As we settle into the crisp embrace of Fall semester, there’s no better time to reflect on the transformative power of the SEEMA Executive Mentoring Program and the remarkable achievements of our Leon Hess Business School community. This season of change brings with it inspiring stories of growth, connection, and professional triumph that exemplify the very best of what our Business Council partnerships can accomplish.
In this edition, we’re proud to spotlight a shining example of how strategic mentorship, academic excellence, and proactive career development converge to create extraordinary outcomes.
Kyle Bleweis (LHBS, 2025): A Business Council Point of Pride and SEEMA Program Success
By Jonathan Leifer, Chair, Faculty Grant Committee
The SEEMA Executive Mentoring Program is a cornerstone of our LHBS efforts to provide an exceptional academic and career preparatory experience for Business School students. Through this initiative, students are paired with Business Council Members employed in their chosen fields of interest, offering them invaluable, real-world career insights that reach far beyond classroom learnings. Recently, Kyle Bleweis, a longstanding Council student liaison, graduated from LHBS with honors and the distinction of being a model for what SEEMA seeks to facilitate for our next generation of business leaders.
Kyle was a dual Finance and Real Estate Major, and his mentorship with Mr. Jonathan Leifer provided a deep dive into the world of real estate investment and development. As a mentee, Kyle sought to bridge the gap between classroom learnings from the Kislak Real Estate Program and practical application, gaining firsthand exposure to the complexity of deal capitalization for large, multi-year projects and digging deeper to understand the analysis of financial risks and returns in property investments. But his mentorship wasn’t just about numbers; it also involved discussions on design trends, visits to real properties that illustrated why investors carefully plan and position real estate projects for before ever breaking ground,and the importance of creating sustainable and functional spaces for host communities. This exchange of ideas highlighted how every curated detail — from aesthetics, to floor plans and amenities, to energy footprint — helps to realize long-term value and market-fit when community building.
Ever career-minded, Kyle also gained insight into real estate’s employer ecosystem. He learned the roles played by various stakeholders, from architects to lenders, attorneys, brokers, contractors, and investment managers. This holistic perspective made him conversant on career paths as a rising professional. He also proactively sought employer referrals from his Mentor and other Council members to empower his job search. This professional orientation, as well as Kyle’s diligence in his studies and prior internships, opened up several job opportunities for him upon graduation, even in a crowded job applicant market. Ultimately, Kyle chose to work for Kennedy Lewis where he is a Financial Analyst focused on financing Homebuilder’s Land Lot Inventory nationwide.
Kyle represents a true paradigm of success for LHBS students navigating the college-to-workforce transition. For those seeking to follow in Kyle’s footsteps and leverage the power of SEEMA to widen their career prospects, the key is to demonstrate proactivity as Kyle so strongly did. This means actively seeking internships, building a strong network through SEEMA participation, and empowering a full transition from academia to a thriving career.