Jennifer Cookke, the CEO and founder of FH French Co., recently became a full-time lecturer at the Graduate Center for Real Estate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She will teach courses in entrepreneur, real estate products and real estate development. Cookke holds a master’s degree in real estate development from MIT, an MBA from Bryant University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston University. She responded recently to questions about her new undertaking.
PBN: Have you previously taught at MIT and what was your experience?
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COOKKE: I have taught various courses as an adjunct faculty member. I began teaching at the institute back in 2014, after teaching at Bryant University.
PBN: Why does teaching as a full-time lecturer appeal to you at this point in your career?
COOKKE: Being a faculty member at an institution such as MIT is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The professionals and students that I work with from around the globe expose me to concepts, trends and ideas that I would never come across running my business in Rhode Island.
PBN: What is most important for graduate students to understand about real estate development?
COOKKE: Real estate development is all about instinct and risk management. But what most people don’t realize are all of the many trades and professions that make up the overarching real estate development profession, such as engineers, lawyers, planners, architects, etc. Our profession requires a finely orchestrated process that is so exciting. The real estate development class at the graduate program covers everything from concept inception, the public process, financing, feasibility, studies, etc. All of the components that go into a real estate development project from start to finish.
PBN: What is entrepreneurship in the real estate industry? Can you cite a few examples?
COOKKE: The entrepreneurship class is all about creating global thinkers who are going to change the way real estate looks in the future. So many of us in the real estate development profession are entrepreneurs. In this class, we study the art of entrepreneurship within a global perspective of creating real estate products throughout the world. Our program is very globally focused. Only 48 percent of our students are from the United States.
PBN: In general, what is the benefit of an advanced degree in real estate?
COOKKE: The Center for Real Estate graduate program is similar to an MBA program but with an intensive approach and a focus on real estate. Our students must enter the program already having achieved significant achievements in an aspect within the real estate world. Many of our students come to round out their knowledge in the profession, such as a real estate finance person coming to understand the development world at a much higher level.
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Email her at MacDonald@PBN.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryF_MacDonald.
