PGIM Real Estate: Building Opportunity

PGIM Real Estate believes that doing the right thing for their people, the environment and communities leads to better results for all stakeholders. They are committed to advancing social justice and racial equity, especially in the communities where they invest and operate.  

“Our partnership with KIPP allows our employees to develop inclusive leadership skills and engage with the communities in which we work and invest. They really enjoy working with the KIPP students and helping them with their resumes, interviewing skills and providing career guidance. We’re very excited to have hired several KIPP alumnae into our summer and full-time analyst programs and look forward to expanding our early talent pipeline with KIPP students.”  Ivy Tsui, Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at PGIM Real Estate 

Through their ongoing partnership with KIPP, established in 2018, PGIM Real Estate employees have volunteered hundreds of hours supporting more than 2,000 KIPPsters in Newark, Dallas and Washington, DC, as they prepare to navigate the workforce by providing training, education and career opportunities.  

“It’s incredibly important for college students to build relationships with professionals in various industries, both to guide their career planning and to learn more about careers themselves. It’s even more important for our KIPP alumni, where many are first-generation college students.” Samantha Crockett, KIPP New Jersey Career Program Manager 

Together, PGIM Real Estate and KIPP have executed over 90 events and activities for KIPPsters, including career fairs, mock interviews and pre-college program application essay revisions, with more than 500 PGIM employees generously volunteering their time and expertise.  

Resume workshops also pair up PGIM volunteers with KIPP alums, enabling KIPPsters to receive personalized coaching and resume feedback. These two-month-long workshops empower KIPPsters with the tools to pursue full-time employment and critical internships while facilitating meaningful relationships with volunteers.  

“This past summer, I received a lot of experience in my summer internship, but it was hard to transfer those details to my resume. Ms. Kim Johnson at PGIM Real Estate was really helpful in getting my resume to truly reflect how much I accomplished at my internship.” Jadisha Proano, KIPP alum and current Freshman at Dickinson College 

Ultimately, KIPP’s partnership with PGIM Real Estate aims to equip KIPP alums with the skills and professional experiences they need to succeed in their chosen career paths. Khufu Edwards knows first-hand how transformative finding the right career path can be. A KIPP DC alumni, Khufu was a junior at West Virginia University when KIPP staff notified him of an internship opportunity with PGIM Real Estate. Khufu secured a summer internship with them, unleashing a passion for finance. After completing a second internship with PGIM Real Estate the following summer, they offered him a full-time job. 

“This has been instrumental in my life trajectory. Prior to KIPP sharing the PGIM Real Estate internship opportunity, I was still deciding how I wanted to explore my interest in finance. PGIM and KIPP have afforded me the opportunity to learn more about the world of commercial real estate. This space is fascinating and can spark generational wealth for my family and me.” Khufu Edwards, Senior Investment Analyst at PGIM Real Estate 

Now, Khufu is a Senior Investment Analyst at PGIM Real Estate and pays it forward as a KIPP ambassador, volunteering at resume workshops and offering career advice during “Lunch and Learns.” His unique perspective as a KIPP alum enables him to connect and relate with KIPPsters over shared experiences. 

At KIPP, we want our students and alums to feel empowered, prepared and supported when embarking on their chosen career paths. We are grateful to PGIM Real Estate for the support they show our students and their commitment to advancing social justice and equity. Together, we are helping KIPPsters build the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. 

view ALL POSTS