A graduate finance student at the Naveen Jindal School of Management recently received a scholarship from a real estate industry association that provides financial resources to encourage learning and advancement into the corporate real estate industry.
Alejandro Jimenez Herrera, who is pursuing an MS in Finance at Jindal School, recently received a $5,000 CoreNet North Texas Community Scholarship. The organization is the local chapter of Atlanta, Georgia-based CoreNet Global.
There are 45 local chapters of CoreNet Global, including CoreNet Global North Texas, according to Kathy Mulgrew, scholarship chairman and CEO of Spencer Consulting Inc. in Dallas.
“The scholarship program provides financial resources to encourage learning, advance the corporate real estate industry, and raise up leaders,” she said. “In addition to the scholarship, Jimenez received a complimentary 24-month CoreNet student membership and two complimentary tickets to the 2023 Black White & Blue gala, where he will be recognized as the scholarship recipient.”
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Finance with a Real Estate Track from the Jindal School, Jimenez returned to attend graduate school. He served as director of corporate relations for the Financial Leadership Association at UT Dallas, and is a past first-place winner in the DeloittexFLA Consulting Case Competition.
Jimenez, president of The Real Estate Club at UT Dallas, is the only returning two-time president in the club’s history as an undergraduate and a year later a graduate student. He is slated to join commercial real estate firm CBRE as a global finance intern in the real estate investments group in the Dallas office.
A career in commercial real estate was not on Jimenez’s radar when he enrolled at the Jindal School. He was considering a career in finance but changed his mind after meeting the then-president of the real estate club, who put him on the board.
He then met Julie Lynch, director of the Herbert D. Weitzman Institute for Real Estate, which sponsors The Real Estate Club at UTD, and through the organization, began to meet local commercial real estate professionals.
Lynch, an associate professor of practice in the Finance and Managerial Economics Area at the Jindal School, describes Jimenez as a passionate student who brings good leadership skills to his involvement in real estate.
“I can’t think of a more deserving student to receive this scholarship,” she said, “and I am excited about his entering commercial real estate. I am excited to see the growth in our program and increased interest from students in pursuing a concentration in real estate along with a degree in finance of business.”
Jimenez’s work with the real estate club had a major influence on him and he is proud of the organization’s growth.
When I first came in my second semester of freshman year we had maybe 12 people,” he said. “At our last meeting, we had about 70.
“We have a great real estate community in D-FW. I think I found the best of both worlds. It is a people business and I like to meet new people. I also like to be on the ground looking at properties.”
Jimenez is high-energy and relies on time management to juggle his classes, work and activities.
“It helps that I do things that I’m passionate about,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like work.”
If he were asked to share advice with incoming freshmen, it would be about the importance of being involved in activities and clubs on campus.
“When you come into business school there are a hundred ways you could go with your career,” he said. “Get an internship as soon as you can and never underestimate the name of UT Dallas. Because I’ve come to this school, I have no issues meeting people. If you knock on a door, they are going to see you.”
He believes becoming involved and trying new interests are valuable ways for students to determine what they like and don’t like.
“You have to get involved and put yourself out there,” he said. “It is like going to the gym. At first, it may feel uncomfortable, but the more you do it, the easier and more enjoyable it becomes. In the beginning, it was nerve-wracking for me to meet with people (from the industry) but I have found they are willing to help you with your career, and that’s especially true in real estate.”
