At Nuveen—an investment subsidiary of TIAA—Charlotte Du (MBA ’19) oversees investments in alternative real estate sectors such as manufactured housing. She played a key role in creating a partnership between Nuveen and a prominent real estate investment trust. The joint venture builds high-quality, attainable housing for families across the country, while generating investment returns for fund investors and TIAA participants.
Charlotte grew up and attended college in China, where she studied hospitality management. Her American dream took her to Wisconsin in 2016 when she accepted a corporate revenue and sales analyst role with Marcus Hotels and Resorts.
“There, my interest in real estate was sparked working on acquisition projects,” she says. “I enjoyed being able to do due diligence on the various parts of the transactions and helping with property improvement plans.”
After researching business schools and MBA programs, Charlotte discovered WSB’s nationally renowned real estate program and the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate. As a student, she developed strong connections with the center’s leadership, as well as the vast network of real estate Badgers across the world.
Additionally, since first coming to the country, Charlotte has traveled to over half of the United States and has lived in eight of them—something that’s enriched her career. “My experiences have sharpened my skills as an investor, enabling me to connect with diverse groups of people and understand their perspectives.”