Since graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business with a bachelor of business administration degree in 2015, Martin Nguyen has been on an exciting journey of bold risks and transformative experiences. The young professional has already enjoyed an illustrious career full of big changes, starting when he boarded a one-way flight to Los Angeles the same week he graduated. He didn't have a job lined up but he had the knowledge and persistence he gained while in college and as a student in the college's inaugural Direct Admit Program .
Nguyen leaned into advice from his mentor Eugene Page. He suggested Nguyen wait in the lobby of a commercial real estate startup to get face time. As someone who considers himself shy, this was no easy task, so he called the company and introduced himself as a recent graduate. About a month after the initial connection was made, RealtyMogul—which would become the largest commercial real estate crowdfunding company in the country—hired him as an investment analyst.
At RealtyMogul, Nguyen learned different aspects of the industry and was captivated by its mission of making commercial real estate accessible to everyday people through crowdfunding. Working under the chief investment officer, he underwrote and analyzed more than $2.5 billion worth of commercial real estate across the country.
During his time in Los Angeles, Nguyen realized he wanted to pursue his graduate education in the University of Southern California's Master of Real Estate Development program. While back to being a full-time student at USC, he built a reputation as an effective financial analyst and built a consulting practice, which he juggled while completing rigorous coursework.
Evolving to develop new business
One afternoon over lunch with Page, he shared some of the exciting opportunities that were crossing his desk. Page suggested they tackle some of the projects together. Once working together, the pair realized they had complementary skill sets. They decided to merge their companies and formed Centre Urban, which Nguyen describes as a vertically integrated commercial real estate investment platform focused on future oriented and impactful properties in core urban areas.
Centre Urban has worked on commercial real estate projects in California, the Midwest, and in 2024, Hawaiʻi. The company's latest project is close to Nguyen's heart as it represents his journey coming full circle.
"I truly hope that Centre Urban will play a part, no matter how large or small, in making a positive impact on Hawaiʻi's own housing crisis," he said.
The post Shidler alum takes bold leap to real estate success first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News
