Karthik Ranganathan

Born and raised in Chennai, India, Karthik Ranganathan spent his early years competing in state-level cricket matches and attending local book donations. Motivated by a passion to learn and the support of his family, Karthik set out on an educational journey that took him across the world.

Karthik is the first in his family to attend college. After completing his bachelor’s degree in engineering at Madras University, Karthik attended Anna University and earned his master’s in engineering in 2000. But he didn’t stop there. In 2005 Karthik moved to the United States to begin his career as a software engineer in New Hampshire. Eventually he moved to Maryland to work for Thomson Reuters, and he received his second master’s in computer science from Georgia Tech.

In 2019, Karthik began working at Freddie Mac. He was a development lead before assuming his current role as a senior tech lead. Karthik is known for consistently going above and beyond for his team. His expertise in software engineering and strong educational background have helped pave the way for many of the new technology tools adopted by Multifamily.

In 2022, Karthik received the CEO Award, a tradition at Freddie Mac that’s considered our company’s highest honor. From the development and implementation of coding to the establishment of standards and tools, Karthik’s contributions have been instrumental for the Technology & Operational Risk Department as well as the Multifamily Division.

Karthik’s determination to learn and grow continues. He is currently working toward his third master’s degree, which will be in Business Administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Now a husband and father of two, Karthik sets a great example for his children and his colleagues of the importance and power of education.

What is the value of diversity within teams?

A: Diversity in the workplace provides equal opportunities to everyone. The different perspectives in a diverse team brings out innovative and creative thinking that can change how you approach a problem.

Do you have any inspirational figures in your life?

A: Srinivasan Ramanujan, a great mathematician, is a true example of hard work and dedication and has been a big inspiration to me.

What is one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

A: Don’t compare yourself to others. Your strength and weakness are your own and your own path to pave. Find your voice and don’t be afraid to use it.

What gets you excited to come to work?

A: I’m surrounded by many good people at Freddie Mac. There’s always someone new to learn something from. In my role, I’m able to continuously grow my understanding of how the business operates, not just from a technical standpoint. I can learn the day-to-day work of servicers and underwriters and then apply this understanding to help make their job more efficient.

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