USD Knauss School of Business Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE) Students Experience MIPIM 2025 in Cannes, France

From March 11-14, four University of San Diego Knauss School of Business Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE) students attended the annual MIPIM Conference in Cannes, France. 

Henry Feldman ‘26 (MSRE),  Kaysa Lundberg '23, ‘25 (MSRE/MBA), Jacqueline Mercado ‘26 (MSRE/MBA) and David Tobin ‘26 (MSRE) were in attendance this year, along with Charles Tu, PhD, the Steven L. Black Endowed Chair in Real Estate. Over the last 10 years, USD MSRE students have been invited to attend MIPIM to participate as bloggers, writers and provide insights into the event.

Established in 1990, MIPIM (Le Marché international des professionnels de l'immobilier), is a real estate trade show and conference held annually. The event connects the international real estate community and aims to create more sustainable cities. MIPIM is a major event in the real estate industry. It brings together the entire real estate value chain. The event provides access to development projects and capital, and it helps shape the built environment.

Attending MIPIM 2025 offered the MSRE students a front-row seat to the global real estate industry’s most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities. Over four days, the conference brought together leaders, investors and policymakers to explore how real estate can adapt and thrive amid economic uncertainty, climate risk and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Key themes included the growing intersection between real estate and infrastructure, the rise of logistics and industrial assets as geopolitically strategic investments and a renewed emphasis on sustainability, climate resilience, and ESG-driven value creation. 

Speakers stressed the importance of storytelling in communicating long-term value and the need for proactive adaptation to climate risks. The conference also highlighted new investment trends, from data centers and student housing to the repurposing of existing buildings in core markets. 

For the MSRE students, MIPIM was not only a chance to gain a global perspective, but also a powerful reminder that real estate is evolving rapidly—and success will depend on innovation, adaptability and collaboration across sectors.

Throughout the conference, USD students engaged directly with industry leaders, gaining exposure to cutting-edge insights and contributing their perspectives to the global real estate dialogue. They found it especially valuable to hear from a diverse range of voices, including mayors, developers, financial institutions, equity partners and policymakers, each offering a unique lens on the industry’s most pressing issues. This range of viewpoints helped create a well-rounded and engaging dialogue that reflected the complexity and interconnectedness of today’s real estate landscape.

In addition to the panel sessions and keynote discussions, students had the opportunity to explore the exhibition halls and country pavilions, where nations such as Saudi Arabia, Poland, France and several regions across Africa, showcased their large-scale development projects and investment initiatives. Seeing these global exhibits firsthand provided the MSRE students with a deeper understanding of how different regions are approaching urban development, infrastructure and sustainability.

 It was an eye-opening experience that broadened the students’ global perspective and highlighted the vast diversity of real estate strategies and priorities around the world. It was a unique and impactful learning opportunity that extended far beyond the classroom.

Read some feedback from the MSRE students about their experience at MIPIM!

Henry Feldman
“The Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and Knauss School of Business continue to offer students world-class experiential learning opportunities that prepare them for leadership in the industry.”

Kaysa Lundberg
“This experience broadened our understanding of the challenges and innovations shaping the built environment. It was a reminder that while real estate is local, the forces shaping our cities are undeniably global.”

Jacqueline Mercado
“I’m grateful to the Burnham-Moores Center for giving me the opportunity to attend MIPIM as a student. The conference provided a global perspective on commercial real estate, allowing me to connect with industry leaders, explore international trends and gain a global perspective.”

David Tobin
“MIPIM was an interesting opportunity that allowed me to gain knowledge and see how business is coordinated in an international setting.”

View photos of the MIPIM trip.

 

—By Kaysa Lundberg '23, '25 (MSRE/MBA) and Kimberly Malasky, director of communications and marketing.