NAREIM celebrates the next generation of commercial real estate leaders through the NAREIM Jeff Barclay Fellows program.
Named after the late Jeff Barclay, former NAREIM Chairman, Managing Director and Head of Acquisitions at Clarion Partners, and Head of Goldman Sachs' Real Estate Group, the NAREIM Jeff Barclay Fellows award is given to five outstanding graduate students with the goal to provide insights into the future of real estate investment management.
For more information on the program, contact IvyLee Rosario, Head of Programs.
“Choosing the NAREIM Fellows was a deeply rewarding experience,” said Kara Brown, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Secretary of Cabot Properties, who served on the 2025-2026 Fellows selection committee. “I am inspired by the high caliber of candidates this program attracts; these worthy Fellows will get unique access to senior leaders in the real estate investment management industry, serving to increase their value and career potential, as well as providing senior leaders with reverse mentorship.”
“The Jeff Barclay Fellows program reflects NAREIM and our members’ deep commitment to cultivating the next generation of leaders in real estate investment management,” said Reesa Fischer, CEO of NAREIM. “By connecting students with industry professionals and exposing them to real-world insights, we not only honor Jeff’s legacy but also invest in the future of our industry.”
Thanks go to the NAREIM Fellows judges for selecting the Class of 2025-2026. Judges are chosen from the NAREIM Executive Officer community and included:
Ravi Ragnauth, Berkshire Residential
Kara Brown, Cabot Properties
Bert Crouch, Invesco
John Gochberg, TGM Associates
Deborah Smith, The CenterCap Group
Welcome to our Jeff Barclay Fellows Class of 2025-2026, five outstanding students from Boston University Questrom School of Business, Columbia Business School, MIT Center for Real Estate, NYU Stern, and Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.
FELLOWS CLASS OF 2025/2026
Boston University Questrom School of Business
Nehal recently completed her MBA and MS in Digital Technology from Boston University. During graduate school, she worked at Boston Consulting Group on marketing and AI strategy. She brings nearly a decade of experience across product strategy, operations, real estate, and construction, including roles at JLL and Cushman & Wakefield, where she led procurement efforts and managed large-scale capital projects. A Goldie Initiative Scholar and CREW Boston Scholarship recipient, Nehal is passionate about using innovation and investment to drive long-term value in real estate and asset management. She is a Product Manager at Suffolk Technologies.
Columbia Business School
Trevor is an MBA candidate at Columbia Business School, studying Real Estate and Finance. Prior to business school, he led Western US acquisitions for Triten Real Estate Partners, focusing on warehouse and industrial outdoor storage assets. He began his real estate career at JPMorgan Asset Management in New York and Los Angeles, focusing on acquisitions and asset management across various asset classes. Trevor graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point with a BS in Engineering Management and served as an Army infantry officer. He completed an internship at Pennybacker Capital in New York this summer.
"Attending this meeting as a Jeff Barclay Fellow was an invaluable experience. Small group conversations revealed how senior leaders frame uncertainty, set priorities, and reconcile objectives across people, capital, and strategy. Hearing executives walk through their decisions in real time gave me a clearer view of the leadership challenges behind the headlines, including aligning culture with performance, communicating through ambiguity, and navigating market cycles. The Program created rare access for thoughtful dialogue with industry leadership, with grounded guidance and candid feedback from executives. I left with a broader perspective and meaningful professional connections I look forward to developing."
New York University Stern School of Business
Nikoloz recently earned his MBA from NYU Stern, where he specialized in Real Estate and Finance. During his time at Stern, he played an active leadership role as a board member of the Stern Real Estate Club and he was also selected as a Chen Institute Real Estate Fellow, recognizing his commitment to the industry. Prior to earning his MBA, he led a vertically integrated development company, managing projects from concept through construction and delivery. Following graduation, Nikoloz launched RedRock Growth Partners, an investment firm focused on acquiring and operating multifamily real estate across Brooklyn.
"This was an inspiring and eye-opening experience. I had the privilege of meeting and learning from some of the most accomplished leaders in real estate, engaging in open, candid discussions that deepened my understanding of market trends and leadership at the highest level. Beyond the panels, the treasure hunt, networking receptions, and dinners with executive officers, these events created genuine connections and meaningful dialogue. Each moment reinforced the value of collaboration and curiosity in this industry. I am deeply grateful to the NAREIM team for organizing such an enlightening event and for giving fellows this remarkable opportunity."
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
Brigid is pursuing an MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management while working as a Vice President at LaSalle Investment Management. She sources investment opportunities across markets in the Midwest, Southeast, and Mountain regions. She began her career at LaSalle in Asset Management, and most recently led dispositions for LaSalle’s Transactions team. Passionate about supporting women in the industry, Brigid serves as a founding member of the LaSalle Women’s Network and is both a Goldie Scholar and CREW Chicago Debbie Frank Scholar. She earned a BS in Hotel Administration with a minor in Real Estate from Cornell University.
"Attending the NAREIM Executive Officer meeting as a Jeff Barclay Fellow was a truly rewarding experience. I was impressed by the candid dialogue and the approachable, open-minded nature of the leaders in attendance. The conference thoughtfully combined social outings with engaging discussion formats, creating natural opportunities for meaningful connection and the open exchange of ideas. I left the meeting inspired by the authenticity of the conversations and motivated to apply what I learned in my own career."
MIT Center for Real Estate
Richard is a graduate student at MIT’s Center for Real Estate, where he researches how artificial intelligence and econometric modeling can improve investment decisions. With a Computer Science degree from the University of Waterloo, Richard has held AI roles at Oracle, in financial institutions, and most recently at Link Logistics, a Blackstone portfolio company. He previously founded an AI-driven real estate start-up with close to $1 billion in sales volume and he has advised major developers and organizations. His work bridges advanced data science with practical insights to inform capital allocation and market strategy.
"The NAREIM meeting was an inspiring experience—having the chance to engage in open conversations with C-suite executives in private real estate investment was invaluable. Hearing how leaders are embracing data and AI gave me confidence I’m pursuing the right direction, and it was encouraging to see my perspectives welcomed. For me, this was not only a chance to learn but also an opportunity to contribute ideas on how technological innovation can shape investment strategy and operations in the years ahead."
BENEFITS OF BEING A FELLOW
C-suite networking
Opportunity to attend NAREIM’s Executive Officer Meeting each year. This is an unrivalled opportunity to network in small groups with some of the leading C-suite and executive officers in private real estate investment. NAREIM meetings are not based on panel discussions but small group roundtable work, where you will sit and participate in conversations challenging members on how they are building and scaling their firms. All costs are covered by NAREIM.
NAREIM Fellows participate in the Executive Officer Meeting, attending discussions, networking, and activities.
Networking with NAREIM Board of Directors
Fellows have private discussions with NAREIM’s Board of Directors.
More networking
The opportunity to participate in NAREIM’s functional group in-person meetings running from October to September to understand how the real estate investment management business truly operates, and the challenges and opportunities ahead for each group. Travel costs are met by students/universities.
NAREIM covers the following functional groups:
- Architecture, Engineering & Development
- Asset Management
- Capital Raising & Investor Relations
- Data & Information Management
- Executive Officer
- Hispanic Real Estate Roundtable
- Legal, Compliance & Risk
- Portfolio Management
- Sustainability
- Talent Management