Learn more about GRA alumni and their experiences at Georgetown shaped their careers in these fields: Real Estate, Financial Services, Consulting, Government, Technology, New Media.
When did you know you made the right decision in attending Georgetown’s GRA program?
“I had reached out to a couple alumni prior to accepting the GRA offer. They had nothing but great words to say about Matt Cypher and the type of program he would bring. Matt’s enthusiasm day 1 of the program confirmed that I was in the right place!”
What was your experience like with your cohort and how would you describe the diversity of your cohort?
“Many technical classes and dedicated staff enhanced my experience with others and the school at large. The diversity of the cohort was excellent by bringing both international individuals and folks from all over the country. This only helped this program and lenses that each would bring.”
Describe the best part of your GRA experience.
“Luminaries – this event brought together an immense amount of Georgetown alumni together depicting a strong sense of professionalism and communal efforts to make it happen.”
Describe your Global Experience. What did it entail? How did it impact you?
“We went to Stockholm. This was a great experience and learned a significant amount of sustainability efforts happening in Europe. It impacted me by introducing me to international scopes in handling sustainability initiatives and how we can bring this into United States.”
What impact did the GRA program have on your career?
“It directly impacts my career by Matt Cypher having strong connections among the alumni and introducing me to a local private equity shop to get my career started.”
Julia Parker ‘25
Industry: Consulting, Government, Technology & New Media Company: Bower Group Asia Job Title: Business Development Analyst
When did you know you made the right decision in attending Georgetown’s GRA program?
“I knew I had made the right decision when we went on our first site visit to Goodwill Baptist Church in Adams Morgan during our Community Development Clinic. Seeing the property firsthand and engaging with the community brought the project to life. Collaborating closely with architects, developers, and my team, I could envision how our recommendations might transform the space into viable affordable housing and serving community needs. That experience reinforced my interest in development and serving the community, deepening my understanding of how cross-disciplinary collaboration drives meaningful outcomes.”
What was your experience like with your cohort and how would you describe the diversity of your cohort?
“The diversity of the cohort was particularly impactful, with students coming from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds around the world. This environment enriched our discussions, exposed me to multiple perspectives, and strengthened my ability to collaborate across disciplines and geographies.”
Describe the best part of your GRA experience.
“The best part of the program for me was the site visits. Experiencing properties firsthand and observing their surrounding communities brought the coursework to life, allowing me to connect analysis and strategy with tangible outcomes. These visits reinforced my interest in infrastructure and real estate finance and highlighted the importance of understanding the social and physical context of real estate projects.”
Describe your Global Experience. What did it entail? How did it impact you?
“During a program in Sweden, we participated in site visits and company meetings focused on sustainability and innovative business practices. We engaged directly with companies implementing sustainable strategies, observing how environmental, social, and economic considerations are integrated into operations. This experience deepened my understanding of global sustainability practices and the ways companies balance profitability with social and environmental responsibility. It also strengthened my ability to analyze diverse approaches and incorporate lessons from international contexts into my own thinking and work.”
What impact did the GRA program have on your career?
“The GRA program has had a significant impact on my career by providing specialized, niche expertise in global real assets—a field that is increasingly important in today’s infrastructure and sustainability focused economy. Coupled with my interest in Asia, it was the perfect compliment to my undergraduate degree from McDonough in International Business. Through coursework and projects, I gained deep exposure to real estate, infrastructure, and data center markets globally, strengthening my ability to analyze investment opportunities, evaluate regulatory frameworks, and integrate financial and strategic insights. The program has provided me a unique edge when applying and succeeding in roles.”
When did you know you made the right decision in attending Georgetown’s GRA program?
“When I walked into Lee Pinkowitz’s first Finance class and before I could go to shake his hand, he knew my name, hometown, and that I was training for a marathon (I had never met him). I’d never been so taken aback by a teacher’s care before, and I think it defines the personalized experience I had at Georgetown that allowed me to grow as a person.”
What was your experience like with your cohort and how would you describe the diversity of your cohort?
“In such a short time, less than a year, the cohort first and formost brought me some of the best friends I’ve ever made in my life. The program brought together students from around the world from all different ages in backgrounds, but we all had a common goal. I gained a lot from having classmates my age, fresh out of undergrad, who wanted to work hard and kick off our careers on a strong note, while also having older classmates with 7+ years of work experience to bounce job leads and project ideas off of.”
Describe the best part of your GRA experience.
“I was afforded the opportunity to go to London for a week about 75% of the way into the program, with a handful of classmates to present in a case competition sponsored by MIT and Hines. That experience was an early proof to me that this program had put me in a fantastic position to succeed, equipped with technical skills and the personability to compete against and present to rooms full of people much older and more experienced. It gave me confidence going into the heat of my job hunt, and made walking into almost every interview I faced after that small potatoes.”
Describe your Global Experience. What did it entail? How did it impact you?
“Our GBE took us to Stockholm, Sweden, a fantastic city I probably never would have visited myself. The Nordic countries are what many consider the peak of a powerhouse real estate investment region that also heavily prioritizes sustainability. We met with leaders of some of the largest private equity companies and banks in the region, and were tasked with writing our Masters thesis on something we learned about after – I chose to write on the intricacies of Sweden’s apartment rental market. That trip really reinforced for me how much of an interest I have in a career that includes an international component.”
What impact did the GRA program have on your career?
“Beyond the obvious technical and industry experience I gained through the GRA program, it gave me the confidence I needed to really start my career on a good note. The MS-GRA can throw a lot at you from every angle, always for better, and a real job will do that too.”
Nicholas Floyd ‘24
Industry: Real Estate Company: JLL Job Title: Analyst, Debt Capital Markets
Describe the best part of your GRA experience.
“The best part of my experience at Georgetown was the ability to network with alumni in the field of real estate. This was a valuable resource for understanding what I wanted to do in real estate upon graduation. Everyone I connected with was very eager to answer questions and help in the recruiting process.”
Describe your Global Experience. What did it entail? How did it impact you?
“The Global Experience in Stockholm was a great way to see how the real estate industry operates overseas. Seeing the differences between real estate operations in the US and in Sweden gave me a deeper understanding of real estate trends. Traveling internationally with my peers also connected us as a class and built shared experiences and friendships you can’t get from the classroom.”
What impact did the GRA program have on your career?
“The GRA program taught me the necessary skills in evaluating asset returns and debt financing. Despite already having a career in real estate, going back to the classroom and learning the basics of underwriting made the interviewing process easier. Having the Georgetown degree also opened connections for me at my current job and in the broader DC real estate network.”
