This past summer working with JLL and IJF exceeded my expectations in almost every imaginable way. First and foremost, I’d like to express my gratitude to the Jaffer family for giving me an opportunity to jumpstart my career and act as an ambassador for a cause that commemorates their beloved son, Imran.
Currently, I am entering my culminating year in the Urban Development Program at Western University. Much like my predecessor, Dianne Ramos, I was looking for direction in a career upon graduation. The commercial real estate industry has always intrigued me, but it was not an easy industry for younger students to penetrate. IJF provided me with an opportunity to explore my options and as a result, I am now certain that I intend to pursue a career in this field.
Currently, I am entering my culminating year in the Urban Development Program at Western University. Much like my predecessor, Dianne Ramos, I was looking for direction in a career upon graduation. The commercial real estate industry has always intrigued me, but it was not an easy industry for younger students to penetrate. IJF provided me with an opportunity to explore my options and as a result, I am now certain that I intend to pursue a career in this field.
Often times, one’s career is shaped by those who they associate themselves with during their formative years. In my case, I was very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work at JLL as a Research Analyst for office leasing. I knew from the beginning that JLL was a global powerhouse in the commercial real estate scene, but I had no idea how much I would’ve enjoyed my time there and how well they have developed their corporate culture. As part of the company’s first officially organized summer program, I can safely say that future interns will flourish in the work environment. Being part of a relatively small research team was an enormous blessing, as I never felt detached from the rest of my colleagues. Throughout my time there, my managers entrusted me to fulfill tasks that they would have done themselves, including client-facing presentations. I truly believe that every job I completed throughout my internship served a purpose in daily operations. As a result, I was able to expedite my personal career development. It goes without saying that JLL breeds an extremely positive environment. Rather than following a typical corporate agenda, they encourage collaboration between service lines and employees around the globe, thus growing a tight-knit community. Once again, I am extremely grateful to have been part of that. The relationships I was able to cultivate with JLL employees and fellow interns will certainly remain important to me moving forward.
As an ambassador for IJF, my time at JLL was just part of the reason why my summer was so fulfilling. I was fortunate enough to have been invited to represent IJF on two major occasions – first, at the World Partnership Walk in May and then at the IJF Memorial Soccer Tournament. I felt a great sense of pride being able to spread awareness about IJF’s mandate and bringing close friends to these events, as I strongly believe The Foundation is making waves in empowering local youth and communities abroad. Taking part in IJF’s philanthropic initiatives and seeing the impact from the soccer tournament donations was genuinely rewarding in itself.
As an ambassador for IJF, my time at JLL was just part of the reason why my summer was so fulfilling. I was fortunate enough to have been invited to represent IJF on two major occasions – first, at the World Partnership Walk in May and then at the IJF Memorial Soccer Tournament. I felt a great sense of pride being able to spread awareness about IJF’s mandate and bringing close friends to these events, as I strongly believe The Foundation is making waves in empowering local youth and communities abroad. Taking part in IJF’s philanthropic initiatives and seeing the impact from the soccer tournament donations was genuinely rewarding in itself.
As the second benefactor of the JLL/IJF internship, it is safe to say that the opportunities I was given changed my life. Looking back one year, I now have a much better sense as to what I plan to do upon graduation. Along the way, I have met some amazing people and I plan on furthering this journey in the future. Once again, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Jaffer family for allowing me to represent The Foundation and to eternalize the values of Imran Jaffer. It is an honor to be an ambassador to a cause with such a noble purpose, and I plan on continuing his legacy in years to come as IJF continues to expand their footprint locally and globally. As Ram Shriram once said, “Life is fleeting, and permanence in this world is something we all strive for. The best way to achieve permanence is through philanthropy.”
Warren Fung (JLL/IJF Intern ’17)
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