Mavashev of Besen: This business is not easy - be proactive!

Name: Lev Mavashev Title: Managing Director Company/firm: Besen & Associates Years with company/firm: 5 Years in field: 6 Years in real estate industry: 6 Address: Brooklyn, NY Telephone: 646-424-5334 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.besenassociates.com/lev-mavashev.htm Real estate organizations / affiliations: YJP, SPONY What advice would you give to those just starting out in commercial real estate? This business is not easy. It is what you put into it in the form of hard work. By hard work, I mean getting out there in front of the players in the market...not just sending emails and waiting for people to call you. You need to be proactive in this business. I think another key to success when starting out is to work directly together with a senior broker. The alliance will give you an opportunity to learn the broker's strategies' and tap into their deal making experience. Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? Ever since I started at Besen, five years ago Amit Doshi has been my role model, and he still continues to inspire me. I've done a lot of deals together with him and learning from someone so experienced has been instrumental to my success. I feel lucky to be working in same office as him. He is one of the top power brokers in the business and I do my best to model him and his strategies. Another strong person of influence in my career has been my wife. She has been incredibly supportive of me. Especially since I work long hours, typically 12 to 15 hour a day, and most of the time bring "my work" home with me. Her encouragement has been very helpful in my growth and success. Where would you like to be 10 years from today? It's exciting to be a mover and shaker in the commercial real estate industry. I really like brokerage and years from now, I still see myself in this business. Brokering deals is challenging, exciting, and very rewarding. Every day is full of new opportunities and it consistently keeps me on my feet. I look forward to a long and successful career in the business.