Written by Blake Miller
As my summer internship at Juniper Capital comes to an end, I find myself incredibly grateful for the valuable experiences that have significantly contributed to my professional growth. The hands-on training, I received at Juniper, a dynamic and growing firm in the industry, has been unparalleled. Despite coming from a commercial real estate family, commercial lending was not a frequent topic of discussion at our dinner table. However, the leadership at Juniper provided me with an invaluable opportunity to learn the fundamentals of real estate investing and, more importantly, to begin building a professional network as I explore potential career paths before graduating in two years.
When I began my internship in May, I was eager to absorb as much knowledge as possible about real estate and to engage with industry experts. Little did I know that I would be thrown into the deep end on my very first day, attending a NAIOP Developing Leaders event. As a college student with limited contacts and no prior real estate experience, I was initially anxious about attending. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people interested in talking to “the intern.” This experience gave me confidence in knowing that I could hold my own in that environment and set the stage for many subsequent meetings and lunches with brokers, appraisers, and other professionals in the field.
My time in the Juniper office was equally rewarding. I had the chance to sit in on important discussions about the prospects and challenges of certain assets and investments. Reviewing loan agreements and observing negotiations were crucial components of my learning process. Listening in on client conversations allowed me to grasp strategic thinking and contributing to research and development projects made me feel like a valued part of the team. I also spent time scouring brokerage websites to help leadership connect with people in various markets and reviewing county records to identify trends and potential clients. Many of these tasks were time-sensitive or had self-imposed deadlines, which pushed me to manage my time effectively and handle situations outside my comfort zone.
Throughout this internship, I gained a foundational understanding of commercial real estate, including the processes of buying, selling, leasing, and valuating properties. I also believe that these experiences have helped me sharpen my communication, problem-solving, and time management skills. I want to extend my thanks to the Juniper team, especially Kurt and Jared, for taking me under their wing and teaching me the basics of the business. If there’s one key takeaway from my time at Juniper, it’s that dedication and motivation are essential to closing deals and working with external partners. This internship has been an excellent introduction to the business world, which is exactly what I hoped to gain this summer, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned in the future.
