Project Destined Provides Trusted Source of Young, Robust REIT Talent

Bobo has recruited some of the largest players in real estate, which are eager to expand their talent pipelines with high-potential employees who can bring traditional and cutting edge skill sets to their companies. These companies support Project Destined by funding classes, internships, and mentoring students. The organization has more than 250 companies and associations as business partners, including Nareit and individual REITs.

Project Destined now boasts 20,000 alumni from more than 350 colleges and universities globally. Furthermore, over 100 new students are trained online every Saturday morning. Bobo’s goal is to train 10,000 students annually.

Building a Bridge

Through strong leadership, a robust curriculum including expert adjunct professors, and sponsors, Bobo’s mission is to create a new generation of real estate leaders and property owners.

In addition to teaching students about real estate, Project Destined provides a network of industry professionals and access to mentors to guide them during the program. Simultaneously, industry professionals are connected to a talented pool of aspiring young professionals.

Bobo says that the key to the program’s success is providing specialized training that goes far beyond real estate fundamentals.

“By asking our partners about their challenges and creating responsive, targeted educational programs, Project Destined ensures it’s providing precisely the talent pipeline companies need,” Bobo explains.

In 2024 alone, Bobo built 100 customized programs around a sponsor, a series of speakers, and on-site opportunities. He says Project Destined partners want students that are trained with applicable skill sets that will help future proof their businesses and workforces.

That’s exactly what the partnership between Project Destined and Nareit does.

The Nareit grant is helping Project Destined expand its REIT Bridge Program, so that it can provide more students with direct exposure to the REIT industry. The program includes a six-week speaker series, site visits, and a multi-week course focused on REIT analysis and research—all of which are designed to align with each REIT sector’s specific hiring needs. The goal of the project is twofold: to show students that the REIT industry offers accessible opportunities and career paths for professionals from all backgrounds while also directly connecting REITs with future employees and leaders who have the knowledge, skills, and creativity that REITs need to compete in today’s CRE landscape.

“Project Destined continues to deliver on what our members need most: a reliable pipeline of enthusiastic and ambitious high-potential talent who want to both work in the industry today and shape it for tomorrow. The combination of Bobo’s rigorous program, adaptable model, and specialized training support Nareit’s efforts to raise awareness of REITs and increase young professionals access to REIT careers. Helping members create robust pipelines also meets a critical long-term need: strengthening succession planning across the industry.

Nareit Brings Important Relationships

Nareit is valuable because it brings together a range of REITs across different sectors, Bobo points out.

“It lets us bring students to meet the REITs, and it also lets us hear what the REITs need in terms of hiring. Then we create new programs,” he explains. “That’s the beauty. We get tremendous insight through Nareit and its partners, and we can grow and build more specialized programs and provide skill sets relevant to their businesses, which expands their talent pipelines.”