Real Estate Circle
About
The Columbia Real Estate Circle is an exclusive alumni-only group that provides unique networking opportunities and educational events for its members. Programs are designed to encourage network building and professional development, and often include monthly market updates, access to Columbia University faculty thought leaders, intimate gatherings with leading real estate practitioners and business leaders, and exclusive behind the scenes tours of signature real estate projects.
Members of the Circle also steer the leadership and program development for the annual Columbia Business School Real Estate Symposium.
Membership
Membership currently spans 40 graduation years, including alumni from across the US and more recently touching the UK and Latin America. We are thrilled to see this international network of CBS real estate professionals grow! Members of the Circle are at various levels in their careers and are making their mark in all segments of the real estate industry.
What Does a Commitment Mean?
An annual commitment to the Real Estate Circle is a tax-deductible gift to the Milstein Center and the MBA Real Estate Program and therefore does not correlate with a specific number of events or programs you participate in. A gift to the Circle supports education, research and industry engagement at Columbia Business School, and has a deep and immediate impact on the Center's mission to educate the next generation of business leaders about the practice of real estate within an ever-changing global market.
How Do I Get Involved?
Join us as a guest for an upcoming event to see how the Circle comes together!
If you would like more information or to discuss the Columbia Business School's Real Estate Circle, please contact Kristin Svenningsen, Managing Director of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate.
If you are ready to join, an online gift commitment for the Circle can be made here.
On the main screen, please select "Other" as the designation option and include "Real Estate Circle" in the Comments/Special Instruction field on the next page.
The Real Estate Circle has been the perfect way for me to stay involved with Columbia Business School and in particular maintain strong ties to the CBS real estate network. Since starting PTM Partners in 2018, the Circle has been a great resource in both raising capital and sourcing deals.

Scott Meyer ’14
Joining the Real Estate Circle is an excellent way to develop relationships (old and new) with CBS Alumni and thought leaders in the real estate industry as well as to stay connected to the school.

Eric Tam ’08
The Circle is a powerful way to enhance your CBS real estate network while giving back to the school... Staying involved with CBS is a great way to augment your professional development at all stages of your career.

Raphael Sidelsky ’99
I should have joined years ago, because it’s fun! The Real Estate Circle has been valuable to me personally and professionally. In addition to being really connected with the school, I have made new alliances with CBS alumni that I have never met and gotten reacquainted with old friends.

Gentry Ashmore Hoit ’90
The Real Estate Circle has been instrumental in building strong relationships with some of the most engaged professionals in our industry. The ability to connect and share ideas at curated forums is a unique benefit.

Gideon Gil ’00
The CBS Real Estate Circle amplifies the benefits of the school’s powerful alumni network by making likeminded professionals accessible on a frequent and intimate basis. Circle Meetings have provided an engaging venue to stay abreast of recent trends affecting CRE and to meet fellow CBS grads who can offer well-founded insight to complex investment challenges. My connection to CBS is stronger and more meaningful because of my involvement in the Real Estate Circle!
