Get to Know: Mark Smith, Mastering the Art of a Life Well Lived

Associate Director of Asset Management, Stanford University / Stanford Real Estate

Some people exude a zest for life, and Mark Smith is one such person. When you learn the multitude of ways he makes the most of his time, you might find yourself inspired to do the same.

Mark was a Navy kid who moved around until, when he was seven, his family put down roots in the Los Angeles area. Growing up in Southern California, with its abundant beauty and nature and no shortage of activities to do under sunshine, clearly left its mark. To this day, it seems Mark won’t miss an opportunity to get outside.

Twice a week, he begins his mornings with a five-mile hike up into the Santa Cruz Mountains. He knows all the best spots to take in the sunrise. Any chance he gets, he’ll drive to the beaches of Monterey Bay or rugged shores of Big Sur. Mark knows the meditative and calming power of nature, and he draws from it on a regular basis.

If he’s a hiker by morning, then he’s a rock-n-roller by night. At least some of the time! Mark has played the drums since he was 10, including winning a national drumline championship in college at UCLA. And he’s in a band with some local musicians. They often play live shows up and down the Bay Area, most recently to a crowd of 3,000 in the South Bay. Music continues to be a joyful hobby for Mark—and one that has brought some joyful noise to a home that got a little quieter after his kids, now 23 and 25, left for college and then careers.

If most of Mark’s free time is defined by the outdoors, then his work time is defined by the indoors. Since April 2018, Mark has been part of the Stanford Research Park team, overseeing operations for its commercial assets. He brought with him over twenty years of commercial real estate experience—and the wisdom that comes with having watched the Silicon Valley market go through multiple evolutions.

When he joined the industry in the 1990s, he caught the tail end of manufacturing plants’ conversion to office space for high-tech companies. Today, he’s watching as offices are converted into labs and spaces for other uses. As a naturally optimistic and curious person, he takes it all in stride and sees change as an opportunity to learn, grow, and perform more effectively—a capacity that he sees as consistent with the Stanford culture. He counts himself seriously fortunate to be part of a team that is so welcoming, supportive, and appreciative of his decades of Bay Area real estate knowledge.

We’re excited for you to get to know Mark Smith, yet another person who makes Stanford Research Park a unique and special place.

What inspired you to pursue your field of work?

A sequence of well-timed opportunities pushed me into this work, which happened to fit really well with my interests and skills. After college, I worked as an insurance adjuster and then for a medical transportation company. In 1997, my employer went bankrupt, and we all lost our jobs. I saw an ad for an administrative assistant to a property manager and went for it. Within 18 months, I was promoted twice, I received my real estate license, and I was encouraged to pursue additional educational opportunities within my field.

When I graduated college, real estate was in a slump, so I didn’t consider it. But I’ve learned that real estate, especially property management, is more recession proof than people might think. Even in a down market, buildings still need maintenance. Whether the real estate market is good or bad, there’s still opportunity.

What are you absolutely determined to do?

I’ve had the fortune of getting to work for several different organizations, third-party management companies, and for direct owners, like Stanford. All the while, I’ve learned a lot about the best practices of operating real estate. I’ve also had opportunities to learn about new concepts, like sustainability, and get several certifications, all of which have deepened my understanding of my work and the industry. I feel I’ve been able to bring my experience and successes into operating platforms like Stanford.

I am determined to end my career after building the most robust, thorough, value-adding, and comprehensive operations platform I can possibly have in place for my portfolio, with the idea that whoever takes over will be able to use it and leverage it into even greater success for the next generation.

What skill would you like to master?

I would like to become a master of surf fishing. Specifically, I'd like to be a master of surf fishing in Monterey Bay on a weekly basis! Surf fishing is fishing from the beach and casting your line into the tide. It’s a literal connection with nature. Within 25 to 50 yards of the Monterey Bay shoreline is a tremendous diversity of sea life. I’ve got some favorite spots where I can catch fish right from the sand.

Growing up in LA and spending a lot of time in Santa Barbara, I’ve been in the ocean since I was a kid, and I’ve been into fishing for most of my life. Surf fishing is about as peaceful of an activity as I can imagine. It’s not so much about catching the fish, but slowing down, taking in all the natural beauty, and sometimes my patience is rewarded with a fish. And then I follow this up with the best fish tacos you can imagine! My wife, Kat, and our two dachshunds all love it when I bring home a catch. They become my biggest fans.

What is your favorite day-off activity or destination?

Jade hunting in Big Sur! Anytime I have a day off, I drive the 125 miles to Big Sur to hunt for all kinds of jade. It is my all-time favorite thing to do. By now, I’ve found about 350 pounds worth of jade, and in all different colors. At some point, I want to build it into some kind of waterfall feature, maybe for a hot tub, so I can bring some of the beach’s calming effect home.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

I have a very dear friend who is Buddhist. Years ago, as I was working through some challenges, this friend gave me the following advice:

Whatever it is in life you seek—a career, love, whatever—always leave space for the highest possible outcome. Life will provide you clues that an option in front of you will or will not help you reach that highest outcome. Let those that won’t serve the highest outcome simply fall away. In time, you will look back and see that, by following the clues life provided you, you did indeed make it to that highest outcome.

I've seen this advice play out in my life several times and in several different ways, so I really adhere to it.