Oscar Raynaud
My name is Oscar and I’m from France. My professional background is in property technology and engineering, but I’ve become more and more interested in the concept of co-living. I chose this master’s program to help me increase my knowledge of real estate and open my mind to all the applications of sustainability in real estate development.
"I was looking for a master’s program that had a firm grasp of the theoretical and practical side of real estate, so this is the right fit."
At the intersection of technology and practice
Oscar Raynaud has trod an interesting path in developing his career. He began by earning a degree in aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering in the UK. He went on to work in project management and business development before pivoting to a role in the real estate sector. Having worked for a Singapore-based property technology company, where he was in charge of commercial leasing, he was inspired to apply for the Master in Real Estate Development at IE University. With a background in property technology and engineering, he thought this was a logical next step.
He explains that he chose this program because he wanted to increase his knowledge about real estate. As his plan is to get even more involved in the field, he knew that choosing the right master’s program was essential. He was looking for a course that had strong elements of both theory and practical application, and the Master in Real Estate Development fit the bill perfectly.
Oscar walked into a pretty diverse world at IE University, with over 20 nationalities represented in his class alone. He says that “everyone comes from different places and has traveled a lot around the world.” His classmates also come from a wide range of professional backgrounds. He explains that this melting pot makes for a very interesting dynamic in the classroom, with students complementing each other in many ways when working in groups or assisting on projects. Being able to share their disparate stories and experiences makes classes much more interesting for Oscar, but has also led to a vibrant social life with his peers.
The cohort recently went on a study trip to Barcelona, where they participated in the Smart City Expo World Congress. For Oscar, it was an invaluable excursion to see the city’s changing landscape firsthand.
“Learning directly from successful industry veterans, you get access to knowledge you wouldn’t find in the field or textbooks.”
Barcelona is currently undergoing a huge transformation in the city center and around the airport, and seeing it in person was amazing for him. He adds that he and his classmates also got to explore different technological and sustainability solutions aimed at solving urban problems and shaping the urban future. He is excited for upcoming trips to Berlin and Hamburg, where he will learn more about implementing redevelopment projects around the world.
Overall, Oscar describes the master’s program as “fantastic.” He explains that it has given him the chance to learn directly from successful industry professionals—sharing in their experiences has taught him more than a textbook ever could. He also loves that the program is rooted in sustainability, commenting that he has learned to “integrate sustainable solutions in every aspect of real estate development.”
For now, Oscar is looking forward to focusing more on co-living spaces, which is his specialty. But the program has opened his mind to many new aspects of real estate, including economics, finance, product development and even marketing.
Oscar has now started working on his Capstone Project, where he is planning to integrate sustainable solutions into a feasible real estate development project. We wish him well for the rest of the program and beyond.
