Donald Trump, Jr., a 2000 Wharton graduate, spoke to approximately 200 students about what it’s like to be the real apprentice.
The Masters in Real Estate series, sponsored by the Wharton Undergraduate Real Estate Club, hosted the executive vice president of development and acquisitions for the Trump Organization last night to address students about the current real estate market and how a Wharton education has helped him succeed.
“Ten years ago, I’d be the guy sitting in the back of this Huntsman lecture hall,” Trump said. “I’d be sweating out last night at Smoke’s, trying to learn something and having to figure it out later.”
Trump went on to describe how the real estate business is always changing, and that’s precisely what he loves about it. Like any Wharton student, Trump said he thrives off of working on many projects at once and doing something new every day.
From China to Scotland and New York property to The Apprentice, Trump is constantly traveling and working, but he attributes much of his success and ability to work under pressure to his experience at Wharton.
“Wharton kids have this common mentality, this aggressive mentality, which I initially viewed as negative,” Trump said during an interview after the talk. “But, I’ve come to view it as a positive because in the real world, you have to be able to work with this mind set.”
Trump said students should get to know their peers in and out of class. “Let’s be honest, 90 percent of you are headed for New York,” he said. “The real estate business is a relationship game, and it’s good to get to know the people you’ll be working with one day.”
President of the Wharton Undergraduate Real Estate Club and Wharton junior Michael Stratton said he hopes Trump motivated students and gave them advice to succeed in the real estate business.
According to Events Officer of the Wharton Undergraduate Real Estate Club and Wharton sophomore Jordan Collins, Club members began pursuing Trump last semester. Trump agreed to speak a few months ago.
Real Estate Professor Peter Linneman knows the Trump family personally, Collins said, and helped get the club in touch with Trump. Although Ivanka Trump initially turned down the offer to speak due to her busy schedule planning her wedding, Collins said there’s always a possibility the club will host her in the fall.
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