Ottawa, November 25 - The University of Ottawa Real Estate Club (uOREC), founded in September 2024 by Marcel Wogrodny, Jacob Seifried, and Daniel Mulaja, aims to provide students with a strong foundation for their real estate careers while enhancing their knowledge through exposure to all aspects of the real estate industry. The Telfer Business Journal recently had the opportunity to interview Jacob Seifried, the club's president and co-founder, to discuss uOREC's early achievements, recent events, and future plans.

Seifried is a third-year finance student at the Telfer School of Management. When prompted about where his love for real estate started, Seifried notes that he �grew up in a blue-collar family�. My dad's an electrician. So I was actively wiring houses and learning the construction side,� which he states that �from that experience� I realized that real wealth is created through understanding how to manage [money and a team]� motivating him to pursue a degree in finance.

When he moved to Ottawa, Seifried built a close relationship with his landlord, whom he loved learning from. �I met my landlord who came over from Portugal in the 60s� he's a very hard worker, but he didn't have a lot� didn�t [have an] education,� he said, commenting on how his landlord's hard work built him and his family a good life. This inspired Seifried to realize that �real estate is one of those things [where] if you're careful, and you work hard, you can build intergenerational wealth and provide for your family,� noting its fundamentally community-oriented nature. Seifried was further drawn by the constant learning opportunities in real estate, stating that there�s �a new thing to learn every day in real estate� and falling in love with its multifaceted nature.

With this growing passion and inspired by the need for real estate-specific opportunities at the university, Seifried, Wogrodny, and Mulaja decided to create uOREC. The club�s goal was to provide Telfer students with the tools, experiences, and networks needed to thrive in the real estate industry. �We realized that real estate was a field many students were interested in, but there weren�t any avenues to explore it further,� he explained. The club�s mission is to expose students to all facets of the industry�construction, development, and management�while providing hands-on learning and opportunities to build professional networks, stating that they �really [want to] show what real estate is, demystify it, get students engaged, and then get [them] excited.�

uOREC is more than just a student organization. Jacob described it as a community built on shared goals and a desire to help each other grow, with events being a cornerstone of the club�s activities. These initiatives are designed to inspire and inform, from educational workshops to networking sessions with industry professionals, one event featured a site tour with seasoned real estate professionals who shared their journeys, challenges, and insights, providing attendees with a clearer sense of the opportunities available in the field. Seifried describes it as a place where �people could go and ask those questions and feel comfortable,� asking questions such as �How long does it take for a development project? [And,] coming at it from a career standpoint, what are some of the skills that you need to build your toolbox� those questions that you wish you could ask your dad, right?�

Additionally, site visits to construction projects have given members a unique perspective on the development process, helping them connect theoretical knowledge to practical application. The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing excitement about the chance to see real-world projects up close. Jacob states that the response from participants has created excitement around the club and fostered a deeper appreciation for real estate. By engaging with professionals and exposing students to practical scenarios, these events build knowledge and cultivate enthusiasm for the field. The club is focused on creating a community where students can explore their interests while developing the skills and connections they need to succeed. A comment on a LinkedIn post discussing the recent site visit states:

�It was a real pleasure meeting you and the University of Ottawa Real Estate Club. The genuine enthusiasm and passion the club members possess for real estate shone through in each individual's personality and engaging questions. Without a doubt, the value the club provides will continue to drive its success and the success of its members.�

The club�s leadership is committed to creating a sustainable organization with a legacy for future students. Plans are in motion to empower younger leaders within the club, ensuring continuity and growth. The approach emphasizes mentorship and collaboration, focusing on fostering leadership skills among newer members so they can elevate the club to greater heights. The organization is working to establish partnerships with industry professionals and companies to achieve its goals. These collaborations are envisioned as opportunities for students to engage in mentorship programs where they can learn valuable skills like underwriting deals, reading leases, and managing projects. The club actively pursues these collaborations, recognizing their potential to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application.

Although the club is relatively new, it has already demonstrated significant promise. Through goodwill and strategic networking, it has attracted interest from industry experts without a large budget. These efforts are a crucial step in building a robust foundation for the club�s future. One of the co-founders emphasized the importance of starting small but thinking big. Through persistence and strategic networking, they attracted interest from professionals who saw the potential of the club�s vision. This is exemplified in their next event as planning begins for a career path panel. Jacob notes that this would be a prime way for individuals to get into asset management and real estate Commenting that �I'm first generation breaking into [real estate] development or construction management as a whole� for me, it's learning how to do it myself through trial and error. [After] I've learned it through trial and error, give it to somebody else so they don't have to make those same silly mistakes, right?��describing how learning from others� mistakes provides a more accessible pathway to breaking into real estate.

Looking ahead, the club envisions continuous growth and improvement over the next five to six years. The aim is to establish uOREC as a prestigious organization recognized for its contributions to student development and the real estate industry. Success will rely on building strong relationships, expanding educational opportunities, and eventually garnering institutional support. The president adds that �the idea of the real estate club is to leave an impact at Telfer. I always grew up with the idea [that] you leave something better than you found it and Telfer didn't have a real estate club before [we went out and] took the initiative,� commenting on how he thinks that the �real value of this club will show five to ten years down the road when there's an established network of real estate professionals at Telfer [offering] professional development, internships, [or] even real estate programming.�

There is hope that the club�s value will inspire faculty members to invest in its initiatives, further solidifying its impact. By creating an environment where students can thrive, uOREC seeks to establish itself as a vital resource for those interested in real estate. The club has the potential to shape the future of real estate education at Telfer, and its commitment to growth and excellence ensures it will leave a lasting legacy for generations of students to come.

Works Cited:

Montoni, M., Seifried, J., & Sharma, A. (2024, November 23). Interview with Jacob Seifried. personal. 

University of Ottawa Real Estate Club. LinkedIn, https://ca.linkedin.com/company/university-of-ottawa-real-estate-club.