Juan Carlos Corrales Martínez
I’m Costa Rican and a civil engineer by trade. I’m building a career in real estate development and always like to challenge myself to think outside the box and take any opportunity to build my network.
“The globality of the program is what makes it really interesting and really nourishing in terms of professional engagement.”
Global networking and professional engagement
Juan Carlos Corrales was attracted to the Global Master in Real Estate Development because of his forward-looking approach. Keen to develop his career in real estate development in his native Costa Rica, he recognized the importance of broadening his horizons and building an international network, and saw IE University as the perfect place to do that.
“The networking and the holistic approach of the entire program is what differentiates it from other programs.”
While he’s already gained considerable professional experience, Juan Carlos feels that the networking element of the program is key to helping him make the most of the skills he’s gained, so that he can apply them in his future career. In his group of 23 peers in his class, there are at least 18 nationalities. “I think the globality of the program is what makes it really interesting and really nourishing in terms of professional engagement,” he states.
What distinguishes the Global Master in Real Estate Development from other programs is not just its holistic approach, Juan Carlos says, but the fact that it “makes you think differently, outside the box.” The program invites students to consider topics that are not currently “trendy” in the real estate market and to go further in their thinking.
Juan Carlos feels that the capstone project, which students prepare and present in Madrid during the final two weeks of the program, encapsulates this philosophy. With the real-world sites for the capstone being provided by C40 Reinventing Cities, students are challenged with developing a proposal for a complex problem that will require them to put their learning into practice and be innovative in their approach.
When asked what he would say to anyone considering the program, Juan Carlos has the following advice: “Do it. The program is really nourishing. It provides you with a lot of opportunities in your career and has a really modern vision. So go for it!”
