Commercial real estate banking may seem worlds away from political theory, but for Jack Cary ’22, the connection is direct.
In addition to recently relaunching the Holy Cross Real Estate Council alongside the student club, Cary is now a Real Estate Banking Associate at J.P. Morgan. He spends his days underwriting transactions and evaluating investment opportunities. Yet he credits his Political Science degree at Holy Cross with giving him one of his most valuable professional tools: the ability to communicate complex ideas concisely.
“Political Science taught me how to be an effective writer, how to focus on the important points and communicate messages clearly,” he says. That skill translates directly to real estate banking, where senior decision-makers scan memos quickly. Presenting risk, structure, and opportunity concisely can shape how a deal is perceived, and ultimately, whether it moves forward.
Cary’s entry into the industry started with involvement, not certainty. After attending a Real Estate Club meeting as a freshman, he stayed engaged and eventually led the club for three years. Running the club gave him a front-row seat to the industry, connecting him with alumni across lending, development, and investment. Those conversations helped him understand the ecosystem and where he wanted to fit within it.
Today, his role centers on underwriting transactions, drafting investment materials, and managing client relationships. The work is analytical, but it is also strategic and shaped by broader market forces. He sees three themes driving the current moment in commercial real estate (CRE): the uneven return to office, the surge of capital into data centers fueled by AI, and the tension between falling interest rates and weakening economic fundamentals.
For students interested in commercial real estate, Cary’s advice is disciplined and practical. Become an effective writer, master the basics such as punctuality, professionalism, and attention to detail, and signal your interests clearly through coursework, independent projects, or club involvement. Strong careers, he suggests, are rarely accidental. They are built through consistent engagement, intentional positioning, and the ability to communicate value clearly.
Interviewed by Kevin Birenbaum ’26 & Written by Curran Deehan ’28