"In whatever field Mala's working, she asks interesting questions. Whatever she is looking at, she's thinking about in a broad way," said James Lingwood, the codirector of Artangel, where Gaonkar was formerly a trustee.Taking over for a legend
While the firm isn't as big of a player in the private markets as Tiger Global, Coatue, or D1, it told investors in mid-2019 that it would open up the long-only fund to private investments as more attractive opportunities began to emerge, a move that has paid off thanks to the lofty valuations in the private space.
In a letter to investors in late 2019, the firm cracked the lid more than usual when Gaonkar, Craver, and Granat outlined how companies in outdated industries shouldn't be considered value investments just because their earnings look solid. "The economy evolves. It's not something that is taught in a classroom. What and how the market is valuing something is what is most important."While her title at Lone Pine is officially portfolio manager, Gaonkar's self-given title of trend-follower, in online bios and past articles on her work, is accurate, former investors and colleagues say.
The trio of Gaonkar, Granat, and Craver splits different sectors among themselves. Gaonkar is responsible mostly for media, tech, telecom, and emerging-markets financial companies, while Granat's main focus is consumer companies. Craver handles companies in the business services, healthcare, industrials, and financial sectors.