ARNAUD KARSENTI

MANAGING PRINCIPAL, 13TH FLOOR INVESTMENTS, MIAMI

Founded in 2008, 13th Floor Investments is a real estate investment and development firm with over 50 employees. Focused on Florida and the Southeast U.S., it has managed more than $5.5 billion in real estate across 70-plus investments. Known for creative structuring and value-driven strategies, it plays an active role in shaping communities through residential, commercial and mixed-use projects that support economic growth and urban revitalization. “Our Transit Oriented Development (TOD) initiative has helped transform the U.S. 1 corridor in South Miami-Dade County,” Karsenti says.

EDUCATION: Duke University (BSE), Harvard Business School (MBA)

FIRST JOB: I started a college-based shipping and storage company out of college called Collegeboxes. The business started at Duke University and grew to about 40 other schools before I sold it. Today, it is owned by U-Haul and serves over 500 universities nationwide.

MENTEE IMPACT: I convincingly explained to a young man the value of habitually waking up early. That person recently told me that this changed their life in a positive manner.

HOBBY: I love riding my Fliteboard e-foil on Biscayne Bay. It’s the closest thing to flying that one can experience.