Owen D. Thomas is the Chairman and CEO of BXP. He is a Director of Lehman Brothers Holdings and served as its first Chairman from 2012 until 2013 when he joined BXP. Prior to Lehman, Mr. Thomas was with Morgan Stanley for 24 years serving in a number of different roles, business units and locations, including Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley Asia and Chairman of Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, while living in Hong Kong from 2008 until 2011. He also held the roles of President of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Head of Morgan Stanley Real Estate and served on Morgan Stanley’s Management Committee from 2005 until 2011.

• Please register no later than Tuesday, April 22, 4:00PM to ensure campus access.
  

Moderated by Chelsea Mehra and organized as part of the MSRED Distinguished Speaker Series.

In March, the International Real Estate Regions: Asia course, led by faculty Johnny Din and joined by MSRED Interim Program Director Adam Lubinsky, took 20 MSRED students to Shanghai and Hong Kong, offering a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the rapidly evolving real estate markets of Shanghai and Hong Kong. The trip, built on strong local connections and the MSRED program’s expansive alumni network, gave students direct access to some of the region’s most influential real estate leaders, offering an unparalleled inside look at the dynamics of international property investment.

In Shanghai, students met with leaders at GLP, Jinqiao Group, IWG, and Shui On Land, diving into a range of projects including residential and workplace. The Hong Kong leg of the trip continued this momentum, with visits to GDS, Cordis Hotels, Link REIT, UBS, KPF, Heitman, and Hang Lung Properties, where students gained valuable insights into cutting-edge real estate practices, sustainability initiatives, and the city’s ever evolving skyline.

Pictured: Students at Peak Galleria in Hong Kong during an Asset Tour with Hang Lung Group.

The Brazil Real Estate Investment course, led by Shawn T Amsler took 15 MSRED students on a journey to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, immersing them in the country’s dynamic real estate market. In São Paulo, students visited JHSF’s luxury developments, including Cidade Jardim mall, Fazenda Boa Vista residential community, and the Surf Lodge hotel, gaining firsthand insights into high-end real estate projects. They also engaged with key industry players at JLL and GTIS Partners, exploring investment strategies, luxury hospitality, and retail development.

The group continued their learning with a visit to private equity fund Kinea and the Rosewood São Paulo Hotel, while also experiencing the urban landscape of Rio de Janeiro, where they met with Vinci Compass and networked with alumni at a Leblon Beach happy hour. The week concluded with a walking tour of downtown Rio and a “Shark Tank”-style pitch session, where students presented their own Brazilian real estate investment strategies to industry experts.

Pictured: Students Site visit to the Surf Lodge Hotel’s private aviation airport, Catalina.

The GSAPP MSRED alumni network came together across multiple locations in East Asia to reconnect, share their work, and reflect on GSAPP’s’s impact on their careers. Events hosted by alumni leaders in Taipei, Shanghai, and Seoul sparked conversations across generations within our alumni network, with MSRED graduates and newly admitted students exchanging perspectives on professional growth and opportunities ahead.

Special thanks to participating speakers and hosts: Jeff Tsai ‘96 MSRED, Chairman, Taiwan Council of Shopping Centers; President, GTB Development Corporation; Guangpeng Fu ’15 MSRED; and Youjin Oh ’11 MSRED, Chief Business Development Officer at Yojin Construction & Engineering.

Pictured: Korea MSRED Alumni Board with admitted MSRED Students