be graduates.

Congratulations to all CBS alumni selected for Commercial Observer's annual Power Finance rankings.

• #2 Kara McShane '00 
• #4 David Bouton '96 
• #20 Gideon Gil '00 
• #28 Jeffrey Fastov '92 
• #47 Abbe Franchot Borok '08 

Real Estate Capital offers candid, one-on-one conversations with some of the most influential people in commercial real estate. Hosted by Nancy Lashine '82, Founder of Park Madison Partners. 

Listen to Nancy interview with fellow alums, Ronald Dickerman '87 & Adam Gallistel '04, and others.  

Hosted by the Real Estate Circle and the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 |  6:00 -9:00 pm 

Gather with fellow CBS alumni in the real estate industry for networking, appetizers, and drinks.

All Columbia Business School alumni are welcome to attend. Sign up below through CBSRE.  

Next cohort: June 8 - July 27, 2023.