The man with the — urban — plan
Travis Gysegem is taking his career to the next level with a Lindner MBA
Growing up in Warren, Ohio, Travis Gysegem saw firsthand the potential of what had been a post-steel boom town. After declines in the steel industry led to a mass exodus, many buildings and areas were left in decay. But, silver linings were found and in them, a young love of urban planning blossomed.
“When I was in high school, the city of Youngstown put out an award-winning urban plan called Youngstown 2010 that I read as a high school student. It was one of the first urban plans that recognized that the city was shrinking and developed strategies for how the city could maximize its current assets to benefit the residents that were still there,” recalled Gysegem. “Reading through that plan really got me thinking about urban planning as a potential career path.”
Lindner dean Marianne Lewis presents Travis Gysegem with the honor of Outstanding MBA Student of the Year.
Fueled by this curiosity for urban planning, Gysegem sought out the highly ranked program at UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, and it’s even more highly regarded co-op program. But after 10 years in the industry, Gysegem’s role at the Catalytic Fund, a not-for-profit real estate finance fund, was evolving and he knew he needed to take that next step in his career.
“Travis began his MBA journey while continuing to work full-time as the director of research and underwriting at The Catalytic Fund. His educational and professional achievements make him a model student forothers pursuing the Lindner MBA as a working professional,” remarked Eli Awtrey, PhD, assistant professor of management.
New opportunities, locally and abroad
The MBA’s unique experiential learning opportunities added to its allure for Gysegem.
After attending UC Real Estate Center Roundtable events as a professional and at the encouragement of his superiors — including former interim center executive director Jeanne Schroer — Gysegem knew he wanted to deepen his relationship with the real estate community.
This connection led to both ample networking opportunities and Gysegem pursuing a graduate certificate in real estate alongside his MBA.
Also on Gysegem’s list of desired experiences was international travel.
“I think the international experiences that UC offers, in addition to the Real Estate Center, was really why I chose to go to Lindner. I think they do international experiences better than just about any other school in the region. And I knew I wanted that to be part of my Lindner MBA.”
Get to Know Travis Gysegem
- 2026 Outstanding MBA Student of the Year
- Bachelor of Urban Planning from the UC College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning
- Current Director of Research and Underwriting at the Catalytic Fund
- Earned a graduate certificate in real estate alongside his MBA
Gysegem fulfilled that desire through travel to Italy over spring break 2026, taking in learnings from the country’s numerous luxury brands. Combined, Gysegem’s MBA experience reinforced one vital life lesson that he has long carried with him:
“You must be present to win. Half of life is showing up. Whether it’s lectures, networking events, meetings, volunteer opportunities, coffees, happy hours — just keep showing up,” advised Gysegem. “So much of life is being present. Presence compounds into relationships and building an established personal brand. I always keep trying to show up to events and show up for others, and I feel like that’s really paid off for me.”
Featured image: Travis Gysegem in Lindner Hall. Photos by Jospeh Fuqua II.
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