Student Perspectives: An International Student's Take on the Significance of Communication

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MS Real Estate '26 student, Doyeon Hwang, shared with the GCMC how a variety of cultural experiences shaped his role as an intern in New York City. 

What has been one of the most important things you’ve learned at your internship?
I’ve learned the importance of thinking carefully about how to communicate—whether through calls, texts, or emails—so that I can interact effectively with different people without making them feel uncomfortable. In a company, it’s not about me at the center—it’s about all of us working together. So, if I want something, it’s up to me to figure out how to get it. That mindset has really shaped the way I approach my work.
How have you approached networking at your internship? Share any one specific example that has been impactful for you.
Networking is definitely a challenging topic for me. To give some background: I was born in Korea, studied in China, worked in Hong Kong, and now I’m in New York for school and my internship. Because of this mix of cultural experiences, I sometimes unknowingly bring unique cultural nuances into conversations, which can make it harder for others to understand me. That’s why networking has always felt like a difficult task.
One impactful experience was when I had to build a professional relationship with a Korean-American colleague at my company. Interestingly, we would speak in English when discussing work, but switch to Korean when having casual conversations. This dynamic naturally drew a boundary—English signaled business, while Korean signaled a personal catch-up. It taught me how language can define context and set the tone for communication.
As a non-native English speaker, language remains a high barrier. Some may think it’s inefficient to think in Korean but speak in English, and I get that. But for me, thinking in imperfect English and then trying to speak is still a challenge I’m working to overcome.
What has been your biggest contribution to your team at your internship? Why?
Since I’m still relatively new to the internship, I haven’t had the chance to do a wide range of tasks yet. The company, originally founded as a manufacturing business, has only recently ventured into real estate investment. As a result, there’s still a lack of team members with the expertise to manage this new business area.
Drawing on my six years of experience in real estate finance underwriting at an investment bank in Hong Kong, I’ve been able to support the team by speeding up underwriting for new investment opportunities. This has helped reduce the time needed for decision-making. Although I haven’t closed a deal here yet, I believe that with the combination of my background and the team's experience, we’ll be able to successfully close a strong project soon.
After this experience, what would you like to learn next?
One skill I really want to develop further is communication. In the real estate business, communication is a powerful tool. Underwriting and crunching numbers behind a screen is only one part of the job—it’s about justifying your conclusions. Ultimately, real estate is a people-driven business. Decision-makers care not only about the numbers, but also the story and reasoning behind them. I want to become better at presenting my process clearly and persuasively so I can support my conclusions and guide decision-makers toward the outcome I’m aiming for.
For students having a difficult time finding an internship, what is one piece of advice you would give them?
There’s no one-size-fits-all method for landing an internship. I got mine through a referral from someone I know. I applied to countless jobs but never received a single interview offer. It was through meeting people, introducing myself, and having someone introduce me to others that I finally got this opportunity.
I can’t say my approach will work for everyone, but if I could give one piece of advice, it would be: try everything. Leave no stone unturned. You never know what might lead to your next opportunity.

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