Women On The Move: 4 CRE Finance Execs On How They Reached The Top, What's On The Horizon

As JPMorgan Chase's managing director for SoCal multifamily, Lynnette Antosh oversees the largest multifamily portfolio for the nation's largest multifamily lender. She leads 13 origination teams covering the major metro areas of California, including San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles.

Prior to her role in commercial term lending, Antosh acted as Chase's primary contact for the Making Home Affordable program, an initiative led by the Treasury Department, coordinating with the default, capital markets, risk and compliance teams.

Is rent control going to change the game for multifamily owners in SoCal?

New legislation can affect businesses at different times and with varying degrees of impact, and rent control is no different. Recently we have seen some change with rent control, but after a period of adjustment, the laws are becoming more understandable by multifamily owners and the market seems to be adjusting.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Meeting with our customers. Everyone has a fascinating and unique story. I love hearing directly from our borrowers how they got started in the business. One of my favorite questions to ask is, 'How did you get into real estate and buy your first building?' The stories are incredible — customers who started with very little and over time have built large portfolios.

Additionally, I enjoy being part of a vibrant business where my colleagues and I are dedicated to our customers and are laser-focused on our process to deliver the best customer experience in the industry.

Can you speak to your experience as a woman in commercial real estate?

While many of my colleagues are and have been male throughout my career, I have always felt embraced and known that my team wants me at the table. There is always an appreciation for the perspectives I bring.

More generally though, when I look across the industry, that may not be the narrative for all women, and people do take notice of that. It is incumbent upon us all to encourage more women to take interest in our industry.

How can programs like Women on the Move make a difference in women's careers?

I know firsthand how this program can help, as it helped me in a career transition at Chase. I had been speaking to our head of the Commercial Term Lending business for some time about a role with the team. During this time, I attended a Women on the Move event and unbeknownst to me, I ended up connecting with two top-performing women on the CTL sales team.

During my next conversation with the head of CTL, I shared my chance meeting with his team at WOTM. Both bankers had provided great feedback and were strong advocates for me joining the team.

I ultimately made the move and became their manager. It was inspiring to hear their passion for what they do before I took the new role, and see the culture that embodies our business.

I’ve attended many other WOTM events and met some incredible people. Many have reached out to me for career advice and to keep them in mind for open positions. I’m always apt to take those meetings because these women are taking ownership of their path.

What is one way you advocate for yourself and other women at work?

I believe that to successfully advocate for anything, you must understand the needs of the individual or team. I ask a lot of questions, and remind people all the time that no one is a mind reader. You have to make your goals known.

We have a stellar group of experienced bankers here, and we have been able to attract the next generation of bankers. There are men and women from many backgrounds, and they're all having a great deal of success. It's incredibly rewarding to watch them succeed as we build for the future.

What motivates you?

What I enjoy most is being part of a cohesive team that really takes ownership of the business. To have the opportunity to coach and be part of a team that strives for success is incredibly motivating.

We're dedicated to our customers and our process for delivering the best loan financing experience. Over time, I've built relationships with many of our long-term customers and their families, now I'm working with the second generation of owners. The relationships we have built keep them coming back.

What does it take to be a successful woman in our industry?

Authenticity. To me, being authentic is saying what you mean and meaning what you say. I believe in sticking to my core values and principles above all else. This honesty has helped me build trust throughout my career.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Work hard, never stop learning and be a great partner. Be the person that others want in the room, be the person who listens to others and is a problem-solver. Most importantly, never lose sight of your humility. Be a good human and have a heart.

What do you feel is the largest challenge facing commercial real estate? 

The ever-changing regulatory landscape. That said, our clients are battle-tested; they play the long game, and JPMorgan Chase has been there and will be there for them throughout all cycles.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned about lending in your career?

Keep it simple. We let our customers run their business. We deliver on what we say. Certainty of execution is paramount in any business, and we hold ourselves to the highest of standard in this regard.