A Conversation with Ray Mathoda, Anchor Loans

Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim

Ray Mathoda is a seasoned CEO, social entrepreneur, and passionate visionary who now leads the charge at Anchor Loans, a lending giant with more than $13 billion in loans funded to date. Her upbringing in India, passion for genomics, identity as a member of the Desi LGBTQ+ community, and vast professional experience all give her a unique perspective on the real estate lending market. With a glance into the challenges of urban housing projects and the real estate investment landscape, this discussion sheds light on Ray's multidimensional approach to lending and social entrepreneurship. You’ll find how her distinctive blend of passion, expertise, and empathy impacts Anchor Loans and all who cross paths with her. Ray is a multi-time CEO and Independent Board Director with a strong track record of delivering transformational growth and exceptional value creation. In the last 10 years, Ray successfully led and transformed 5 different companies, 2 of which were subsequently sold to Fortune 500 buyers. She is currently Chief Executive Officer of Anchor Loans, a leading direct lender to real estate investors, developers, and home builders.

Ray is a social entrepreneur and business builder who co-founded a portfolio of 'biotech for emerging markets' businesses delivering world class genomics, synthetic biology, and clinical solutions affordably at scale to India and emerging markets in Asia, the middle East, and Africa. Companies created includes South Asia’s leading human and plant genomics companies Medgenome and Agrigenome, as well as a transformational regenerative medicine company AntlerA.

Ray is an Independent Board Director (QFE) for public and private firms leveraging 20 years of board experience spanning the public, private and non-profit sectors. Board Director at Mosaic Finance. Board Chairperson for Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies, the leading, and only national, 501c3 non-profit serving South Asian LGBTQ families and persons in the US. Prior board service includes Genesis Capital (PE, sold to Goldman Sachs in 2018), Global Property Exchange (op co Hudson & Marshall sold to Fidelity National Financial in 2017), the Housing Authority of the City of LA (2nd largest public housing agency in US), the Los Angeles LGBT Center (oldest and largest by funding LGBT non-profit in the US), and Planned Parenthood LA (non-profit).

Key Topics

[00:01:25] An overview of Ray’s professional background

[00:05:56] Ray's journey from the mortgage market to Anchor Loans CEO [00:14:39] Why challenging markets foster differentiation, talent attraction, innovation, and a unique culture for growth [00:18:46] Exploring growth opportunities in diverse markets, including housing renovation and construction [00:23:11] Why complex factors like financing, construction costs, labor, and local regulations hinder housing development [00:30:27] How rated securitizations will bolster industry liquidity without overwhelming it, striking a vital balance [00:36:45] Anchor's vision is to provide stability, scalable capital, and innovative solutions to help borrowers grow, adapt, and succeed in evolving markets [00:45:10] How Ray’s Asian background and values, such as humility and mindfulness, influence her creation of an inclusive and successful corporate culture [00:51:36] Ray's journey from a family of doctors to a tech-driven advocate for India's biotech industry [00:57:15] How Ray's work in biotech is bridging healthcare gaps and driving innovation for diverse populations

Links

Learn more about Anchor Loans at https://anchorloans.com

Learn more about Geraci Law Firm at https://www.geracilawfirm.com

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