Originally published on Goizueta’s student blog, Voice of Goizueta.
For Nigel Barker 27MBA, a career in real estate began with seeing firsthand how development could transform a community. Today, he’s building on that passion as a development professional at High Street Residential, the multifamily subsidiary of Trammell Crow Company, while pursuing his MBA at Goizueta and serving as president of the Goizueta Real Estate Group (GREG).
As the group prepares to host the Emory Fall Real Estate Speaker Series on November 12, Building the City Within the City: The Future of Mixed-Use, Placemaking, and Urban Redevelopment in Atlanta, Nigel shares what drew him to the industry, how Goizueta’s real estate network has shaped his experience, and what’s ahead for the school’s growing real estate community.
What first drew you to real estate, and was there a specific moment that made you realize this was the career path for you?
I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Jamaica, Queens. What first drew me to real estate was an internship with the real estate firm BRP Companies during my senior year of undergrad in 2017. BRP was developing spectacular multifamily projects in Jamaica, Queens, and was one of the first developers at scale to build in the submarket. Watching that kind of investment reshape the neighborhood I grew up in showed me that real estate can change a community, and I’ve had the real estate bug ever since. After graduating, I spent two years at J.P. Morgan’s headquarters in New York before making the jump into real estate private equity by moving to Atlanta. I haven’t looked back.
Why did you choose Goizueta for your MBA, and how has the Emory real estate network shaped your experience so far?
I love real estate and envision building a career in this industry for the foreseeable future. I’m currently in my dream job at Trammell Crow Company, focusing on multifamily development, and I wanted an evening program that would let me keep advancing at work while earning my degree. In my search, Emory was the clear number one. The real estate alumni network was vast, and folks I respected in the industry had great things to say about Emory. My goal with an MBA is to expand my network and learn from more seasoned veterans in real estate and other business fields, and the Emory real estate network delivers. It’s robust and dynamic, with alumni across Atlanta and the country in every corner of the industry. One of my favorite connections so far was taking the Real Estate Development course with Conor McNally and Lyle Fogarty 03MBA, adjunct faculty of real estate development and investment – two entrepreneurs who teach the nuts and bolts of development and how to succeed in the field.
You’re now president of the Goizueta Real Estate Group (GREG) — what does that role actually involve, and what made you want to step into a leadership position with the club?
Like most clubs at Emory, Goizueta Real Estate Group is a club for students, by students, across both our undergraduate and graduate programs. Our focus is providing job pathways, learning opportunities, and networking for students and alumni interested in real estate. As president, I set the strategy for what we want the group to accomplish each year, coordinate with the various groups within Emory to execute our initiatives, and lead marketing and fundraising for the club. I wanted to step into leadership because the group helped me build relationships early in the program, and I want to make sure the next class of students has the same access to the industry. I’m lucky to have an excellent board of talented classmates this year: Jason Lawrence 27MBA, Vice President; Shubham Aggarwal 29EvMBA, Treasurer; Anum Ali 27EvMBA, Secretary of External Affairs; Ryan Tucker 28EvMBA, Risk Officer; and Chandler Cotter 27EvMBA, Social Chair. Matthew Noland 27EvMBA serves as our Advisor to the Board.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Goizueta Real Estate Group and Emory’s real estate community — including the event you’re hosting on November 12 and the Harbert Center?
Emory’s real estate initiatives are being revamped! We are fresh off a $5 million gift from esteemed alumnus Billy Harbert 09MBA, a visionary leader in the construction and real estate industries. The gift established the BL Harbert Real Estate Center, marking a new era of excellence in real estate education, thought leadership, and practice at Goizueta. Soon after, Joel Murphy was appointed the inaugural Executive Director of the center and Goizueta Distinguished Industry Chair in Real Estate. These were big moments for our real estate community, and I’m excited to be a small part of it. The Center further bolsters the Emory brand and Goizueta Real Estate Group is excited to be part of the students leading and executing on the various initiatives of the center.
The Emory real estate community also has two major events coming up. First, on November 12, we’re hosting the Emory Fall Real Estate Speaker Series (click link to RSVP), Building the City Within the City: The Future of Mixed-Use, Placemaking, and Urban Redevelopment in Atlanta. Speakers include Jim Irwin 07MBA, Founder and President, New City Properties, LLC; Clyde Higgs, CEO, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.; and Jeffrey Small, Chairman and CEO, MDH Partners. Joel Murphy will moderate. Second, our 6th Annual Emory Goizueta Real Estate Conference is taking place on Thursday, April 15, 2027, with confirmed speaker Rick Reider, CIO of Global Fixed Income at BlackRock. More details coming soon!
Interested in the future of real estate development and the projects reshaping Atlanta? Join Goizueta students, alumni, and industry leaders on November 12 for the Emory Fall Real Estate Speaker Series, featuring a conversation on mixed-use development, placemaking, and urban redevelopment.
