Ladies In Lending

Welcome to another episode of the Ladies In Lending podcast, with your host, Allison Johnston. In this episode of the Ladies In Lending podcast, Allison Johnston, sits down with Shelley Leonard—President of Xactus and a trailblazer in both tech and mortgage. Shelley shares how she went from entry-level programmer to president by embracing lateral moves, staying curious, and refusing to settle for...

Welcome to another episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, with your host, Krista Russo. In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, Krista Russo sits down with Brenda Wyatt, a top 1% originator and senior mortgage advisor at La Salle Mortgage. Brenda shares her inspiring journey from corporate finance to becoming a nationally ranked loan officer, all while staying grounded in service, leg...

Welcome to another episode of the Ladies In Lending podcast, with your host, Krista Russo. In this episode of the Ladies In Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with Carolina Vergara, Vice President of Sales at First Option, for an inspiring conversation about perseverance, boundaries, and the power of reinvention. Carolina shares her story of immigrating from Colombia at 15, navigat...

Welcome to another episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, with your host, Krista Russo. In this powerful conversation, Krista sits down with producing branch manager Rachel Lester to unpack her incredible journey from economic development to mortgage leadership—through cancer, personal loss, and ultimately, a purposeful new mission. Rachel opens up about navigating the lending world while survi...

Welcome to another episode of the  Ladies In Lending  podcast, with your host, Krista Russo. In this episode of the  Ladies In Lending  podcast, your host, Krista Russo, sits down with personal finance expert and author Lisa Chastain for a heartfelt and empowering conversation on money, mindset, and self-worth. Lisa shares her powerful journey from financial rock bottom to becoming a sought-after...

Welcome to another episode of the  Ladies in Lending  podcast, with your host, Krista Russo. In this episode of the Ladies in Lending  podcast, your host, Krista sits down with Rebecca Richardson, also known as  The Mortgage Mentor , to talk about the power of authentic branding in today's mortgage space. Rebecca shares how she went from on-the-job training to building an educational platform with...

Welcome to another episode of the Ladies In Lending podcast, with your host, Krista Russo. In this episode of the Ladies In Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo, sits down with Jody Bruns, founder of the Divorce Lending Association and creator of the CDLP certification, for a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation. Jody shares how her personal journey through divorce inspired her to build a po...

Krista Russo sits down with Shannon Conradi of Propy Inc. to explore how tech, service, and grit are transforming the title experience for loan officers and agents alike. Shannon shares how Propy's AI-driven platform, 24/7 escrow access, and client gifting set a new standard for efficiency and connection in real estate. She also opens up about her personal journey with epilepsy, the challenges she...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with Laura Brandao, CEO of Lighthouse Advisors and host of her own podcast. Laura shares her incredible journey in the mortgage industry, from her unexpected entry as a young mom to becoming a powerful leader and advocate for women in the field. Discover how her husband's unwavering support fueled her passion, the...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with mortgage broker Kambi Heywood, who shares her incredible 27-year journey in the mortgage industry. Kambi discusses her passion for empowering clients through financing, the importance of personal connections in a tech-driven world, and her insights on navigating the evolving landscape of AI in business. She em...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with Lindsay Barron LaBonte, a top-producing branch manager with Applied Mortgage Team of HMA Mortgage Company. Lindsay shares her unique journey into the mortgage industry, influenced by her father's passion for helping others achieve homeownership. They discuss the importance of financial literacy, the challenges...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with Sue Moody, a senior loan officer at City Wide Home Mortgage, to discuss her incredible journey through breast cancer and the importance of self-advocacy and community support. Sue shares her personal experiences, from her initial diagnosis to becoming an advocate for pre-screening and supporting local nonprofi...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with Tara McCafferty, a seasoned producing branch manager at American Pacific Mortgage. With over 24 years in the mortgage industry, Tara shares her journey of resilience and adaptability, including her recent move from Nevada to Florida and the challenges that came with it. Discover how she cultivated success thro...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with Parker Borofsky, a brand leader, mortgage loan officer, and accomplished real estate investor with Wealth Builders Mortgage Group, powered by Movement Mortgage. Parker shares her journey to becoming one of Scotsman Guide's 2024 top 50 women originators and discusses her passion for helping clients achieve fina...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with Kim Winters, a top 1% mortgage originator and team lead at Movement Mortgage. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kim shares her journey from surviving to thriving in a challenging market, emphasizing the importance of mindset, building strong relationships, and leveraging a supportive team. Disc...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with Denise Donoghue to discuss her incredible journey from a challenging childhood to becoming one of the country's top 1% mortgage originators. Denise shares her personal story of resilience, financial empowerment, and the importance of building lasting relationships in the mortgage industry. Discover how she tra...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host, Krista Russo sits down with Denise Panza, a passionate mortgage banker from Total Mortgage, who shares her journey from New York to Florida and the values that drive her success in the industry. With over 27 years of experience, Denise discusses the importance of integrity, building relationships, and maintaining a work-life balance as a...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host Krista Russo interviews Melissa Cohn, the Regional Vice President of the Southern Division for William Raveis Mortgage. With nearly 43 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Melissa shares her journey from starting as an entrepreneur at a young age to becoming a leading figure in mortgage brokerage. She discusses her impressive acc...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host Krista Russo sits down with Alina Burke, Branch Manager and Senior Mortgage Loan Officer at Northpointe Mortgage.  With over 23 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Alina shares her journey of building meaningful relationships and her commitment to ethical lending practices.  Discover her insights on being a "lender for life," th...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, your host Krista Russo welcomes Jane Floyd, a powerhouse in the mortgage industry with over 30 years of experience. As a top originating branch manager at NFM Lending and a consistent member of the top 1% of mortgage originators in America, Jane shares her incredible journey into the mortgage space and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. Wh...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, join Krista Russo as she welcomes the vibrant and energetic Brittany Thompson from Mortgages with Brittany. Brittany shares her inspiring journey from the medical field to the world of mortgages, highlighting how the challenges of COVID pushed her to pursue a career in origination. In this episode, Brittany discusses: Her nurturing background and h...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, our host Krista Russo sits down with Brittany Bobbs, Vice President of Sales at Coastal Lending Group. Brittany shares her incredible journey from operations to becoming a successful loan officer, achieving an impressive $66 million in sales in just a few years. She opens up about her initial fears of transitioning from a stable salary to the unpre...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, our host Krista Russo sits down with Lauren Mazurkiewicz, a growth and development specialist at Success Mortgage Partners.  Lauren shares her journey into the mortgage industry, the importance of building relationships, and how she helps loan officers succeed. Discover how Lauren's background in communication and her passion for connecting with pe...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, our host Kristin Simpson interviews the incredible Joanne Johansen, affectionately known as the "Connecticut Crusher." With nearly 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Joanne shares her inspiring journey from a bank teller to a successful mortgage broker owner. In this episode, you'll hear about: Joanne's unexpected entry into the mortg...

In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, our host Krista Russo sits down with the incredible Holly Walther, leader of the Holly Walther Lending Team. Holly shares her journey from a summer job in the mortgage industry to becoming a passionate advocate for women's empowerment and homeownership in the Southeast. Holly's mission is to empower 2,000 women to achieve homeownership over the nex...