Ladies in Lending

On this week’s Ladies in Lending, your host Krista Russo sits down with Sue Meitner, President of the CLG Division at SMP.  Sue shares how vulnerability, strong systems, and authenticity have shaped her leadership, plus a sneak peek into her upcoming women’s empowerment summit: “Unlock the Power of Her” happening October 16, 2025 at Cedarbrook Country Club near Philadelphia.   This event will brin...

Welcome to another episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, with your host, Krista Russo.   In this episode Krista sits down with the incredible Brittany Hodak: keynote speaker, author of Creating Superfans, host of the Creating Superfans podcast, and a woman who is absolutely obsessed with customer experience.   From launching her first company at just 26, to selling an eight-figure startup, to...

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 Laiken Charles, a Mortgage Broker and Owner of Luma Lending.  Laiken shares her journey from mortgage broker to business owner and how she builds trust in her community by helping people get to where the need to be.  

Welcome to another episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, with your host, Krista Russo.  In this episode of the Ladies in Lending podcast, Trystin Durgin sits down with us and discusses how she blends her experience as a Realtor, Photographer and Videographer. Sharing her journey from Real Estate Photographer to Realtor. You’ll hear how her inspirations and passions help develop, grow and influ...

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, l...

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, navig...

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 sur...

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 mo...

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 ov...

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...

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 s...

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, th...

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...

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 challeng...

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 nonprof...

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 th...

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 fin...

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.  Discover valuable insights on how to create a referable experience for clients, the significance of empathy in leadership, and the power of women supporting women in the...

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 t...

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...

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 a...

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,"...

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. ...

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 an...