Meet The Team: Andrew Nicolaou

Name: Andrew Nicolaou  

Title: Analyst  

Office: London, UK  

Day-to-day: I work on the Business Development team, which focuses on the long-term growth of commercial real estate finance services in Europe. The role is broad, involving everything from client acquisition, to sharpening our competitive edge, to marketing and branding. I also serve on the board of our Rising Professionals Employee Resource Group.  Our mission is to help create a workplace environment in which all rising professionals can thrive both personally and professionally.  

Most Exciting Aspect: I can’t really sit still, so the fact that every day looks different keeps me engaged and excited. This is a relationship-driven business, which I love, because I can get out, meet new people, and build genuine connections. For me, it’s not about quick wins or ticking a box; it’s the fact that I can get to know people and build something long-term with them.   

Key Traits Needed: I think the most important aspect is interpersonal skills, the ability to build and maintain relationships with people. But the beauty of Business Development is that there are so many components to it, it allows you to lean into your strengths and be creative within the role.  

Best Advice Received: Your network is your net worth. Cliché, I know. But it’s so true!  

Personal Motto: “Live life by design, not by default.” It’s so important to proactively control what I can – setting goals and acting strategically. I have this quote written down everywhere.  

A Courageous Moment: Though my adult life is only a few chapters in, being in my early 20s, the most courageous thing I’ve done was tackling a major health challenge that had both a physical and a mental toll on me. It wasn’t easy going through that at a young age, but a combination of focusing on my mindset as well as huge support from the people around me, it was something I managed to navigate successfully. The experience really opened my eyes, sharpened my outlook on life and made me realize the importance of always expressing gratitude.  

Book recommendation: “The Almanack of Naval Ravikant” by Eric Jorgenson. Naval Ravikant is the co-founder, chairman and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AngelList, and an early-stage investor in Uber, FourSquare, Twitter, Postmates and other firms. It’s pure wisdom presented in such a concise and direct way. It’s an amazing collection on the power of using clarity and long-term thinking to navigate life and build wealth, judgment, health and happiness along the way. An honourable mention to “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. This book laid the groundwork for my career in Business Development.  

Dream Travel Destination: I would love to visit The Dolomites in Italy. I’ve been to many countries in Europe, especially being of Cypriot origin, but never visited Italy, and the Dolomites look breathtaking.