Hayley Buckman, a senior in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration and Peer Career Coach with Cornell Career Services, shares how philanthropy shaped her college experience and future goals.
“The impact you make might seem small in the moment– just a few hours a week, one student, one lesson– but over time, it builds up.”
“Philanthropy has taught me how to be a better listener, a more patient communicator, and a more grounded leader.”
Hayley’s journey with giving back sparked during middle school, while she was part of the National Charity League for around 6 years. She knew she wanted to find a way to continue to give back and work with children once coming to Cornell. The summer after her sophomore year, she joined Teach for America’s Ignite Fellowship as a virtual tutor for under-resourced schools. Over the past two years, Hayley has had the opportunity to meet and connect with various students across the country. Those one-on-one connections have deepened her understanding of educational inequity and strengthened her commitment to using her own time and resources to empower others. Balancing being a tutor, working for Cornell Career Services and being a full time student has not been easy, but that experience helped solidify her belief that community engagement is just as important as academic and professional growth. When Hayley came across the Ignite Fellowship, she wasn’t sure if she had enough teaching experience. But she applied anyway, eager to grow and help. After a few weeks of training, she ended up tutoring elementary school students in both reading and math– and in the process, gained a whole new set of communication and leadership skills.
Hayley knew she wanted to work in commercial real estate, but also believed that creating long-term change begins with investing in people. She realized her passion for real estate and love for mentoring didn’t have to be separate. Being involved in philanthropic work can shape the way you approach leadership and business. Tutoring has taught Hayley essential skills that translate directly into the real estate industry. She learned to break down complex topics into actionable steps– a valuable ability when explaining financial models, investment strategies, or market dynamics to clients and stakeholders. Tutoring also strengthened her communication skills, patience, and ability to adapt her approach depending on the audience, all of which are critical when negotiating deals, managing projects, or collaborating cross-functionally with teams. Mentoring and teaching others instilled in her a deep sense of accountability and empathy, traits that are equally important when leading initiatives, building client trust, and contributing to a company’s long-term success. Hayley’s background in both real estate and mentorship uniquely positions her to approach challenges thoughtfully, invest in relationships, and drive positive change within the industry.
As she looks ahead to graduation and working within New York City real estate, Hayley hopes to keep giving back– whether that’s through mentoring younger students, working with nonprofits focused on housing, or simply staying involved in her community. She sees philanthropy not as something separate from her career, but as something that will always be part of it.
