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Carl, CEO at Parkside Asset Management: Advize Career Interview
This interview with the CEO of Parkside Asset Management offers an inside look at the fast-paced world of residential asset management.
Starting with a student housing startup, "Hugs," the CEO built a career rooted in resourcefulness and the ability to prioritize effectively.
The role is demanding, with long, unstructured days, but is constantly intellectually stimulating and relies heavily on emotional intelligence and relationship building.
The biggest challenge lies in managing the growing pains of a new company. The CEO highlights the visual nature of real estate, collaborative spirit, and the importance of perseverance in the industry.
This individual believes experiential learning is invaluable and prioritizes people over profits, investing in relationships for unquantifiable returns. A strong college presence built a personal brand that opened doors.
Their background as an international alum has cultivated a diverse, collaborative team, making it one of the best decisions this CEO ever made.
Entry-level positions like analyst roles and real estate agent positions provide pathways into the field. The insight and experiences shared demonstrate a commitment to growth, innovation, and building a thriving organization.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Carl Dumesle
CEO
Parkside Asset Management
University of San Diego
MBA
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Business Management & Admin
Real Estate
Business Strategy
International Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School
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Career Path Of A CEO At Parkside Asset Management
Starting as an international student pursuing an MBA in 2019, Carl immediately founded a startup, "Hugs, basically like... Airbnb for student housing", which gained traction after winning a pitch competition, and after graduation, juggled an internship at CBRE with raising $150,000 for the startup. A year later, Carl transitioned to working on the startup full-time, which eventually "evolved into... a residential asset management company called Parkside Asset Management," where they now serve as CEO.
Main Responsibilities of a CEO at Parkside Asset Management
As CEO of Parkside Asset Management, Carl sees their main responsibility as empowering the team by providing the resources and direction needed to succeed, focusing on "how do I help my people get their job done?" This support varies from providing financial tools to securing new business, ultimately solving the company's biggest challenges and helping the team move forward.
A Day In The Life Of A CEO At Parkside Asset Management
As CEO of a year-old company, Carl's days are long, starting early and ending in the early hours of the next morning, and unstructured as "there is none and there can't be any" given the constantly changing needs of a new business where control comes from the ability to prioritize tasks as needed without needing permission. Due to the constant work, Carl jokes that "days kind of blend into each other," with work happening whenever one is not sleeping.
Most Important Skills For A CEO At Parkside Asset Management
As a CEO at Parkside Asset Management, Carl emphasizes that "emotional intelligence" is paramount for negotiating and aligning incentives with various stakeholders; Carl also notes that effective "resource management" is critical for ensuring the company's survival, encompassing everything from material logistics to timely payments.
Favorite Parts Of Being A CEO At Parkside Asset Management
Carl, CEO of Parkside Asset Management, enjoys the constant intellectual stimulation and challenge of the role, noting "there's never a dull moment" as daily tasks involve tackling the company's most pressing problems, demanding a continuous learning curve and quick decision-making. The need to operate at "the 99 percentile of ability" due to the novelty of challenges brings a high level of adrenaline and fun to the work.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A CEO At Parkside Asset Management
The biggest challenge for Parkside Asset Management's CEO is "growing pains," because growth puts the company in a constant negotiation between its needs and available resources, which can lead to situations like being "too busy" but unable to afford necessary support, with the risk of growing "towards bankruptcy" if not managed well.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Real Estate Industry as a CEO
Carl enjoys the visual nature of the residential real estate industry, where "you actually see the finished product of someone's work" and draw inspiration from direct comparisons; moreover, the collaborative spirit, driven by the shared incentive to increase overall property values, makes it a fulfilling field.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Real Estate Industry, According To A CEO At Parkside Asset Management
Carl emphasizes that "people who thrive" in real estate possess immense staying power and can "withstand a lot of hurt for a very, very long time" due to the volatile nature of the industry where initial years yield little to no income and a single bad transaction can erase years of earnings, making the ability to persevere and "not give up" crucial for success.
What A CEO At Parkside Asset Management Was Glad They Didn't Know Before Entering The Financial Services Industry
Carl, the CEO of Parkside Asset Management, believes "experiential learning is the best" and wouldn't have wanted a "playbook" for the role, preferring to learn by doing, even if that meant "getting punched in the face" initially. For Carl, the fulfillment comes from learning to dodge the punches and "punching back," highlighting a preference for hands-on experience over being told how to navigate the challenges of their career.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Analysts at Parkside Asset Management
Carl from Parkside Asset Management states that "on the bottom end" of entry-level positions in the field are analyst positions, which are high-level assistants to teams, and a real estate agent, where one is essentially starting their "own personal business" and working on commission. The analyst role involves assisting brokers with tasks like calling clients and analyzing deals, providing a strong foundation for moving into sales and becoming a broker.
Significant Career Lesson From A CEO At Parkside Asset Management
As a CEO, Carl has learned that focusing on people and relationships is more valuable than chasing profits. Carl believes that "investing in people...is gonna pay you dividends that you can't even quantify" as opportunities and deals ultimately stem from human connections, not just money.
College Experiences That Helped a CEO at Parkside Asset Management Succeed
While in college, Carl's active participation in campus life helped create a personal brand that resulted in key people and alums knowing who Carl was. As a result, Carl's first job after college was secured because the interviewer, an alum, "felt like they knew" Carl already from seeing Carl's face and activities in school newsletters.
How Identity Has Influenced A CEO's Career At Parkside Asset Management
As an international alum, the career professional says that it has significantly impacted their career, fostering a collaborative environment where they can sponsor other international alums because they "know where they're coming from," and they can leverage their multilingualism, leading to a different and better "vibe" within the team, which has prompted them to hire internationally. Ultimately, they feel that "deciding to work with other international alums was like... the best decision" they could have ever made.
Advizer Personal Links
Instagram: @carldumesle
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