Logan Ryan

University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration

“Aspiring leader in Commercial Real Estate Brokerage and promising pickleball partner with a stay-hungry mentality.”

Fun fact about yourself: I have met the Prime Minister of Australia and swam with sharks in the span of 24 hours!

Hometown: Exeter, New Hampshire

High School: Berwick Academy

Major: Finance

Minor: Economics

Favorite Business Course: Efficiency of Capital Markets

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Business Involvement

• Pitt Business International Student Ambassador
• Pitt Business Admissions Ambassador
• Delta Sigma Pi Webmaster and Brother
• JLL Real Estate Finance Academy Participant
• Scrum Project Management Academy Participant
• Professional Sales Academy Participant
• Plus3 Global Projects Program Participant
• Global Business Institute Program Participant
• Pitt Business Dean Search Committee Undergraduate Student Representative

Non-Business Involvement

• Pi Kappa Phi Brother
• Intramural Soccer
• Great Bay Kids Company Seasonal Teaching Assistant

Awards

• Dean’s List
• Fund for Education Abroad Scholar
• Eugene & Deborah Curcio Scholar
• Glunt Family Business Scholar
• John McIntosh CBA Scholar
• James Tafel Business Intern Scholar
• Haller Chair UC CBA Scholar
• Howard Hannah, Jr. Business Scholar

Where have you interned during your college career?

Banna Property Group (Sydney, NSW, Australia, Finance Intern)

JLL (Pittsburgh, PA, Brokerage Intern)

Where will you be working after graduation? Undecided

Who is your favorite business professor? Although I have had many great professors during my time at the University of Pittsburgh, I would say that hands down there is one who stood out amongst the rest, and that professor would be Peter Del Presto. Efficiency of Capital Markets, the course I took with him, has been my favorite business course at Pitt thus far. Yes, the material was interesting in that we learned about the efficient market hypothesis by way of studying different theories, going through research, and working through case studies. However, what really made this class memorable was the way he taught. He actively encouraged class participation and posed questions that forced your mind to draw connections between different concepts and topics to see how they work together as a whole in the grander scheme of things. Without a doubt, this is a course that pushed me out of my comfort zone academically. For that, I give great thanks to Peter Del Presto.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Without a doubt, I have certainly learned a lot over these past four years studying business in college. However, I think the biggest takeaway personally wasn’t something that I learned in the classroom, but through experience and taking advantage of the opportunities and resources at your disposal. Within reason, I try to always say yes to a new experience that comes my way, even if I don’t think I will particularly like it at first. I have found that it’s through these situations you can make discoveries as to your likes and dislikes, and further gain clarity in the direction you should move forward professionally. You truly never know what open doors and opportunities are around the corner unless you take that step forward to look and find out.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? One piece of advice that I would give to someone younger looking to major in a business-related field is that communication is key. This may include speaking to students who were once in your shoes about internships they have had and the steps they took to get there; talking to your advisor who may have insight into programs you could participate in or classes that may be of interest to you; or faculty who may have connections in the real world and can set you up with someone to speak to in an industry of interest. Although it is intimidating at first, many, if not most, people will go out of their way to sit down with you to chat and answer some questions you have. All you have to do is just ask.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? What surprised me the most about majoring in business, is the field’s diversity. I truly didn’t realize how many different paths there are to take career-wise, even just within one specific industry. For example, going into college I had thought real estate was solely just selling houses, plain and simple. To my surprise, there are two different types of real estate, residential and commercial. Within each of those, take commercial real estate for example, there are a variety of different ways in which you can go professionally such as into Leasing or Capital Markets or Occupier Services – and even more concentration within those.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? Looking back on these past four years at Pitt, I genuinely don’t think I would change a thing. Yes, that is cliche, but I wouldn’t be where I am or who I am today without the achievements I have had to reflect on, and the mistakes and challenges I’ve been able to take as learning opportunities. There is one thing, however, that I like to say while on student panels when asked this or a similar question: although it may seem so simple, I always tell students that I wish I had gotten myself acquainted with universal tools within business such as mastering Excel and gaining familiarity with Python earlier on in my college career. Not only does proficiency with these tools set you apart from other candidates when it comes time for recruitment, but it also can just make your life a whole lot easier in terms of efficiency and accuracy with class work and assignments.

Which academic, extracurricular, or personal achievement are you most proud of? I think the achievement that I am most proud of is my continual effort to try and get involved and help others within the Pitt community. This may involve my role as International Student Ambassador helping current students achieve their study abroad goals; assisting prospective students making their big college decision while working as an Admissions Ambassador; or providing mentorship for students interested in commercial real estate as Pitt doesn’t offer it as a major or minor. I am very proud of the person I have become over these past four years, and I feel as if it’s only right for me to give back to the community as it has done so much for me.

Which classmate do you most admire? A classmate of mine whom I greatly admire for his initiative and achievements thus far in his professional career is my friend Oscar. It wasn’t until my junior year of college when I met Oscar Rothschild. However, in every interaction and conversation I have had with him since then, I am inspired by his contagious appetite for success. As only a sophomore, Oscar worked as a private wealth management intern for a big bank in New York. This semester, in addition to his academics, he is working as a financial planning intern, while simultaneously passing his SIE certification and is now studying for his Series 66. Oscar has made great progress with continual progression towards success in his own career as just a Junior in college. Without a second thought, he will go out of his way to help others do the same, serving as a pool of great knowledge and advice to the best of his ability. Oscar’s goal of one day leading a financial advisory team will become a reality, and there is not a single doubt in my mind about that.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? There are many people in my life to thank for getting me where I am today such as my mentors, my mentees, my family, or my friends and the people I surround myself with. However, one individual comes to mind when I hear this question who planted the seed that has grown into the drive and ambition I have today. That person is one of my old soccer coaches from high school. During the fall of my senior year, I had a lot going on in my life at the time. As a result, I certainly wasn’t playing my best soccer throughout the season. Due to this, one game this particular coach pulled me off the field, sat me down on the bench, and told me, “Don’t let anyone write your story.” Although in his mind this may have been in the context of the game at hand, for me, this statement hit something much deeper than that. Although it’s unlikely that he remembers this moment, I would like to thank him for the driven mindset I embody, a push towards taking advantage of opportunities, acting with purpose, and striding towards achieving my dreams and the impossible.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Although there are many things that I would like to achieve throughout my professional career, and this list is always growing, my top two items are involvement in a nonprofit and teaching part-time at a university.

This semester, I am taking a class titled Practices of Nonprofit Management, in which we are working hands-on with a local nonprofit organization and performing a 360 analysis on how they can improve their business processes. With each class we have and each guest speaker we hear from, my interest in getting involved with a nonprofit grows stronger. I would love to potentially sit on a nonprofit’s board of directors one day. As of right now, my thoughts are toward a nonprofit that has to do with early childhood education; I have some experience working in this field and have been able to see the importance of quality education in child development.

As for my next goal, at some point in my professional career, I would love the opportunity to teach a real estate course at the university level. Inspired by my professor Peter Del Presto, who works as an adjunct teacher at Pitt, I would love to do the same and be able to use my professional experiences to help students push forward towards achieving their goals and help set them up for success in the industry.

What made Logan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Logan has been such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024 and leaves big shoes to fill for those who follow. As the Assistant Director of Program Development at Pitt Business and Adjunct Faculty, I have had a unique experience working with Logan. He is a student who could see big potential in even the smallest of opportunities. He has never shied away from volunteering his time and expertise to his peers. From being on panels to welcome transfer students, to so warmly being willing to talk to any student peer about his professional experiences, it is this kind of ambition and leadership that will forever leave a mark on the Pitt Business community.

Logan became a predominant person on my radar during the Fall 2021 semester when he expressed interest in developing a career focused on real estate. A sophomore at the time, he traditionally would not be eligible to take part in a co-curricular (non-credit) program I managed at the time called the JLL/ Pitt Business Real Estate Finance Academy. He built a case for himself that even as a sophomore (typically the program is for juniors and seniors), he would thrive in the program and keep up with the dedicated commitment necessary to complete the program. His application was accepted, and at the end of the program, he beat out over 25 other students for a summer internship with JLL. This is the kind of motivation that is infectious and has led him to real estate-focused internships internationally.

At Pitt Business, we have a motto of “From the Classroom- To the City- To the World”. If I think of a student who embodies all three of these core pillars, it is Logan Ryan. Maintaining a 3.8 GPA, seeking out his niche internships, and participating in internships aboard, he truly understood what it took to be a successful student at Pitt Business.  Beyond this, Logan continued to seek out ways to grow professionally. He accepted student worker jobs in the admissions and global experience offices to share his knowledge. Additionally, he participated in several development programs to gain industry experience and credentials. He trained to become a Professional Scrum Master I, participated in the Eastdil Secured Real Estate Training Program, and this semester will present to a panel of judges for a sales case competition, a skill he saw that could only benefit him as he continues to pursue his real estate career.

In college, students are often identified by their academic and professional successes. I could fill a full page talking about Logan, but what I want to highlight is his character. Universities are places for people to learn, grow, and develop skills to ultimately provide them with opportunities to build careers. In my position, I focus on the career part of a student’s journey. Students can learn how to develop hard & and technical skills but what makes someone stand out? It is how they treat people, how they take initiative, how they can contribute to something. When I think about Logan, that is what comes to mind. His professional successes are notable, but his character and willingness to always support his peers and those around him is what I want to ensure is taken note of about him. I can’t wait to see what is next for Logan and I know for certain, he will be a valuable alumni mentor for future Pitt Business students.”

Rebecca Rhoades
Associate Director of Program Development / Adjunct Faculty
University of Pittsburgh | College of Business Administration

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