A Letter to the Class of '24

Dear 2024 Graduates:

Every great career that has ever been, was not planned.

Four years ago, just as you were beginning your freshman year, I was starting my company SERHANT . We faced many of the same obstacles: the storms of a global pandemic, climate disasters, geopolitical unrest, and more. (Fun times, right?) I know firsthand that reaching for new heights in that environment was not for the faint of heart. However, I also knew I needed to create the real estate brokerage of the future, one that reflected my values, empowered others, and leveraged what I had learned about achieving success in a new era. You, too, have persevered to reach lofty goals, fueled by determination, optimism, and a deep knowledge that you have something to offer the world.?

Through all this, you will reshape the world in your own image, and that gives me faith in the future. (But no pressure!) Your degree is not just an insanely expensive piece of paper that authorizes you to “adult,” it’s a milestone that represents your hard work and dedication and I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations for your profound accomplishment.

I’m writing to you as a former theater kid from the class of '06 who is now a CEO with a career I built from the ground up. My road to success was not straightforward. Every experience I had shaped who I am today. I was a struggling actor turned hand model when I first started out in New York. I turned to real estate as a side gig and on any given day you could find me hustling in a coffee shop in a pair of khakis and cowboy boots, trying to drum up business. In my first year, I only made $9,000... Just a few, tough years later, I was cast on Million Dollar Listing New York and my life completely changed.

I am a living testament to the fact that it’s okay not to know what you’re doing and to have 30 jobs before you hit your stride. You have plenty of time.

As we move into the future, a changing of the guard is underway. Certain industries and professions will cease to exist. Others, like technology, healthcare, renewable energy, e-commerce, and AI will dominate (props if you majored in these fields!). For the majority of you who didn’t, take it from me, the former theater major; the only limits that exist are the ones you place on yourself.

I'm here to tell you that what you have planned for next year isn’t going to happen… because something much better will.

Say yes to everything and stay flexible–you will be rewarded with the unimaginable. If you take nothing else from this letter, let it be this: The future is bright for those willing to seize opportunities and chart their own course.

The reality is, most of you will be self-employed freelancers, dealing with student debt. When you go solo, you'll realize being self-employed means selling your product, skill or idea. And learning to really sell is tough unless you're a natural (in which case, you might have a future here at SERHANT. ).

A 2022 McKinsey study showed that 36% of working individuals were self-employed in some capacity, up from 27% in 2016. That number is expected to grow to over 50% by 2027. For your generation, those numbers are even higher. Despite all that, in my experience, I saw a huge gap in entrepreneurship education - no guidance, mentors, or community. That's why I created SellIt - practical advice to succeed on your own. Take advantage of resources like this. Network relentlessly. Find mentors. If you see something lacking that the world needs, build it yourself. That's the entrepreneurial mindset required.

My parting advice: Build strong communities and surround yourself with people who support and inspire you. Explore every facet of the world that interests you. I’ve said it once and I’ll repeat it; SAY YES as often as you can. And never forget that every success is the result of countless failures. Graduates of 2024, the world is begging for your brilliance, your innovation, and your fire. Scream your message from the rooftops so loudly that the world can't help but take notice!

Step forward boldly and make your mark,

Ryan Serhant

Founder and CEO, SERHANT.