Our ongoing success at Berkadia is built upon the hard work of our talented, diverse team of employees. From graphic designers to loan closing specialists to product designers, each of our people brings a unique background, perspective and expertise. Their work allows Berkadia to maintain a consistent leadership role in the commercial real estate industry.
As Human Resources Project Manager, Rodolfo Lopes is responsible for driving the implementation of key talent strategies and initiatives at Berkadia. One of the main projects that Rodolfo has under his purview is to bring diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) into greater focus throughout our organization.
What part of your role are you most passionate about?
Working on large transformation projects that deliver meaningful change to the organization, as is the case with DEIB. These projects give me the opportunity to work with numerous people and functions across Berkadia and drive forward our goal of bringing meaningful, positive change to our fellow Berkadians.
Did you choose CRE or did CRE choose you? What drew you to Berkadia?
I have always been fascinated by the real estate industry. I like learning how real estate shapes, expands and impacts cities and communities. That said, the industry definitely chose me.
I was very impressed with the people that interviewed me and intrigued to learn more after listening to them describe Berkadia’s values and culture. After years of working with various organizations and experiencing their corporate cultures, the company’s Berkadia Way approach stood out to me as something unique and refreshing.
In my view, Berkadia Way is a unique philosophy in the corporate world that encourages us to bring our true selves to work and see others as people, and not just coworkers or colleagues.
What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself coming into the CRE industry?
Don’t lose your curiosity – ask as many questions as you feel you need to ask in order to understand a particular situation. Don’t be afraid to embrace change. Embracing change and not being afraid to take chances has allowed me to live and work in three different countries, on two continents, and experience first-hand how powerful diverse teams can be when creating and delivering value to clients.