MIAMI-When you gather the likes of Related's Stephen M. Ross and Jorge Perez, Darca's Craig Robins, Wells Fargo's Mark Meyers and a host of other movers and shakers in the real estate industry at a single event, you should expect standing room only.

That was the scene at 600 Brickell on Friday as the University of Miami hosted its second Real Estate Impact Conference. With two panel sessions and a keynote featuring real estate and financing thought leaders, the 14th floor was flooded with professionals, students and alumni ready to glean.

“One of the most important contributions our business community can make is to come back and talk to our students about what it's really like out there,” says Eugene W. Anderson, dean of UM's School of Business Administration. “Many times you don't even know what the opportunities are, let alone what it takes to be successful.”