How Project Destined helps build careers in real estate

Commercial real estate can be a difficult industry to break into for someone just out of college. Careers in real estate span a range of activities, from marketing and property management to project development and finance. To gain a place in the industry, a young professional needs a clear understanding of how the different pieces fit together—and where they might find a role to match their skills and interests. 

This is where Project Destined comes in. Project Destined introduces undergraduates to the industry, reaching those who might otherwise have little opportunity to gain access to the world of commercial real estate. 

The program empowers the next generation of leaders in real estate and beyond through mentorship and access to a network of professionals at leading commercial real estate companies. It also offers participants an opportunity for hands-on experience developing business ideas and promoting actual developments. 

At a recent event hosted by Capital One, a corporate supporter of Project Destined since 2019, 22 of this year’s participants met members of our real estate finance teams and learned about what they do. 

Beyonce Reid, a marketing major at Howard University in Washington, D.C., was among the students on the Capital One campus. She says that television shows helped spark her interest in real estate initially. Now, she’s learning about how the business really works and where she might build a career. 

Reid completed a real estate internship in high school. “But Project Destined is more hands-on,” she says. Her team in the program is developing a project presentation, and she says she’s excited to be “putting all the data together and coming up with ideas.” 

This year’s event–which took place at our Tysons, Virginia, headquarters—included a networking lunch, resume review session, a panel discussion with Capital One commercial real estate professionals, and a tour of the campus.

Another student at the event, Julian Yarborough, is attending the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce. His work with Project Destined has helped him to gain deeper knowledge of the real estate market in the D.C. area and the surrounding region, including Montgomery County, Maryland, where Yarborough was raised. 

“I’ve learned about the ability of a market like this to grow really rapidly, with so many people moving into the area,” he says. “With the construction that’s happening—I see it, but now I actually understand it.” 

Yarborough says he came to college intending to make real estate a minor, and he admits his knowledge of the industry was “thin.” Project Destined has helped him to learn the fundamentals of the business, he says. “Eventually, I want to own real estate.” 

Developing an “ownership mentality” is in fact one of the goals of Project Destined, says CEO Cedric Bobo, who co-founded the organization in 2016. The group also aims simply to demystify commercial real estate, helping people understand an industry that transforms their communities and provides essential services such as affordable housing.  

Bobo wants to let young people know that the industry is hungry for talent—and a place where people can feel they belong and build a great career. 

During the Fall 2024 semester, Project Destined worked with more than 500 students at more than 80 educational institutions. Since 2016, they have trained 15,000 undergraduates and count 2,000 colleges and universities in their global network. The Spring 2025 cohort began in February. 

During the panel discussion, Lizzie Dove, a senior vice president in commercial real estate originations, told the Project Destined students about her own 13-year career path at Capital One, working with a variety of lending products and only recently moving into commercial real estate. “Taking on new challenges is where real growth happens,” she explained. “Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.” 

Dove also reinforced one of the key messages of the day: That mentorship and networking can be key to learning about an industry and finding a place for yourself in it. “The real life experience of industry professionals can provide invaluable insights as you navigate your career.”