Project executive Ketan Karkare was named to New York Real Estate Journal’s “Ones to Watch,” recognized as a top leader in the city. Read Karkare’s Q&A below and in New York Real Estate Journal for insights into his repositioning and adaptive reuse projects, career path and development, and contribution to the industry.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? I recently celebrated my 17-year anniversary at Shawmut. It has been an amazing journey with so many talented people who inspire me every day. I have been lucky to be a part of an extremely challenging set of successful projects, from renovating and repositioning the iconic Paramount Building lobby to adaptively reusing a historic NYC theater to the current repositioning of a landmarked building underneath a skyscraper. On top of that, on each of my projects I’ve gotten to partner with impressive teammates.

Who was/is your mentor and how did s/he influence/help you in your career? I can’t credit just one person as a mentor. I was fortunate to work with many managers, each with a diverse set of skills and styles—some were direct and forthright, while others were passionate and empathetic. It’s this blend of different styles that gave me a well-rounded perspective and helped shape my career. There was always an underlying theme of going above and beyond and thinking outside the box, which to this day is the most inspiring driver in my development.

How do you contribute to your community or your profession? I am proud to be one of the founding members of Shawmut’s Diversity Leadership Council, working side by side with amazing individuals who passionately lead the effort in driving awareness and progress for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What led you to your current profession? Growing up, I was always fascinated by unique buildings and structures. When I reached college, architecture was the clear choice for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed studying it. My strong inclination towards the methodical, problem-solving, and sequencing coupled with my interest in finance made construction management a natural career to pursue.

Top three things on your bucket list:

1. Visit the top 20 national parks in the US and Canada. So far, I have been fortunate enough to visit eight: Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Zion, Sequoia, Acadia, Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, and Banff.

2. Taste every authentic international cuisine.

3. Learn to fly a plane.