For most teenagers, the summer between high school and college is spent attending graduation parties, saying goodbye to old friends and preparing for a new chapter as a college student. For Daniel Kwak, his 18th year was focused on building a foundation in real estate. Just five years later Daniel and his brother Sam had acquired 87 apartments in Illinois.
In a recent episode of the Createur Podcast, hosts Karli Byrd ’23 and Spencer James ’24 invited Daniel to share how he built such an impressive portfolio of ten companies, spanning real estate investment, financial consulting, insurance and e-commerce while overcoming significant challenges. Daniel, a pastor’s son and an immigrant, faced financial struggles early in life which served as the fuel to change his circumstances and ultimately led him to real estate.
Keys to Building A Portfolio at a Young Age
Daniel emphasizes the importance of mentorship and learning from others’ experiences, and attributes much of his success to this principle. In the interview Kwak also highlights his unique perspective on privilege, framing an upbringing in poverty as a form of privilege – one that taught him the value of hard work and perseverance.
In conversation with Spencer and Karli, Daniel dives into how faith influences his approach to business. Kwak sees himself as being “in business with God,” aligning his entrepreneurial ventures with a deeper purpose. His philosophy centers on stewardship and using his businesses as a tool to serve a higher calling.
Listeners to the podcast episode are left with a compelling message about integrating faith with business and redefining success in entrepreneurial endeavors. Check out the full episode on Spotify, Apple or your preferred podcast app!
The Createur Podcast is an outgrowth of the Createur Conference & Pitch Competition. Hosted by the McGraw School of Business, this year’s competition will again be held on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University. Young entrepreneurs will compete for a share of a $15,000 prize pool on April 15th & 16th, 2024.
To learn more about the McGraw School of Business at Olivet, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
