Onward, a Fundrise Production 53: Building the largest multifamily lender in the nation, with Willy Walker CEO of Walker & Dunlop
10 snips
Jan 20, 2026 
Willy Walker, CEO of Walker & Dunlop, shares his journey in transforming a local mortgage shop into a national powerhouse in real estate finance. He delves into pivotal growth decisions, the importance of company culture, and the challenges of leading during crises like 2008 and COVID. Walker discusses the balance of competitive culture with ethical practices, the nuances of going public, and the lessons learned from mistakes made along the way. His insights on management strategies and the future of the industry reflect a blend of audacity and caution.
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Vision, People, And M&A Drove Growth
- Having outside experiences allowed Willy Walker to envision scaling Walker & Dunlop far beyond its local footprint.
- He credits vision, aligned people, and M&A as the three pivotal drivers of their growth.
A Chip Built From Early Insecurity
- Walker's 'chip on the shoulder' traces to being an average student among gifted peers and later proving himself at Harvard.
- Early successes at HBS transformed his self-belief and fueled relentless competitive drive.
Nearly Sold In 2008, Then Bought Into Opportunity
- In 2008 Walker nearly sold the firm before the financial crisis and the deal collapsed.
- In January 2009 he bought Column Guarantee from Credit Suisse using stock to create a one-way option if the firm survived.
