Alumni Q&A / Aldarsaikhan Tuvshinbat MUP ’15
Hometown: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Current City: New York, NY
Current Position: Senior Associate, New York City Economic Development Corporation
Other Degrees: BSc, Architecture, MIT
1. What was your work experience/background before coming to the GSD?
I received Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from MIT. Immediately after undergrad, I started my Master in Architecture at GSD, but as I learned more about urban planning, I became very interested in it and decided to pursue Master in Urban Planning at GSD.
2. Why did you choose the GSD?
Coming from an architecture background, I was fascinated by GSD’s approach to urban problems. Whether we accept it or not, physical surroundings dictate much of our daily lives and interactions. I thought the GSD would help me effectively use my design background in the urban planning field.
3. What made you decide to pursue real estate as a career afterward?
I realized that without implementation, all plans and designs would only be ideas. I think financial feasibility is the most challenging and crucial aspect of any project. Once developed, these projects go on to change urban environments. I also like collaborative nature of real estate, where one needs to cooperate with different people from different backgrounds to bring projects into reality.
4. What experiences at Harvard do you look back on as having been most helpful in your career?
The MUP program is very flexible, so I was able to take classes that catered my interests. I took classes at Kennedy School and MIT on a variety of subjects such as real estate, transportation, and sustainability. I think my exposure to these fields really helps me understand cities and developments comprehensively.