Meet the Experts: Pavi Ramesh, RealPage
The Academy of CRE partners with commercial real estate experts from around the country to provide engaging, real-life curriculum in each of our courses. In this interview series, we spoke with Pavi Ramesh, Senior Director of Product Management at RealPage, to learn more about her background and expertise. In addition, we discussed her role as a speaker in our 8-week Data-Driven Analysis Course and previewed what students will learn in the course.
Question #1: What is your current focus in your career?
Currently, I am the Senior Director of Product Management at RealPage. Product management is more like being a translator. The goal is to demonstrate business value from data science models without boring people with statistical significance and accuracy numbers.
At RealPage, my focus is on analytics and data science and determining how to productionize and extract value from data science models. It's predominantly B2B products with very little B2C or consumer experience aspects.
Question #2: What advice do you wish you had received earlier in your career?
I wish I had known that it's okay to make lateral moves. Initially, I was nervous to make any kind of jump or move in my career. I thought I should become an expert in the field that I chose in my early twenties and not explore further. But career growth is a jungle gym. I learned that a little later in life, and I've completely embraced it now.
Question #3: If you had received this advice earlier, what might you have done differently in your career?
I would’ve taken more risks, maybe early on, and perhaps even during my first transition into product management. At the time, I had the best boss who told me to trust myself. If I didn't, I probably wouldn't have made the jump. I was filled with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. If I had received this advice earlier in my career, I may have still felt the impostor syndrome, but I might have been a little easier on myself.
Question #4: What trait(s) do you value in working with peers?
The ability to disagree in a positive, collaborative way. For example, I appreciate when our engineers disagree with how to push something to production or express the fact that something my team suggested cannot be done.
But instead of just saying “we can't do this”, they’ll show me the different options. Or, before they push back they ask me more questions for better understanding. They do it from a place of respect and genuine interest rather than just saying “no”. I really appreciate that.
Question #5: What advice do you have for entry-level professionals who want leadership opportunities?
Don’t limit yourself to the mindset of “this is not my responsibility, so I’m not going to do it”. Be visible and ask for help if you need it. Be willing to say that you don’t know something. Go above and beyond.
Also be open to taking risks. Especially, if you want to make lateral moves or step into a leadership position where you may not have the required skills. I don't think a good manager would expect you to know everything as you step into the role. So, be willing to take risks and also be open. You can't really learn without stepping into a new space and trying something different.
Question #6: How do you communicate with peers from other teams that don’t possess the same skillset as you?
When I was more on the tech side of the business, I learned how to simplify my words. I had to think from a business perspective rather than the data accuracy or model accuracy angle. For example, I had to consider how I would take this to market for a client who doesn’t understand machine learning. Also, I consider who I’m talking with and try to understand what resonates with them so that I can deliver the story on their level.
Question #7: What advice do you have for cultivating mentorship opportunities?
Never be shy to ask someone to be your mentor. But don't just say, “will you mentor me?” Reach out with a more targeted message and have a clear and specific goal.
Question #8: What value do you think students gain from attending or participating in the Academy of CRE courses?
Networking with like-minded people who are or want to be in the same career path as you. Also, having industry experts share what they do on a daily basis versus textbook learning. or me, the reality of what is actually needed for the industry and honing your skills towards that is a big value in attending these classes.
Bonus Question: What is the Data-Driven Analysis Course?
This 8-week program offers a comprehensive introduction to Data-Driven Analysis in Commercial Real Estate. Data is often siloed in inflexible platforms including PMS systems, census flat files, and API-powered third-party systems. These silos leave CRE organizations with little access to the valuable insights that could be gathered. This course will equip you with the knowledge and hard skills to unlock these insights and optimize your firm’s data.