Leslie Goedken ’14 and Ashley McDonald ’15 have been awarded scholarships by the organization WX, New York Women Executives in Real Estate. They will receive a tuition stipend as well as the opportunity to participate in WX events and its mentoring program. Both Goedken and McDonald are focusing their MBA studies on real estate and serve on the board of the school’s Real Estate Association.
“The WX Scholarship is an invaluable asset for MBA women starting a career in real estate. It’s validation and a ready-made network of successful professionals all rolled into one,” commented Lynne B. Sagalyn, the Earle W. Kazis and Benjamin Schore Professor of Real Estate and MBA Real Estate Program director. “The award has helped so many of our real estate alumni—25 in number since 2004! We are both proud and deeply appreciative of the organization’s commitment to young professionals.”
After graduation, Goedken will be a real estate investment banking associate at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York. Prior to business school, she worked in both real estate investment banking and private equity. She holds an MA from Yale.
McDonald worked as director of real estate at Pacific Equity Properties prior to entering Columbia Business School. She completed her BA at the University of California in Los Angeles. WX is an invitation‐only association of senior-level women in all aspects of the commercial real estate industry. Its mission is to promote the advancement of women in the commercial real estate industry. Since launching its scholarship program in 2004, WX has awarded over $750,000 in scholarships to more than 100 women at 11 universities and colleges.
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