After more than 20 years in the military — a journey that took Matt Heidt (EMBA ’14) through Navy SEAL training and around the world, and that gained him the Bronze Star Medal for Valor — Heidt ventured into real estate, first in his family’s business and then by starting his own opportunity fund with the intention of adding value to properties in his hometown of San Diego. While his CV is extensive and impressive, Heidt’s ambitions are driven by the positive influence he has on others.
Heidt shared thoughts on his experiences at UCLA Anderson and how the Executive MBA program has enhanced his career goals and personal aspirations.
Tell us about your professional experience before coming to Anderson.
I served as a Navy SEAL for over 23 years, 11 of those on active duty. I’ve traveled all over the world to countries throughout Africa, Asia and South America, often providing health care services as a special operations independent duty corpsman. I had been trained to practice medicine in austere environments without supervision, and so as a part of our Foreign Internal Defense training operations with the host nation, setting up clinics and treating the local populace was a great way to develop better relationships.
After leaving the Navy in 2000, I remained in the reserves for the ensuing 12 years. In my transition from active duty I sampled quite a variety of potential careers. Initially, I began by working with the San Diego Police Department as a clinician on their Homeless Outreach Team, where I focused on performing outreach to transients with mental illness. While that was fulfilling work, it was challenging to support a young family financially. My intent was to complete my bachelor’s degree and become a Special Agent for the U.S. Customs Service, investigating narcotics along the U.S./Mexico border. As it turned out, working for the federal government again, this time as a civilian, was not the career that I was looking for, and after a couple of years it was time to move on.
In 2007 I had the opportunity to deploy to Ar Ramadi, in Al Anbar Province of Iraq, and work alongside several U.S. Special Operations units as an Advanced Special Operations intelligence operator. This was not an environment where clinics were used to assist the people, but as it turned out, we had considerable success in protecting the population and Coalition Forces, and it was not difficult to see how our actions benefited the people.
What inspired you to transition into real estate?
Law enforcement simply wasn’t entrepreneurial. I found it difficult to witness the positive impact of my work. I decided that it was time to work with my father in our family’s real estate business. In 2008, I saw the opportunity to take advantage of the negligent debt underwriting in the commercial market as a way to access underperforming assets, restore their value to the community, and make a profit on the resale. So, I started my own opportunity fund doing just that. After I had a few projects underway, I decided it was time to pursue a formal business education, and I applied to UCLA Anderson and enrolled in the Executive MBA program in 2012.
You just graduated from the EMBA program; what are some of your most memorable Anderson experiences?
In 2013, I was awarded the Peter Bren Distinguished Fellowship in Entrepreneurial Real Estate from the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate. I was selected along with three other MBA and UCLA Law students. We had the rare opportunity to have an intimate lunch with Mr. Bren (chairman and president of KBS Realty Advisors); speaking with and learning from one of real estate's most successful moguls was very exciting and memorable. This gave me a clear direction as far as focusing my MBA in a specific area, and as many before me, I thoroughly enjoyed taking Professor Sussman’s entire course schedule. His instruction and real world experience made a strong impact, and I am certain that the lessons learned in those courses will benefit me for the rest of my career.
But my Strategic Management Research project experience is definitely worth noting. Our challenge was to find a financially viable solution to increasing the supply of affordable senior housing using private equity rather than subsidized capital sources in partnership with Mercy Housing, a nationally respected affordable housing nonprofit. Our team was able to demonstrate that not only could a private equity approach to affordable senior housing be profitable for investors, but government programs like Medicare and Medicaid could reduce spending at the same time, which has the potential to revolutionize affordable housing. Just prior to graduation, we presented the results of our research to Mercy Housing, which has since decided to use the presentation and financial model to roll out an investment plan to stakeholders. This project was really a chance for me to merge my military medical training and real estate interests, integrating aspects of each to elevate the lives of people in need.
You returned to campus this summer to volunteer with the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Foundation (EBV). How was the experience mentoring fellow veterans?
While volunteering, I mentored three veterans who had an interest in real estate by reviewing their business plans and sharing my experiences of transitioning from military life to working in the real estate industry. UCLA is a very veteran-friendly institution, and opportunities like EBV make veterans feel welcomed and appreciated. It was an honor to give back to Anderson and to my fellow vets.
What do you have lined up next?
I plan to continue in the entrepreneurial world of real estate in the San Diego area. I'm also involved with the Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs, coaching and sharing my story with other veterans, specifically those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or related health issues. It's really the times when I'm able to help people that I feel the most successful in life.
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