Alec Shaul

UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business

“I’m an ambitious self-starter who continues to learn and grow both personally and professionally.”

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Fun fact about yourself: I’m an avid skier starting at the age of 3 years old and also an avid golfer who played multiple SoCal golf tournaments in High School.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Boston University.

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Senior Property Accountant at Westwood Financial in Los Angeles.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? IRA Capital, Acquisitions

Where will you be working after graduation? IRA Capital, Acquisitions

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

President of the Merage Real Estate Association (MREA)

* Organized events designed to provide opportunities for students to learn about various functions within the Real Estate Industry.

* Facilitated networking events to connect students with local professionals in collaboration with UCI’s Center for Real Estate

* Led a team of 6 MREA Board Members, holding weekly meetings that established action items to plan for future events.

Merage Student Association (MSA) VP of Finance

* Managed the budgets for all MSA’s clubs and associations including fund approvals and reimbursement requests.

* Oversaw financial matters for the organization while ensuring MSA is following UCI Guidelines.

Full-Time MBA Merage School Ambassador

* Provided information and insight to prospective students regarding Merage’s curriculum, extracurriculars, and career goals.

* Assisted the Merage Admission team with assessing candidates for the Full-Time MBA program based on their experience, their goals, and their fit within Merage’s culture.

Treasurer of the Financial Management Association (FMA)

* Assisted the President and the rest of the board in keeping track of the Finances and budget.

* Attended Board meetings and facilitated organization events designed to promote financial opportunities among students.

Awarded Faculty Scholarship from UCI Merage: Upon admittance into the school, I was selected for this scholarship based on my academic and professional background, as well as my leadership potential in the classroom.

Awarded Elm Weingarten Scholarship from the UCI Center for Real Estate: Upon admittance into the school, I was selected for this scholarship to recognize my academic credentials and progressive experience in real estate.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? As the President of the Merage Real Estate Association (MREA), my motive is to connect students with working professionals and to allow students to learn more about various real estate professions. Over the school year, the MREA board and I organized various events ranging from panel discussions, site tours, and other networking events to help guide these connections. My board has done an incredible job of helping me organize these events and I’ve really enjoyed leading the group to achieve success. Recently, we set up a Real Estate Professor panel, where Merage Professors were asked questions by students regarding their past experiences, current industry knowledge, and future industry insight. It was an incredibly successful event which furthered the relationship between students and their professors. I’m also very proud of the work that I’ve done in the Merage Student Association, helping set up a budget for our clubs and associations to host events for Merage students.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Prior to my MBA, I was very proud of the accomplishments I’ve made in my real estate accounting experience. At Westwood Financial, I worked with a team that created an established system to help efficiently manage the real estate debt associated with their properties under management. We created a shared spreadsheet to ensure timely payments were made, reserve accounts were properly managed, and improved our relationship with our debt servicer overall.

Prior to my MBA, I was also very proud of the fact that I was promoted to a senior accountant role because of my hard work, dedication to my team, and commitment to bettering myself professionally. I think the promotion showed the innate leadership qualities that I believe I have. However, it was also reassuring to know that my manager saw my leadership capabilities and trusted my ability to take on more responsibility.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business because of the small community that encompasses the school. The community is what makes Merage so special, which allows students to pursue endless opportunities to achieve their goals. Particularly, the UCI Center for Real Estate has a strong presence of Merage Alumni that continue to give back to the school, creating a nurturing environment for the students to excel both academically and professionally. Merage continues to push the envelope on engaging with this community, helping their students learn and connect with one another to create strong relationships. I’ve done my best to take advantage of the opportunities to network with my fellow cohort members and engage with the excellent faculty and successful alumni. I always feel comfortable reaching out to fellow UCI Merage community members because I know that they are willing to help in whatever capacity they can.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor at UCI Merage was Professor Adam Deermount. Professor Deermount, who teaches the Real Estate Capital Markets course, is an outstanding professor for his knowledge of real estate economics, real estate debt markets, and private real estate investment. He has a tremendous ability to teach a difficult subject to his students in a clear and concise manner. Working in Real Estate Development for the Ramser Development Company, he is able to bring in current industry knowledge and insight into the classroom to help students better understand the subject material. His professional network is also outstanding; he is incredibly well-connected in the industry and brought into the classroom multiple distinguished guest speakers who were knowledgeable in various real estate professions and property types. He is also an incredibly kind and fair Professor, who is extremely responsive and truly cares about the success of his students.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? I would say my favorite course had to be a core class taught in the First Year Spring Quarter of the FTMBA program called Strategy: Foundations and Dynamics, taught by Professor John Joseph and Libby Weber. This class provided conceptual frameworks and techniques to analyze firm strategies. It was an incredible course because it utilized case analysis to help students improve their strategic thinking and analyze how successful companies achieve a competitive advantage in their respective industries. I learned reasons why companies try to merge or acquire other firms to pursue synergistic qualities, to reduce competition within an industry and gain market share. The class was very interesting and unique in its approach and the professors did an amazing job of sparking both thoughtful and engaging conversation among their students.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA event had to be Merage Student Association’s Halloween event that has become an annual tradition. As MSA VP of Finance, I had the pleasure of helping put together the event this year with the MSA board, which turned out to be an incredibly fun and rewarding event. The MSA VPs of Social really worked hard to make sure the event was a success and that the students were able to enjoy some much-needed socializing with their peers. I think it reinforced how well Merage creates a well-rounded community that works hard but also enjoys each other’s company. It gave the students an opportunity to bond with their cohort as well as with students from other programs outside of classes. This improved relationships within our Full-Time MBA cohort also allowed for introductions among students from different cohorts. I enjoyed seeing people enjoy one another’s company and dance the night away!

What is the biggest myth about your school? I think the biggest myth about UCI Merage and MBA programs in general is that it is super competitive and that students are always vying to be the being the highest achievers both academically and professionally. The notion is that students will continuously compete with one another to get the best internship or get the highest GPA. Although students do often apply to the same internships or jobs, I feel that MBA students at UCI Merage are happy for the success of their fellow classmates. My classmates have really helped one another in as many ways as they can. If a student has a connection to an industry professional that another classmate wants to connect with, they are willing to set up a call or send an email. We continuously help each other out by sharing resources, aiding with job interview preparation, and rooting for each other’s successes. The way I look at it is if one student succeeds, we all succeed. That has been the approach and understanding for most of my time here at UCI Merage.

What surprised you the most about business school? I was surprised by how quickly the MBA program “hits the ground running” and how early I was tasked with multiple responsibilities on my plate. Behind juggling schoolwork, internship applications, networking, and club leadership I really had to become much more disciplined and improve upon my time management skills. Prior to the MBA, I did have multiple responsibilities at work and at home, but I don’t think it has been comparable to what I’ve experienced in the MBA program. I’ve utilized my calendar and to-do lists way more than I did previously. I’ve learned so much about prioritization and how to be proactive. It is overwhelming at times, but I’ve always thought about the phrase that my mother preaches, “nothing worth doing is easy.”

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I have incredible admiration for my MBA classmate, Jessica Gonsalves. Prior to the MBA, she worked in sales at 3M, which taught her really important skills on how to be vocal but presentable and poised. You can really see how these skills have transferred to the MBA program as she continues to be a great and personable leader. She coveted an internship this past summer at AbbVie and, not surprisingly, was offered a full-time position at the company. I’m constantly impressed with how she deals with adversity and leads in her various club positions including FTMBA Ambassador, MSA VP of Social, and Co-President of Women In Business. She always supports me both personally, academically, and professionally and has become an incredibly close friend of mine. I know five years from now, this will not change and I will be able to go to her if I need help in any way!

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Co-invest in real estate properties, growing a multifamily portfolio to create passive income opportunities.

2. Work with Real Estate developers and engineers to find methods to make real estate infrastructure more sustainable therefore reducing carbon emissions.

 What made Alec such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Alec was a student in my Real Estate Capital Markets class at Merage in the fall quarter of 2023 and during that time, I have had the pleasure of witnessing his exceptional growth, commitment, and contributions firsthand. Alec consistently demonstrated the qualities of a standout student and leader, making him a deserving candidate for this prestigious recognition.

From the outset, Alec distinguished himself as one of the top students in my class. His dedication was evident through his consistent presence in or near the front row, where he engaged thoughtfully with the course material, guest speakers, and his peers. Alec’s preparation for each lecture was impeccable, allowing him to pose thoughtful questions and contribute meaningful insights that enriched our classroom discussions. His enthusiasm and positive attitude were infectious, helping to foster an environment of curiosity and learning.

Alec’s academic prowess was particularly showcased in the final class project, where his team presented an outstanding strategy for repositioning a retail asset in Arizona. This project not only demonstrated his grasp of complex real estate concepts but also highlighted his ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical, real-world challenges.

Beyond the classroom, Alec has exemplified leadership and commitment to the Merage community. As President of the Merage Real Estate Association, VP of Finance for the Merage Student Association, a Full-Time MBA Ambassador, and Treasurer of the Financial Management Association, Alec has gone above-and-beyond to contribute to our community. His roles in these organizations have allowed him to expand his network, share his knowledge, and give back in meaningful ways.

Alec’s summer internship at IRA Capital further underscores his dedication to his career in commercial real estate. This experience, combined with his academic achievements and leadership roles, positions Alec as a promising future leader in the industry.

Teaching and interacting with Alec has been a highlight of my time at Merage. His drive, intellect, and character have not only made him an exemplary student but also a joy to teach. While I will miss his presence in my class, I am excited to see the impact Alec will undoubtedly make in the commercial real estate sector.

Alec Shaul represents the best of what the Merage School of Business aims to instill in its students: a commitment to excellence, leadership, and community. I have no doubt that he will continue to excel and inspire those around him in his future endeavors.”

Adam Deermount
Lecturer, Economics/Public Policy
The Paul Merage School of Business
University of California, Irvine

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