Bridgette Farrer is the VP of Asset Management at Common, based out of our Los Angeles office. Keep reading to learn more about her experience, and head to www.common.com/careers to learn more about our company, our values, and how you can join our team.
Why did you choose to work at Common?
I was finishing business school and knew I wanted to do something early-stage. After dabbling in venture capital, I met Brad Hargreaves, Common’s Founder & CEO, not long after he’d left General Assembly and was thinking about his next venture. Common seemed like the ideal opportunity to marry my pre-MBA background in commercial real estate with my desire to join a startup. Also, I couldn’t pass up the chance to work with a serial entrepreneur like Brad. Although Brad was only looking for an intern at the time, I convinced him to bring me on full-time.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a travel writer for Islands Magazine. The thought of being paid to fly somewhere tropical, stay in a gorgeous beachfront resort, eat great meals, and write about it sounded like a dream job to me! Of course, this was pre-internet, when barriers to entry were much higher for travel writers; Instagram has really changed things.
What was your favorite thing about your first week at Common?
My first week at Common was pretty unique: I was the third employee, and we were working out of one shared desk in a friend’s office! I remember being struck, in the best way possible, by how unworn the paths were. In fact, there were no paths! We had no members, no buildings, and no shortage of things to get done. I definitely got a rush by the sense of possibility in what we were building and figuring out each new stage from scratch.
Can you describe your growth experience at Common?
I’ve had 5 roles in 5 years at Common. One of the best things about joining a fast-growing company is the natural growth and momentum that occurs. As organizational needs change, new opportunities present themselves. In the last five years, I’ve worked with just about every external stakeholder of Common’s business: our members, our real estate development partners, the capital behind Common projects, municipal organizations, and even the media. I know our business as well as anyone, and I owe a huge part of that to the ability I’ve had to wear a lot of hats and try different things.
What is your favorite place?
Before pivoting into real estate, I spent 6 years studying Southeast Asian history in pursuit of becoming a professor! I had the good fortune of spending a lot of time living and working in the region, so probably somewhere in Cambodia.