Inaugural MREI Class Lands Exceptional Job Placement
Within a month of completing Canada’s only master’s program with a joint focus on real estate and infrastructure, the majority of the cohort has received job offers, and in some cases multiple offers. While the news was extremely positive, it was not surprising to Assistant Professor in the Brookfield Centre in Real Estate & Infrastructure, Sherena Hussain, as the specialized 12-month Schulich Master of Real Estate & Infrastructure (MREI) program was designed as a response to the industry demand.
“With the MREI’s focus on development, financing, and investment in both real estate and infrastructure, graduates are well positioned to fill the growing demand for talent in these industries,” Hussain said.
The program integrates leadership development with a focus on entrepreneurial thinking, creative problem solving, and communication skills. Combining classroom learning with one-of-a-kind co-curricular experience, the program built a bridge to the industry that has already proven extremely valuable to the first graduating class.
Ben Fogel (MREI ’18) took advantage of the specialized learning and co-curricular opportunities in real estate and infrastructure and is now working as a Pre-Construction Manager at Ellis Don.
“My experience with the Schulich Real Estate & Infrastructure Club (SREIC) as well as school sponsored extra-curricular events helped me gain great exposure to the industry,” Fogel said. “The program was also instrumental in further developing my hard and soft skills through the many business case competitions and technical workshops.”
Natasha Kuperman (MREI ’18) leveraged her architectural background to gain expertise in the financial and investment dimensions of infrastructure development. The inaugural recipient of the $25,000 RioCan Scholarship is now working as a Bid Manager, Infrastructure Concessions at Graham Capital.
“My experience in the program motivated me to gain a career in infrastructure finance. It provided the framework to understand what the industry’s top considerations are,” Kuperman said. “I am glad to have started working before I finished my degree as it confirmed the value of the education and my resulting professional trajectory.”
Other companies the first MREI cohort are working with include:
- RioCan Real Estate Trust,
- Remax Realtron,
- Canderel,
- Nexus Developments,
- SmartREIT,
- RBC Builder Finance Group, and
- Trinity Development Group