This story was originally published in the fall/winter 2024 issue of Shidler Business.
Since graduating from Shidler College, Martin Nguyen, BBA ’15, has been on an exciting journey of bold risks and transformative experiences. The young professional has already enjoyed an illustrious career full of big changes, starting when he boarded a one-way flight to Los Angeles the same week he graduated. He didn’t have a job lined up but he had the knowledge and persistence he gained while in college and as a student in the college’s inaugural Direct Admit Program.
After arriving in the continental United States, Nguyen leaned into sage advice from his mentor Eugene Page. He suggested Nguyen wait in the lobby of the commercial real estate startup to get face time, after seeing its young CEO speak at an event. As someone who considers himself shy, this was no easy task, so he called the company and introduced himself as a recent graduate. About a month after the initial connection was made, RealtyMogul–which would become the largest commercial real estate crowdfunding company in the country–hired him as an investment analyst.
At RealtyMogul, Nguyen learned various aspects of the industry and was captivated by its mission of making commercial real estate accessible to everyday people through crowdfunding. Working under a chief investment officer who previously ran JPMorganChase’s Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities division, he underwrote and analyzed over $2.5 billion worth of commercial real estate across the country, ranging from apartment complexes, office buildings and retail centers to specialized assets such as hotels, student housing and self-storage.
During the initial time he spent in Los Angeles, Nguyen befriended several University of Southern California (USC) alumni. As an “adopted Trojan,” he realized he wanted to pursue his graduate education in USC’s prestigious and competitive Master of Real Estate Development program. Not expecting to get accepted on his first application, Nguyen was amazed when he received his acceptance letter.
While back to being a full-time student at USC, he built a reputation as an effective financial analyst and built a consulting practice, which he juggled while completing rigorous coursework. One afternoon over lunch with Page, he shared some of the exciting opportunities that were crossing his desk. Page suggested they tackle some of the projects together. Once working together, the pair realized they had complementary skillsets. They decided to merge their companies and formed Centre Urban, which Nguyen describes as a vertically integrated commercial real estate investment platform focused on future-oriented and impactful properties in core urban areas. Since then, Centre Urban has invested, developed and advised on commercial real estate projects in California, the Midwest, and in 2024, Hawai‘i.
“I truly feel like I have the best job in the world," he said. "Friends sometimes ask me what I want to be doing in three, five, or ten years. My response is, if allowed the privilege, I would love to continue doing what I am currently doing for the rest of my life."
The company’s latest project is close to Nguyen’s heart as it represents his journey coming full circle. “I truly hope that Centre Urban will play a part, no matter how large or small, in making a positive impact on Hawai‘i’s own housing crisis,” he said.
Just a decade since his career commenced, Nguyen has an extensive list of board appointments and accolades. He is especially proud to be involved with the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders, an organization that he was a part of in high school and college. He now serves on the advisory board and says that if just one person is helped through his contribution, it’s well worth it. His advice to students is to become involved in the community and to give back no matter how busy you are, a sentiment he embodies.
