Gavin Gregory, Finance & Real Estate, Texas Christian University

"Your network is your currency. Prioritize it, curate it, and maintain it. Developing a network can be a daunting task, but the more you know, the easier it is to connect with industry professionals, and a warm introduction goes a long way."

Balancing It All: Between your academic commitments, leadership role in the Real Estate Club, and internships, how do you effectively balance these responsibilities while staying on top of your game?

I take a holistic approach to achieving balance, meaning my assessment of priorities extends beyond academic and professional commitments. By regularly reevaluating my near and long-term goals I can eliminate non-conforming commitments, allocating energy and focus to high-value and personally fulfilling pursuits.

The Real Estate Club Experience: As President of the TCU Real Estate Club, you’ve been a key player in shaping its programming. What’s been your proudest moment leading the club so far?

I am proud to work alongside a visionary team. The faculty, staff, and officers of the TCU Real Estate Club and Center for Real Estate are dedicated to continuous improvement - seeking educational and experiential opportunities to diversify the resources accessible to our members and ensure their competitive entrance into the workforce post-graduation.

Engaging Students and Professionals: How do you ensure the Real Estate Club stays relevant and impactful for both students and industry professionals?

Relevance and impact are the primary drivers for all Real Estate Club programming. Ensuring our programming schedule meets these defining criteria is a team effort; member surveys guide the nature of programming, while mentor input and officer experience inform the content that comprises it.

Building Connections: The club offers mentorship opportunities and networking events. What advice would you give students on maximizing the value of these connections?

Your network is your currency. Prioritize it, curate it, and maintain it. Developing a network can be a daunting task, but the more you know, the easier it is to connect with industry professionals, and a warm introduction goes a long way. Stay up to date on real estate news, adhere to a weekly or monthly outreach goal to sustain momentum, and periodically check in with older connections to maintain relevance. Most importantly, do so with genuine enthusiasm for socializing and learning - a transactional approach will deter even the most generous of mentors.

Internship with Woodmont Company: What were the most valuable lessons you learned as a capital markets intern, and how have they shaped your approach to the industry?

As a Capital Markets Intern for the Woodmont Company, I learned to seek responsibility early and to make specific asks of busy people. Starting on a lean team required that I learn in an applied environment, where unfamiliar material often stood between me and completed deliverables. I grew accustomed to facing challenges independently, and exhausting solutions before looking to leadership for guidance. This approach, reinforced by a series of small victories, strengthened my self-reliance and deepened my confidence in my intuition and analytical abilities.