From Classroom to Boardroom: Meet 5 of CBRE Canada’s Summer Interns

Every summer CBRE Canada welcomes a new cohort of interns eager to learn about commercial real estate through real-world experiences.

These young people are talented, driven, and ready to make an impact. We spoke to five of this year’s interns about what they’re hoping to achieve this summer and their plans for the future.

Maren Dietl, Toronto Downtown

As a third-year Media, Information & Technoculture student at Western University, Maren Dietl brings a fresh perspective to CBRE’s Toronto Downtown office. She intends to try her hand at everything and learn from CBRE’s commercial real estate experts, and is particularly interested in the retail sector. “Retail combines real estate with my interest in marketing, advertising and my love of shopping,” she says. “Exploring something I’m already passionate about through the context of real estate makes me more interested in the industry.”

Dietl has already learned much during her time at CBRE, familiarizing herself with commercial real estate lingo and navigating working in a male-dominated industry. Fortunately Dietl thrives in unfamiliar territories, having signed up for a six-and-a-half-month solo student exchange in Perth, Australia, for the upcoming school year. While her career goals have yet to be decided, Dietl is confident her CBRE internship is bringing her one step closer to finding her calling.

Jessica Kouleas, Waterloo Region

Jessica Kouleas is no stranger to CBRE. Having recently graduated from the University of Guelph, where she studied real estate and played varsity hockey, she is back for her third summer at CBRE Waterloo Region. Kouleas realized she wanted to pursue a career in commercial real estate when office leasing broker Dean Mariani presented in one of her classes a few years back. She was immediately drawn to the people-oriented side of the business and has since been training to become a sales representative. “I want to help businesses bring their visions to life,” she says.

This summer Kouleas looks forward to building connections and working alongside brokers on transactions from start to finish. She plans to earn her brokerage licence in the hopes of hitting the sales floor this September.

Alex Falardeau, Ottawa

Alex Falardeau has had a range of jobs, including teaching gymnastics and parkour to kids. Commercial real estate is unlike anything he’s ever done before, however. The second-year University of Guelph Cultures and Technology Studies student came to CBRE Ottawa to diversify his knowledge. “CBRE has opportunities in so many markets,” he says. “It’s a great place to build connections and try new things.”

As a research intern, Falardeau has been focusing on updating local stacking plans (databases of which businesses are in what buildings) and collecting other market data but he’s open to any projects that come his way. He looks forward to getting to know his hometown of Ottawa through the lens of commercial real estate this summer. He’s still figuring out his career plans, but Falardeau is certain that this internship will broaden his horizons.

Lucas Cox, Vancouver

Lucas Cox’s interest in commercial real estate was sparked by his experience working for a developer last summer. He enjoyed seeing the city he grew up in from a new angle as he learned about commercial buildings and how they came to be. Now the fourth-year University of British Columbia Economics and Commerce student is soaking up as much information as he can during his internship at CBRE Vancouver. “My dad is an entrepreneur so I always connected with the idea of being my own boss,” he says. “Brokerage is well-suited to that.”

Cox is already earning his stripes as a self-starter through his work as a DJ in Vancouver’s club scene. He hopes to continue developing his entrepreneurial drive this summer by getting hands-on brokerage experience, learning about the various asset classes, and building relationships with people across the industry. He’s motivated, disciplined and eager to start building a career at CBRE.

Rhidita Abdur, Montreal

Rhidita Abdur, a recent graduate from HEC Montréal’s business program, is following in her family’s footsteps by exploring a career in real estate. Growing up, her parents worked in residential real estate, but as she got older, Abdur became curious about the commercial side of the industry. Looking to get involved, she joined her university’s real estate committee after returning from a six-month exchange in Bordeaux, France, last year. She participated in the 2024 Concordia Real Estate Games, where her team won in the Advanced Case category.

This summer Abdur is working with CBRE Montreal’s research team, where she hopes to deepen her knowledge about the industry and learn about innovative mixed-use projects. “I want to soak up as much as possible and help create the market-leading reports I often researched and referenced in university,” she says. Abdur is also preparing for her Chartered Financial Analyst exam, which she will be taking in November.

If these five interns are any indication, the future of commercial real estate at CBRE Canada is bright.