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This summer we’re welcoming over 60 new associates and interns into Sixth Street. Here’s my advice: don’t be afraid to ask the “dumb” questions.   Early in your career, this is one of the most important skills to learn. People think they need to fake it till they make it and pretend they know everything, when the truth is it’s exactly the opposite.   If you don’t know something -- or maybe you know a little bit but you really want to be sure -- then the only way to learn about something is to ask.    And if the person sitting across from you can’t explain what they know in a simple, clear way, it usually means they themselves don’t fully understand it.    So ask the question. And when you do, don’t do it just to make your voice heard. Be authentic and an active listener so you can expand your knowledge base and intentionally build your skills toolkit.   Your future self will thank you because getting good at asking those questions now will help you for the rest of your career.   

Today marks a new chapter as I step into my role as Chief People Officer at Happy Money! 🎉 Happy Money stands for a financial system that works better when we work together, prioritizing borrowers’ well-being as a winning strategy. Through our platform and lending solutions, we are increasing access to credit designed to support borrowers’ goals, sourced primarily from not-for-profit credit unions. This role isn’t just a job; it’s a meaningful opportunity to create positive change. I’m humbled by the journey that brought me here. As the first in my family to attend a four-year college, landing my first internship outside of the family business was a big deal. My Aunt gave me this Cross pen, a tradition from my Great Grandfather who believed that every good business agreement should be signed with a Cross pen. Even though “agreements” are mostly electronic these days, I write key roles and dates in the pen case. This is certainly one of them! As I embark on this new journey, I carry with me the wisdom and support of those who helped me along the way. The note in my pen case is 15 years old and it says it all: “Always remember who you are, where you came from, and who helped you get there.” Here’s to new beginnings, to honoring the past, and to building a brighter future together at Happy Money! #NewBeginnings #HappyMoney #Gratitude #ChiefPeopleOfficer

Let's talk about Commercial Risks. Samantha Hooper, our Summer Commercial Lines Intern, is here to discuss some of the unique factors different industries consider when evaluating their risk profiles. Thank you Sammy for all your hard work this summer! We can't wait to hear how your school year goes! #HWPInsurance #CommercialRisks #SummerIntern #CommercialInsurance

Nick Huber’s first business, Storage Squad, didn’t begin with a slick pitch deck to potential investors or an analysis of the total addressable market, but with a simple Craigslist ad. It was 2011, the summer before his senior year at Cornell University. While some friends were heading to New York City for investment banking internships, Huber was going home to Leopold, Indiana, unsure of what he wanted to do. He figured he’d pick up a few bucks by subletting his Ithaca place through Craigslist. That's when the mother of a fellow student reached out through the site, hoping to store her kid’s belongings in his apartment. Huber ended up creating #StorageSquad, a summer service for college kids that picked-up their stuff when school ended, moved it to a storage locker then reversed the process in the fall. Storage Squad ultimately expanded to places like Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. While growing his service #business, Huber also started buying storage units, eventually owning a stake in 64 locations spread across 11 states. In 2021 he sold Storage Squad for $1.75 million. He kept the units. While he grew his business, Huber was developing a startup philosophy that has helped him build a mini- business empire–and seems particularly well suited to the age when so many #whitecollar workers feel threatened by #artificialintelligence. “AI will never be able to clean, build and maintain our physical world. The sweatier the job, the better,’’ he declares. Keep reading: https://trib.al/mLQHCij

🚀 Two months in, and what an incredible journey it's been at PC Financial! I'm excited to share my first article highlighting my experience as an Associate Digital Product Manager intern on the Digital Products team. From major feature launches like the PC Money account savings account to fun-filled DEI events and 24 coffee chats that have enriched my learning, it's been a whirlwind of growth and collaboration. 👥 Want a peek into my day-to-day, lessons learned, and the vibrant PC Financial culture? Check out my Medium article for all the details! Would love to hear your thoughts and tips for making the most of the months ahead! #ProductManagement #InternshipExperience #PCFinancial #CareerGrowth

We had an amazing first training session today for our summer interns on the topic of "Why Multifamily Real Estate". It has been inspiring to see their enthusiasm and curiosity as they dive into the industry. We are thrilled to have such a talented group with us this summer and look forward to guiding them on this exciting journey. ___________________ #chicagocre #whymultifamilyrealestate #commercialre

Having interns on your team is extremely rewarding. Three things I learned from Maggie Heymans this summer: 1️⃣ Review your processes. Nothing is more humbling then onboarding someone only to realize the way you've been doing things may not make the most sense. 2️⃣ Investing time in your team pays huge dividends. Sure, it's always easier and faster to complete tasks yourself, but being intentional about dedicating time to share knowledge will lead to a stronger, more efficient team you can grow to trust. 3️⃣ The future is bright! The professionals entering the workforce are both eager and grounded. Their fresh perspectives and willingness to learn will help them make an impact right away in their careers. Honestly, we all might need to step up to be ready for them!

🌟 From Bus Rides to Boardroom Success 🌟 In my early days, fresh from the University of Arizona, I took countless bus rides from my mom's house to Scottsdale Fashion Square, hustling as an unpaid intern at Merrill Lynch. I made just over $11K my first year—dialing tirelessly, pitching my services to anyone who’d listen. Against a staggering 90% industry dropout rate, I persevered. 25 years later, I'm still here, and thriving. 🔗 Watch my journey and learn what it takes to stick it out in the competitive world of finance. #Finance #CareerJourney #SuccessStories #AllianceFinancial

The kids are alright....but we need to support them! For the past three summers I've had the pleasure of discussing financial literacy and financial futures with Greenwood Project interns. The thoughts of this summer's interns, Anthony Armstead, Arelys Estrada, Adin Farmer, Imani Noel, Kai Washington, and Manny Wiley are insightful and important for all of us to consider. #InvestingInvolvesRisk

While on my flight to #ICSC Las Vegas, I listened to Aaron Zucker's Limitless podcast featuring Kyle Matthews. A few key takeaways that really hit home with me. ✅ Deals Will Come Back, Brokers Won't-- A lot of brokers are quitting right now because deal flow is slower than it's been in the past few years. The brokers who stick it out and stick to the business plan will be in a great position when the market bounces back. ✅ Victim Mentality Is Dangerous -- The Market is too slow, nobody wants to transact, my brokerage doesn't provide enough resources, my mentor doesn't give me enough time. It's likely not everyone else...It's you. ✅ Surround Yourself With Great Teammates -- Pick great people to surround yourself with who are smarter, more talented, and work as hard as you. ✅ Hire Mindset, Not Skillset-- you grew up around the business? You majored in Finance & Real estate? You worked four different internships with real estate firms? That's all great, but not necessary. Anyone can learn skills. You can't teach heart and work ethic. Find those who NEED success, not those who just WANT success. No secret that Matthews Real Estate Investment Services™ is one of the fastest growing CRE brokerages in the country. It's easy to see why if you listen to Kyle speak about the business. If you are interested in investing in commercial real estate or have property to sell, let's get together and discuss. Jake Klamen 314-680-9919 Jake@Klamencommercial.com #retail #retailrealestate #ICSC #lasvegas #cre #commercialrealestate #stl #saintlouisrealestate