Sophie Martin: Real Estate Strategy and Urban Planning Manager

What I do:

I am the Real Estate Strategy and Urban Planning Manager for Genentech, Inc. in South San Francisco.

Why I do it:

After nearly a decade in urban planning consulting, it is fascinating to think about planning from the perspective of a corporate campus -- which in this case is even larger than some of the small towns I used to work for!

How I got here:

After studying City Planning in graduate school, I consulted for municipal governments across California, focusing on long-range land use and transportation planning. I then decided to try something new and am enjoying applying my skills in a new area. Large corporate and institutional campuses have huge impacts and importance in the San Francisco Bay Area and benefit from this type of strategic thinking.

What my background in Urban Studies has done for me:

Urban Studies provided me with the solid interdisciplinary background necessary to tackle the ever-changing dynamics of the built environment.