Written by: Grace Donaldson
Grace currently works as a Brokerage Intern with our Columbus Retail Team, where she specializes in landlord and tenant representation with a focus in prospecting and client relations. She is a junior at The Ohio State University and is pursuing her Finance and Real Estate degree. Grace also serves as the President of OSU's Fisher Real Estate Society.
What are some of your responsibilities as the President of the Fisher Real Estate Society? As President of the Fisher Real Estate Society, I am responsible for sourcing educational opportunities and programming for members, maintaining a line of communication between the Executive Board, advisors, industry speakers & members, and creating presentations for weekly meetings/events. I also gather professional contacts, internship information, and full-time career opportunities to share with membership. My main goal as a leader is to provide as many opportunities for growth as I can for members, and be a helping hand when it comes to learning more about the industry.
How do you feel that your role within the Fisher Real Estate Society will impact your future career as a professional within the commercial real estate industry?
Fisher Real Estate Society has been a pivotal resource in expanding my knowledge in the real estate industry and helping me narrow down which field I want to go into. FRES has developed my professional skills and taught me how to polish a resume, prepare for an interview, network with real estate professionals and operate in the workplace. Part of my role as President is bringing in guest speakers from every field in the industry, which has allowed me to get a holistic view of all career paths in CRE.
What advice do you have for other college students who may also be pursuing a career in this field?
My biggest piece of advice for other college students who are interested in pursuing a career in the CRE field is to get as involved as possible on and off campus as soon as you can. I recommend everyone to join clubs (like FRES), attend networking events in the Columbus areas, and ask professionals to grab coffee to learn more about their career and how they got started. Real Estate is a unique business as it relies heavily on the ability to form connections and create trusting work relationships. So, take advantage of networking opportunities and don't be afraid to reach out to individuals for guidance. It is an important part of being successful.
How does your internship with our team align with your future career goals?
My internship and responsibilities with the Columbus Retail Team align with my future career goals of being a commercial real estate broker. I am fascinated with both landlord and tenant representation and the team has given me the opportunity to dive right into these fields and learn first-hand. The team welcomes me into every meeting, showing, client consultation and line of communication to allow me to develop my skills and feel prepared to go into brokerage post-graduation. I feel very fortunate to work with Andrew, Gilli, Sam, Halle and Drew!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts, staying involved on campus, running, going to Ohio State football games and trying new restaurants with my roommates!
What is your favorite part about working on the retail leasing side of Colliers | Columbus?
My favorite part about working on the retail leasing side of Colliers | Columbus is that no two days are the same. Every time that I go into my internship, I have a new project to work on that helps expand my real estate knowledge. I really enjoy studying retail market trends in order to understand which tenant fits best in the retail centers we represent.