These graduates are aiming high — and delivering — on missions like convincing the worlds wealthiest people to donate half of their fortunes to philanthropic causes.
"We’re very excited about this class," said Vince Ponzo '03, the director of the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center. "These budding entrepreneurs represent the breadth of expertise at Columbia University."
Professor Lynne B. Sagalyn and Michael Berman '86 opened the sixth annual Columbia Business School Real Estate Symposium. Berman introduced Sam Zell as a pioneer in the REIT industry. The opening remarks were followed by a lively fireside chat between Zell and Sagalyn.
At the panel "CEO’s Corner: Long-Term Perspectives," industry leaders discussed the branding implications of the term "REIT," their challenges in the industry, and the emergence of e-commerce as a competitor.
The panel “Is the Sky the Limit? NYC Real Estate Pricing Keeps Climbing” discussed recent trends in the local real estate market and whether continued appreciation is likely.