Rajee Harris
Principal Real Estate, Chief Operating Officer, Real Estate Operating Company Investments
Rajee is the Chief Operating Officer of the Real Estate Operating Company Investments at Principal Real Estate, a top-10 global real estate investment manager. He is responsible for providing strategic and tactical support of the real estate operating company (REOC) business. He is closely involved in underwriting, structuring, closing, financing, and managing North America and Europe REOC investment opportunities, and serves as the primary operational and financial liaison between Principal, its clients, and senior management teams of the REOCs.
Rajee is licensed to practice law in Iowa and Illinois and started his career at Principal in 2013 as a member of the legal department. In his role as legal counsel, he supported numerous businesses within Principal practicing in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, contract procurement, and private equity real estate. From 2018-2021, Rajee worked for a Chicago-based, private equity real estate investment manager as a Managing Director. In this role, he served on the firm’s Strategic Initiatives Group and supported key initiatives across investment, business, and financial management functions in a dual, business/legal role.
Rajee earned a Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School and an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Management and Marketing from Drake University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee for the Sustainable Development Code and recently served on the Drake Law School Board of Counselors from 2016-2022. Rajee was a member of the 2017-18 Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute class.
Education/Designations
- Juris Doctor & Master of Business Administration | Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
- Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Management & Marketing | Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
- Licensed to practice law in Iowa and Illinois
- Urban Land Institute Certificate – Real Estate 101
Professional Associations/Volunteer Activities
- Board of Directors, Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Inc.
- Board of Counselors, Drake University Law School
- Board of Directors, Drake University Law School Recent Alumni Engagement Board
- Greater Des Moines Leadership Institution – CLP Program, Class of 2018
- Member, Chicago African-Americans in Commercial Real Estate