WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
Preet
Chief Investment Officer , GNP Capital
Partners by Laurie Lauletta-Boshart
Ahluwalia
There was a time when Preet Ahluwalia , chief investment officer for GNP Capital Partners , wanted to be a dentist . But she found the sciences didn ’ t hold her interest . She switched to a double major in religious studies and psychology at UC Davis , intending to go to law school . “ That wasn ’ t going to happen either ,” she laughs . Instead , she launched a business .
Now , she is months away from completing her MBA in finance and financial management services from UC Davis , a pursuit she says is very personal , while continuing to run her Sacramento-based investment firm .
Ahluwalia says she always had an interest in real estate that grew out of her experience of shadowing her dad , a pharmacist , who dabbled in real estate investing . She and younger brother Karanveer Ahluwalia , known as KV , often tagged along when dad was managing the properties , giving them hands-on experience dealing with residential real estate , and the owner and operator side of things . Then the housing bubble burst in 2008 and the market was suddenly flooded with a glut of distressed properties . Preet and KV were pulled in as college interns to help their dad create a funding stream and options for distressed assets . And that ’ s where it all started . “ You can say it snowballed from there ,” Ahluwalia says .
In 2014 , Ahluwalia and her brother founded GNP Capital Partners , a boutique investment firm whose primary focus is real estate , private equities and alternative assets ( KV acts as an investment officer ). “ Basically , we come across opportunities and match them with investors ,” Ahluwalia says . The firm considers approximately 15-20 opportunities a year in its annual deal flow , but the siblings are very particular about the investments they pursue , making sure they align with the company ’ s investment thesis and vision .
Just as the siblings were making strides in the company , they had to pivot , a time Ahluwalia says was one of the most difficult in her career . In 2017 , the need for distressed funding and bridge lending started to decline , forcing the young owners to take stock and look beyond residential real estate investing . They expanded the business to include financing for commercial properties and direct investments into private equities and alternative assets . The network and connections they made helped them gain a foothold in new markets , such as commercial real estate and family offices .
“ It allowed us to help people in a different way ,” Ahluwalia says . She credits her family and mentors as her biggest support system , and with helping her manage the business while also juggling her MBA studies and leadership role with the local chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners .
In July 2021 , she was elected chair and CEO of the NAWBO Sacramento Foundation , a nonprofit organization focused on helping the next generation of women entrepreneurs through scholarships , connections , resources and mentorships free of charge .
Ahluwalia connected with NAWBO Sacramento Valley in 2018 when she was searching for a women ’ s organization that would support business owners like herself . She went to a few meetings and loved it . “ It ’ s really a sisterhood of women supporting each other through all phases of entrepreneurship and business ownership ,” she says .
She served as director of programs for three months before the pandemic shut everything down . Ahluwalia had to quickly reassess what could be done virtually to keep members engaged . She and her team got creative , offering virtual wine tasting , meditation and self-care sessions , as well as a successful holiday gingerbread house build and a bra donation campaign .
Through all her efforts Ahluwalia is hoping to create a legacy for generations to come . “ There are so many women in the Capital Region who are absolutely willing to help the next generation ,” she says . “ I tell those I ’ m mentoring that sometimes it just means making the ask .”
Laurie Lauletta-Boshart has written for Dwell , ESPN , The Wall Street Journal , Sports Illustrated and others . Online at www . wordplaycommunications . com and on Twitter @ laurieboshart .
60 comstocksmag . com | March 2022