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Mariana, Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company: Advize Career Interview

A former professional athlete, Mariana's unique career path transitioned from business economics and a master's degree, including experience in a real-life student investment fund involving New York travel and conferences, directly into a Quantitative Analyst role at The Grupe Company.

This position involves asset management, investor reporting, and underwriting support through modeling and analysis on syndicated real estate projects.

The daily work requires constant news awareness, email management, and detailed analytical tasks. Success demands attention to detail, proactivity, and a strong learning curiosity.

Mariana's favorite aspect is the multifaceted nature of the work, witnessing projects from inception to completion, contributing to community impact by addressing housing needs.

Challenges include navigating a male-dominated industry and proving competence, yet this fuels a drive to empower others.

The real estate industry's dynamism, requiring strong networking and adaptability to market changes, is particularly rewarding.

Aspiring professionals should understand the interconnectedness of accounting, finance, and economics, and prioritize continuous learning through consistent news consumption.

Entry-level positions typically involve financial statement analysis, Excel proficiency, and model building, mirroring similar analyst roles across various industries.

Three crucial career lessons learned are timing, risk mitigation through scenario planning, and future thinking.

Mariana's athletic background instilled discipline, perseverance, adaptability, and effective time management, all transferable skills invaluable to a successful career.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Mariana Roge Ferreira Duarte

Quantitative Analyst

The Grupe Company

University of the Pacific

University of the Pacific - Financial Mathematics

Economics

Real Estate

Data and Analytics

International Student, Scholarship Recipient, Student Athlete

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Career Path of a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

Mariana's career path is unique, starting as a professional athlete before pursuing a degree in business economics and then a master's, during which time they gained invaluable experience in a student investment fund, "a real life fund" that involved "travel[ing] to New York" and attending conferences. This led directly to their current role as a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company after graduation, a position that perfectly combined their economic background with the real estate world.

Career Path of a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

Main Responsibilities of a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

Mariana, a Quantitative Analyst with two years of experience at The Grupe Company, plays a key role in a small team, handling "asset management and compiling materials" for performance tracking and investor reporting on syndicated projects. This includes supporting the "extensive" underwriting process through modeling and economic analysis to inform deal decisions and fundraising efforts.

Main Responsibilities of a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

A Day in the Life of a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

A Quantitative Analyst's day begins with staying current on events, "listen[ing] and read[ing] the news very often," followed by responding to emails and preparing for meetings. The remainder of the workday focuses on less time-sensitive tasks.

A Day in the Life of a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

Most Important Skills For A Quantitative Analyst At The Grupe Company

Mariana, a Quantitative Analyst, emphasizes attention to detail as crucial, stating "you have to really pay attention to what you're doing and providing the right information" in the financial markets. Further, a proactive approach and "learning curiosity" are vital for success, enabling them to contribute effectively to multiple projects within their 20-person team and confidently participate in discussions.

Most Important Skills For A Quantitative Analyst At The Grupe Company

Favorite Parts of Being a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

Mariana's favorite aspect of her Quantitative Analyst role at The Grupe Company is the diverse involvement it offers; "I get to be involved with many areas at the same time," working across acquisitions, investments, property management, project management, and capital markets to witness a deal's entire lifecycle, "from the beginning where you see the land all the way to when we deliver the project."

Favorite Parts of Being a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Quantitative Analyst At The Grupe Company

Mariana's biggest challenge as a Quantitative Analyst in the male-dominated real estate industry is "being a woman in a, like a men predominant industry," requiring extra effort to prove competence. The inspiring sight of a female construction worker reinforced Mariana's motivation to "learn and empower" herself and contribute to greater gender equality within the field.

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Quantitative Analyst At The Grupe Company

Favorite Parts of Working in the Real Estate Industry as a Quantitative Analyst

Mariana, a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company, finds the real estate industry gratifying because it addresses "an inelastic demand"—people need housing—and allows for impactful contributions to communities. The work is creative and responsive to current trends, as exemplified by The Grupe Company's incorporation of "a covert room" to suit the modern work environment, ultimately leading to the rewarding experience of seeing projects completed and families moving into their new homes.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Real Estate Industry as a Quantitative Analyst

What Type Of Person Thrives In Real Estate According To A Grupe Company Quantitative Analyst

To thrive in the real estate industry, individuals must be "very driven," possess a "hunger for knowledge," and excel at networking, adapting to changes like fluctuating interest rates and new legislation. Strong networking skills are particularly crucial, as "deals just pop up" through connections with various professionals, including lawyers, brokers, and designers.

What Type Of Person Thrives In Real Estate According To A Grupe Company Quantitative Analyst

What a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Finance Industry

Mariana, a Quantitative Analyst, advises aspiring professionals to understand that fields like accounting, finance, and economics are "very merged," requiring broad knowledge, not just specialized focus in one area. The importance of consistently reading news about economic markets, politics, and new legislation is also highlighted, stating that this habit makes the job "way easier."

What a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Finance Industry

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Quantitative Analysts

Entry-level positions in Mariana's field, quantitative analysis, typically start as "analyst positions," a structured career path leading to associate and higher roles. These roles involve significant financial statement analysis, extensive Excel use, and model building, mirroring similar analyst positions across various industries, including "FP&A, um, analyst positions or investment analyst positions".

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Quantitative Analysts

Significant Career Lesson from a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

Mariana, a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company, identifies three crucial career lessons: the critical importance of "timing," the necessity of considering "all scenarios to mitigate risk," especially in real estate's inherent long-term commitment and economic uncertainties, requiring "future thinking" to assess project viability. This highlights the analytical and strategic nature of their work in navigating complex real estate deals.

Significant Career Lesson from a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company

College Experiences That Helped a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company Succeed

Mariana's experience as a D1 water polo athlete instilled valuable discipline and perseverance, crucial for navigating the challenges of a quantitative analyst role where "you're constantly learning" and feeling like "the dumbest in the room" is common. Adaptability and effective time management are also key to success in a dynamic field, requiring the ability to adjust to evolving market conditions and personal life stages while maintaining a commitment to continuous learning.

College Experiences That Helped a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company Succeed

How Identity Has Influenced a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company's Career

Mariana's athletic background significantly shaped their career, transferring valuable soft skills such as teamwork and communication learned from team sports and the "grit and discipline" developed in individual sports. This foundation proved highly applicable to the demands of a quantitative analyst role, fostering self-motivation and a proactive approach to continuous learning and professional development.

How Identity Has Influenced a Quantitative Analyst at The Grupe Company's Career
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