We have so many stellar Options alumni, and in our new series, we wanted to shine a light on a few of our past clients who have gone on to do great things both near and far. This month, we chatted with James about what he’s been up to since he graduated and his advice for current post-secondary students.
What’s your name?
James Acres
Where and what did you study?
I attended Queen’s University to study commerce at the Smith School of Business.
How did you choose this institution and program?
I knew that I wanted to study business because, at the time, I had zero idea what I wanted to do and felt that it opened up the most opportunities post-graduation to test the waters and see what I did and didn’t like. I was fortunate enough to visit Queen’s, as well as several other universities, during my application period, and this school stood out to me as a close-knit, community-based school. Furthermore, the commerce program is well-known for its teamwork and collaboration-based approach, and I knew that was the direction I wanted to take.
Would your high school self be surprised with where you ended up?
To be fair, I don’t think my high school self had any idea where I would end up. I never thought I would pivot into the commercial real estate market, and here I am.
What would you tell current post-secondary students about finding a path?
It takes time to figure out what you want to do. Even though it feels like it, there is no pressure to have everything figured out right away. Throughout university, sometimes I would take classes that I thought would interest me but would turn out to be completely out of my wheelhouse. However, it was great to at least dip my toes in the water before I committed to a full-time position in that area.
What are you doing now?
I work as a Senior Real Estate Manager for Lululemon Athletica. Essentially, I help negotiate new store and expansion deals in California and Arizona and work on the market strategy for upcoming years.
What at Options Solutions helped you the most?
Options Solutions really helped me see the bigger picture when applying to universities. They had a brilliant understanding of what specific universities looked for in applicants and took steps to ensure that I had all the right tools even after my acceptance. Melinda and her team provided a lot of guidance and specific care for me and each individual client.
A fun fact about you?
I love to scuba dive whenever I’m somewhere warm for vacation.
