Sandra Mercado
Portfolio Managment Analyst
Capital One
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
First, I wanted to make my mom proud & get a stable job in accounting & majored in this in college.
I then thought that finance and IT would be smart career wise for a stable job and income.
Then post-recession I was eager to get a job and got a job in consulting in Internal Audit.
After exposure to a multitude of industries, I realized I wanted to pursue a career in real estate.
Then I took a pay cut to get my foot in the door in real estate in Retail Leasing.
Then I got admitted in the MS Real Estate Development program at Columbia.
Then I tried working at a quasi-governmental position as an intern at NYCEDC.
Then I found my job at Capital One where I get to work in real estate while working with underserved.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Notre Dame Academy
Notre Dame Academy
Career
Portfolio Managment Analyst
I ensure our affordable housing assets are functioning well.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Numbers
Non-Profit Organizations
Working Independently
Day to Day
Working together with my teammates, learning about the projects in the pipeline, visiting existing affordable housing assets or one currently under construction.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
Read blogs about current projects in the pipeline. Great blogs to read (for those with a metropolitan interest) are Curbed and the Real Deal. It helps to also read about current events, as the events in the world affect the supply and demand in real estate. In a cyclical industry, it's important to understand how to position your career with the highs and lows of the cycle. Also, there are opportunities where high school students can attend seminars / workshops to gain exposure to the industry.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Family:
"You shouldn't move too far from home. There are enough opportunities already where you are."
