MRE Students 2024-2025
The Master in Real Estate class of 2024-2025 has 38 students. Fifty-three percent are from the United States and forty-seven percent are from other countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Nigeria, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. All have work experience in such areas as asset management, brokerage, construction management, design, development, finance, investing, leasing, private equity, project management, and urban planning. The average age is 29 years old.
Zeyad Almajed is a real estate developer with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California State University Long Beach. With expertise in project management, strategic planning, and sustainable development, he has led impactful developments. He founded The Eugene Real Estate LLC and co-founded Mazia Real Estate Development and Investment Company. His most recent accomplishment is the 48 townhouses called The Eugene Townhouses in Dubai. Zeyad is committed to transformative projects and is excited to upgrade his skills through the Master in Real Estate program at Harvard University, blending technical proficiency with innovative vision to shape the industry’s future.
Brittany Arceneaux focuses on real estate solutions for housing affordability, climate change, and wellness, with an emphasis on leveraging emerging technologies. Her expertise spans both the public and private sectors, leading complex planning and development initiatives from conception to execution. This includes efforts in rebuilding New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina and her leadership in the City of Los Angeles in planning the future of Downtown Los Angeles. She has received multiple awards, including an Award of Excellence from the American Planning Association for comprehensive planning and the formulation of dynamic incentive zoning systems.
Howard Au worked for the international architecture firm KPF after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from The University of Hong Kong. At KPF, he took on significant roles for projects in the Greater Bay Area in South China, providing insights into development in China and how its market reacted to the Pandemic. Howard has also conducted research about forced evictions and property reclamations in Southeast Asia, leading to his exploration of ethics in real estate and, particularly, methods to maintain balance between development and locality. Howard is interested in travel and photography, believing that it is important to understand the world by learning from different cultures.
Esteban Bolaños is a Costa Rican real estate developer and asset manager with a keen interest in mixed-used development. Esteban received his bachelor’s degree in management from Bentley University. Before coming to Harvard, Esteban worked at Grupo América, one of Costa Rica’s leading development firms. There, he rotated between different sectors of real estate including commercial, residential, and mixed-use. He is committed to developing profitable projects that positively impact the community. Among his notable projects is the conceptualization of Hacienda Barvak, a luxury mixed-use development, that includes an equestrian center, hotel, and branded residences.
Juan Sebastian Castaneda completed his Master’s degree at the University of Oxford before coming to Harvard. He began his military career in 2012 with the United States Air Force, where he served both domestically and overseas. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and International Political Economy from the University of Texas at Austin. He served as a consultant in the Energy Sector and Urban Development for Daikin Global Industries and the World Bank. His current role as a project director with Kolf Enterprises has involved energy efficiency and commercial zoning in the North Texas area.
Ming Hong Choi, born and raised in Singapore, is a Fulbright scholar at Harvard University. Prior to Harvard, Ming completed his Master’s degree in Finance at the Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. He began his career at BlackRock, focusing on private credit investment and portfolio management in the Asia-Pacific region. He later worked at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), specializing in capital markets advisory in the Asia-Pacific region. He has been recognized as a World Cities Summit Young Leader and a Trepp Future Commercial Real Estate Leader. In his spare time, he enjoys contributing to social impact endeavors.
Simon Colloredo-Mansfeld, after graduating from the University of Virginia, spent two years in Frankfurt, Germany working for a retail outlet owner and operator. In 2022, he moved to New York to work on a retail development project on Long Island. Simon is an avid rider, skier, outdoorsman, and reader.
Gordon Cooke is an investor, developer, and builder. Prior to Harvard, Gordon worked at Henley Investment Management as a deal team analyst covering North American real estate and alternatives. His expertise includes acquisitions, dispositions, debt and equity structuring, ground-up development, and project management. This expertise spans a range of asset classes from multifamily to car wash. Beyond real estate and private equity, Gordon has held internships at the White House and UBS. He holds a BA from the University of Connecticut in Finance where he concentrated on corporate finance and minored in real estate.
Feiyang “Edwina” Dai joins the MRE program with over two years of experience in real estate private equity. After receiving a B.B.A. in financial management from Zhejiang University, Edwina started her career at GLP China, where she received a holistic exposure to logistics and data centers, acquisitions, fundraising, and asset management. She envisions her future career trajectory in American real estate capital market. Outside of work, Edwina has served as a research fellow of Citipedia. She also contributes to a sustainable economy by volunteering at a thrift bookstore.
Ariel Estwick is a long-time Fortune 100 human capital manager turned social entrepreneur. Skilled at integrating human-centered principles with profit maximization, she believes in the creation of enduring value through empowerment of personal economies and is focused on unlocking latent potential within communities through the built environment. Ariel aspires to develop inclusive spaces that address multigenerational affordable housing needs and alleviate the disproportionate ramifications of climate change faced by coastal communities of color such as her hometown, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Ariel is a graduate of The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business (2018) and founder of Haven Capital.
Cindy Fang is a professional investor and entrepreneur. She has 10 years of investment experience in investment banking, private equity (specifically pre-IPO investment in the consumer industry), and family office investments. She is also involved in her family’s business developing and managing residential and commercial real estate. Cindy’s personal passion is fashion and she has created a fashion jewelry brand focused on stylish products at reasonable prices. Cindy has a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Economics and Accounting from Auckland University (New Zealand) and a Master’s degree in Finance from The University of St. Andrews (UK).
Jason Fong has worked as an investment analyst for GoodLife Housing Partners, an investment firm with an AUM of roughly $500 million focused on value add multifamily and industrial projects. Before that, he worked as a leasing agent for Cardinal Group Management, one of the largest property management groups in the United States, and completed a CBRE digital internship program in 2019. He is a 2020 graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy.
Suleman Gajere is a licensed architect with a diverse career spanning multiple states and an array of product types. His experience includes project management and architectural roles at award-winning firms in Cambridge/Boston and Houston. More recently, as Design Manager at the Massachusetts-based WS Development, Suleman played a pivotal role in integrating design into real estate development as he managed multiple large-scale retail assets and supervised the conversion of a commercial office space into a world class boutique hotel. He is pursuing a Master in Real Estate at Harvard with the intent of developing his own urban-centric mixed-use projects.
Jesumiseun Gbotosho, a native of Osun State, Nigeria, holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Architecture (with Distinction) from Covenant University. She has worked with leading architectural firms in Nigeria, managing elaborate design/construction projects. Looking ahead, Jesumiseun aims to leverage her expertise, focusing on social impact-driven real estate. She believes real estate can drive social change by empowering communities and promoting environmental sustainability. Beyond her career, Jesumiseun is committed to mentoring young girls in STEM. Consequently, she established a fully funded scholarship to support outstanding female students from underprivileged backgrounds. Combining her expertise and societal commitment, she strives to make significant impact in the built environment and beyond.
Antione Gray, a Queens, New York native, began his real estate career at 19 years old when he joined TOWN Residential and booked over $30 million in sales. In the years since, he has worked as an Investment Advisor at Brax Realty, helped manage a $2.8 billion portfolio of Class A properties at Morgan Stanley, and successfully flipped homes in three markets as the Co-founder and COO of Source First Homes. He has also worked as Consultant at Accenture in Washington, DC, and was formerly a White House Intern in the Obama Administration. Antione holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
John Heaster is an entrepreneur with 15 years of experience in finance, real estate, and consulting. He previously worked in banking at J.P. Morgan and State Street, where he executed strategic initiatives for multinational corporations and institutional investors, focusing on joint ventures, market entry, acquisitions, and business transformations. As a founding member of SLICE Fintech, John has helped democratize global real estate investment through tech-driven solutions. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of SEApie, expanding access to maritime investments, and serves as a Real Estate Advisor at Sutherlabs. John serves as the Board President of the Allston-Brighton CDC, an affordable housing developer, and is an Empower Success Corps Consultant.
Joanna Ho graduated with Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Economics from the University of California Berkeley in 2022. Before coming to Harvard, she worked in the Asset and Wealth division in one of the Bulge Bracket banks in Hong Kong for two years. With in-depth professional experiences in the finance and real estate field, as well as passion for architectural and design fields, Joanna intends to combine her strength and passion in order to create broader and more significant impact in the real estate investment community.
David Hogan is a residential real estate development professional from Sydney, Australia. He has eight years of real estate experience, primarily in land subdivisions, and has worked for Legacy Property, Rawson Group, and Sheargold Group. His expertise includes funding, conducting due diligence, and delivering large residential projects. He has sales experience at CBRE, worked as a speechwriter for a Federal Member of Parliament, and regularly assists his family’s civil construction company in project and financial management. David holds Commerce and Law degrees from the University of Sydney and is currently studying to obtain his NSW (Australia) real estate sales license.
David Huh is originally from São Paulo, Brazil. He is a multidisciplinary professional interested in creating impact in the real estate industry by blending technical expertise with creative vision. Prior to joining Harvard, David served as a Project Manager at AION Partners, a NYC-based real estate private equity firm, where he oversaw capital improvement projects for the group’s Northeast portfolio. Previously, he held various positions at AECOM, including roles in cost analysis, project management, operations, and business analytics. David holds a dual degree at Pratt Institute, graduating with both a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Construction Management.
Jake Jones completed an undergraduate degree in finance from BYU and subsequently joined Blackstone’s single family rental portfolio company, Invitation Homes, as a strategy and investment management analyst for a $20B+ nationwide portfolio. In Utah, he managed the acquisition, entitlement, financing, and development of over 1,500 build-to-rent and for sale units. Most recently, he managed the strategic direction and underwriting of Larry H. Miller Real Estate including a 100+ acre urban site in Salt Lake City anchored by a new major league baseball stadium. Jake and team negotiated the land acquisition, helped draft and obtain passage of state legislation, and directed the business planning of this very complicated site.
Ace Kang is a former analyst at Morgan Stanley, where he specialized in investments for affordable housing. Kang holds a bachelor’s degree in Statistics and Quantitative Modeling from Baruch College where he conducted research on AI models for real estate pricing.
Robert Kang has nearly a decade of experience with major Korean asset management companies, including Hanwha Asset Management and NH REITs Management. He began his career in global infrastructure investments before transitioning to the real estate sector. Robert is passionate about connecting Korean institutional investors with compelling global opportunities. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Chung-Ang University in Seoul, South Korea. He is pursuing the Master in Real Estate at Harvard to deepen his understanding and broaden his expertise in the real estate industry.
Nikhil Kapoor brings 7 years of professional experience in the commercial real estate industry to GSD, having worked at leading IPCs, including JLL, Colliers, and Knight Frank. He has provided strategic consulting, transaction advisory, and portfolio management services to Fortune 500 clients. At WeWork India, Nikhil led underwriting efforts, focusing on acquisitions, asset strategy, and business plan execution for a 6-million-square-foot portfolio. He holds an undergraduate degree in business studies with a major in finance from the University of Delhi. Passionate about social impact, Nikhil has led initiatives in primary education and sanitation in rural areas of India through Enactus.
Terry Kipp enjoys a proven track record in acquisitions, structured finance, and asset management. As the founder of the consulting firm Quantified Capital, he has provided underwriting, joint venture structuring, and strategic advisory services to development companies, non-profit organizations, and real estate private equity firms. Previously, Terry held key roles at Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, JP Morgan’s Global Real Assets, and Prudential Real Estate Investors, where he led efforts that resulted in over $2 billion in closed transactions. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Seton Hall University.
Mitch Lazerus has almost a decade of experience in real estate investment and development. He has been responsible for over $1 billion of debt and equity capital deployed into mixed-use, hospitality, multifamily, industrial, retail, office, and other real estate projects. As senior manager at a multinational fintech conglomerate, Mitch successfully led project sourcing, investment structuring, underwriting, investment oversight, and investor relations for ground-up construction and renovation projects, as well as representing the company in lobbying efforts. A ULI committee member and NAIOP member, Mitch graduated from Nanjing University in China and attended business school in Mainz, Germany.
Nathan Lowrey is an accomplished real estate professional with a passion for, and expertise in, affordable housing. Nathan spent the past seven years at Boston Financial, a national leader in affordable housing capital solutions and investment management, where he underwrote over
$200 million of equity investment in low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) affordable housing. Nathan holds a BA in Public Policy and Law from Trinity College, Connecticut, and is pursuing Harvard’s MRE degree to expand his skills and knowledge with hopes of having a greater impact in addressing America’s housing affordability crisis. Hailing from rural Vermont, Nathan enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and soccer.
Sania Mulk is a visionary architectural designer and real estate developer with a B. Arch from Virginia Tech. She began her career in corporate architecture and developed a passion for real estate through mixed-use projects at HKS. At Alubond, a leading building materials company, she spearheaded efforts to introduce UAE-manufactured unitized building systems into the U.S., aiming to modernize construction and reduce costs per square foot. Her expertise includes global material procurement with established channels in Europe and Asia. Sania integrates manufacturing with commercial real estate developments, focusing on innovative solutions that address the housing crisis and enhance sustainable practices.
Raymond Narbi is from Ghana, where he is a seasoned real estate professional with over a decade of experience in valuations, market research, transaction advisory, and managing and developing high-value property portfolios. Before coming to Harvard’s Master in Real Estate program, he was the General Manager of the University of Ghana Enterprises LTD, leading key property development and management projects. Raymond holds a Master’s in Finance & Investment and a Bachelor’s in Land Economy from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. He is a Professional Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS).
Gerardo Reyes Varela, born and raised in Mexico City, is a passionate real estate developer and economist with six years of professional experience in the field. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Gerry led the development of several hotel, retail, and mixed-use projects in North America and Europe. Additionally, he served as a senior investment advisor for one of Mexico’s largest REITs, including a key role in the IPO process. Gerry is also a tennis, running, cycling, and kitesurf enthusiast, with a great passion for philosophy and personal growth.
Tal Richtman brings extensive experience in commercial real estate debt and equity. Most recently, he served as an investment professional at Prosperity Asset Management in New York City, managing a $2 billion portfolio of commercial real estate loans and properties. Before that, Tal managed a portfolio of bridge loans at Walker & Dunlop, including those in the Blackstone-W&D Joint Venture, with a focus on value-add investment properties. He began his career at BRT Management, working on affordable housing development in Nantucket, Massachusetts. A veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, Tal holds a Master’s in Finance and International Economics from Brandeis Business School and a Bachelor’s in Economics and Politics, summa cum laude, from Brandeis University. At Harvard, Tal hopes to explore how design, technology, and innovation can improve buildings, cities, and communities around the world.
Xander Ryman began his commercial real estate career at Benefit Street Partners (NYSE: FBRT), where he focused on originating, underwriting, and structuring value-add bridge, construction, CMBS, and mezzanine loans, across various property types, from initial underwriting to closing. Xander has pursued his own multifamily and student housing acquisitions throughout the United States with over $1.5 million in AUM to date. He serves on the board of The R.D. Merrill Company (parent company of Pillar Properties and Merrill Gardens), a Seattle-based multifamily and senior housing development and management company. He holds a BBA with honors from The George Washington University School of Business.
Tatiana Schlesinger is an architect. She graduated summa cum laude from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. Tatiana has extensive experience in the design and coordination of diverse real estate projects across multiple scales. At Gensler, she contributed to the development of airport projects. At “Camilo Santamaría – Architecture and Urbanism,” a Colombian architecture firm, she led the design and coordination of large-scale affordable housing and mixed-use projects nationwide totaling 4,366 housing units in partnership with two prominent real estate development companies, Amarilo and Prodesa. Additionally, she contributed to the design and planning of sustainable and inclusive urban redevelopment projects, as well as to the urban design of large-scale master plans ranging from 840 to 964 acres.
Mohammad Shwiqi is the Managing Director of Jerusalem Gates Estates, a Jerusalem-based construction and real estate development firm. Since assuming this role in 2021, Mohammad has spearheaded the development of commercial and residential projects worth over $25 million. Previously, he served as a Construction Project Manager at STV Incorporated, where he worked on a major $130 million renovation project for the City of New York. He also contributed to the $1.5 billion JFK Terminal 4 Redevelopment Program while working with Delta Airlines. Mohammad holds a Master of Science in Construction Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Bayes Business School in London.
Ryan Snow has experience in real estate investment banking and market research, specializing in senior housing and healthcare. He has supported deal execution, underwriting, and business origination for sell and buy-side capital markets and acquisition/disposition transactions. He has advised on the sourcing and placement of municipal bonds, bank debt, mezzanine debt, and preferred equity. Originally from South Carolina, Ryan holds a BA in Economics and Public Policy and an MA in Sociology from the University of Mississippi, where he serves on the Grisham-McLean Institute Advisory Board.
Amy Tomasso, a native New Englander, aspires to address this region’s housing crisis through thoughtful development of affordable, resilient homes and communities. Previously, Amy led the state of Vermont’s missing middle housing initiatives at the Department of Housing and Community Development, where she oversaw the launch of the VT Homes for All Toolkit, an innovative guide to small-scale development for builders, investors, and community leaders. Amy holds a B.A. in Urban Studies from Stanford University (Phi Beta Kappa with distinction) and an MFA in Creative Writing from Hollins University. Her articles on zoning reform and housing policy have appeared in local and national publications. Amy is an avid triathlete, Italophile, and outdoor adventurer.
Dylan Walker has over six years of investment banking and private equity experience in institutional real estate. Prior to Harvard, he was a Senior Associate at Tricon Residential (formerly Tricon Capital Group), a vertically integrated owner-operator with over $16 billion in AUM. At Tricon, he was a founding member of its U.S. multi-family platform and worked with global institutional investors in growing its single-family rental platform. Dylan started his career in the Real Estate & Lodging Investment Banking Group at Citigroup, where he advised public and private real estate companies on M&A and capital markets transactions across property sectors.
Zihao Wang graduated with a MA degree in Statistics from Columbia University. After graduation, he joined his family’s real estate development business in China, Weibang Group. At Weibang Group, he participated in developing two real estate residential projects totaling 1,950 units, about 300,000 square meters. Coming to Harvard GSD, Zihao is eager to expand his knowledge in real estate finance, design, and city planning. Upon completing his studies at Harvard, Zihao aims to master global real estate development skills, specializing in planning for and developing sustainable, green, and efficient real estate projects that bring more environmental and economic benefits.
Ruoni Xiong is from Luzhou, China, a city known for spicy food and liquor, and grew up in Vancouver. He received a BSc in Hotel Administration, with a concentration in finance, at Cornell University and an MBA in finance from Cornell and Tsinghua University PBCSF, where he serves as an Alumni Council Member. Ruoni has worked in commercial and residential real estate development and investment for over eight years, including developing and managing projects totaling over 10 million square feet across different cities. He is excited to join the Master in Real Estate program at Harvard to learn, explore, and foster change.