There are many outstanding women in mortgage, but one who started fresh out of college in the CEO seat is a story I could have spent hours listening to!

In this engaging episode of Minds of Mortgage, I was delighted to talk to Christy Soukhamneut, Chief Lending Officer at University Federal Credit Union in Austin, Texas. After spending 25 years in Savannah, Georgia, Christy boldly moved to Austin for an opportunity that aligned perfectly with her values and vision for what financial services could be. She shares her perspective on UFCU's unique mission to be "loved by millions of members" and how this aspiration shapes their lending and community service approach.

Christy's journey into the mortgage industry began unexpectedly. While in high school, she worked part-time at an appraisal firm, where she learned the business from the ground up in an era before digital MLS systems. Her story took a fascinating turn when her father's negative loan experience led to an extraordinary opportunity that launched her career in mortgage lending. This experience showcased how sometimes challenging experiences can lead to the most rewarding paths.

In a candid discussion about the current state of the mortgage industry, Christy offers a refreshingly optimistic perspective on market challenges. Rather than viewing complex markets as obstacles, she sees them as opportunities for innovation and growth. She explains how these challenging times can create openings for new leaders to emerge and for organizations to develop better ways to serve their communities.

For aspiring homeowners who feel intimidated by current market conditions, Christy offers encouragement and practical advice. She shares experiences about the universal anxiety of making such a significant financial commitment while providing actionable strategies for approaching homeownership in today's market. Her perspective on affordability goes beyond mortgage rates, encompassing a holistic view of financial wellness.

The discussion concludes with powerful insights about mentorship and professional growth in the financial services industry. Christy emphasizes the importance of building relationships with financial professionals and seeking guidance, highlighting how accessible most industry leaders are to those who approach them with genuine curiosity and a desire to learn. Her stories about mentorship and professional development offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to advance in their career.

I am rarely a "fan girl," but when I had the opportunity to speak with someone like Mo, I felt genuinely grateful for women who are standing on business in the mortgage industry. This episode is a MUST LISTEN. The 30 minutes before and after the interview featured some of the most thought-provoking and honest conversations I've had in my mortgage career. I wish I could go back in time and work with Mo from the moment I entered this industry. It would have been incredible to have a colleague who truly understands how to connect with customers and where technology and teamwork come together to create something magical.

In this Minds of Mortgage podcast episode, I sit down with Mo Gatling, the Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth and Expansion at New American Funding. Our discussion focuses on Mo’s extensive mortgage experiences and her efforts to redefine how we serve various market segments amidst the evolving landscape of homeownership in America.

Mo shares her intriguing journey from banking and credit cards to the mortgage industry, motivated by her personal experiences as a homebuyer and her commitment to improving the process for others. With nearly two decades of experience in the Las Vegas market, she offers a unique perspective on the region's transformation and the challenges facing working families in today’s housing market.

As a leader who still actively originates loans, Mo provides unique insights into homebuyers' real-world struggles in 2025. She discusses the shift from price-driven to payment-driven home buying decisions and how this fundamental change reshapes the industry's approach to serving clients.

The conversation takes an intriguing turn as we explore the evolution of first-time homebuyers. Mo's observations about changing demographics and priorities among these buyers offer valuable insights for industry professionals. Her insights challenge traditional marketing assumptions and emphasize the need for more authentic representation within the industry.

Through personal anecdotes and market observations, we explore the significance of relationship-building in the mortgage industry and highlight the importance of understanding client psychology for achieving success. This discussion reveals that the industry's marketing strategies and client relationship approaches must evolve to align with the expectations of today's more informed and discerning consumers.

This episode offers a refreshing perspective on the future of the mortgage industry. It blendspractical insights with thoughtful analysis of current trends. Whether you are a mortgage professional, real estate agent, or potential homebuyer, this conversation provides valuable insights into homeownership and mortgage lending dynamics.

We are excited to kick off 2025 for Minds of Mortgage Podcast with an exceptional first guest—Liz Short, CEO of Short Solutions! Liz specializes in helping businesses and executives optimize their people, processes, and technology, focusing on personal branding and video marketing on social media. She challenged herself to become comfortable being uncomfortable, which has led her to embrace being in front of the camera. Liz is a prime example of the power of video as a marketing tool for personal branding.

This engaging conversation thoroughly explores female leadership in the mortgage industry. The discussion highlights women’s unique challenges and opportunities, their personal experiences, and the significance of mentorship for the next generation of leaders.

Our dialogue takes an interesting turn as we champion the power of authenticity in professional branding, particularly on LinkedIn. Liz shares her journey from working behind the scenes to becoming a prominent voice in the industry through consistent video content creation, offering valuable insights for others aiming to build their online presence.

We examine the evolving dynamics of marketing within the mortgage industry, challenging traditional approaches and presenting fresh perspectives on what will be effective in 2025. We highlight the importance of genuine connections and explain why certain outdated marketing tactics should be abandoned.

Furthermore, we discuss the role of technology, artificial intelligence, and social media in shaping the future of the mortgage industry, stressing the need for adaptation and innovation. We explore why some organizations thrive while others struggle to keep up with change.

The episode concludes with an insightful discussion on the value of cross-functional expertise in mortgage leadership. We emphasize the growing importance of “translators”—professionals who can bridge the gap between different aspects of the business, including sales, technology, and process implementation.

I am a big fan of Taylor Stork, CMB, so it’s no surprise that one of my favorite episodes of Minds of Mortgage Podcast in 2024 features him. As the COO of Developer's Mortgage Company and President of the Community Home Lenders of America, Taylor brings his signature straightforward approach that podcast listeners have come to know and love, but with a personal twist.

What makes this episode special is how Taylor reveals the reality behind the corporate facade. He shares that his role as COO goes far beyond the typical executive playbook. He remains actively involved in sales while also guiding technology and policy initiatives. However, what truly stands out is the personal story behind his commitment to housing advocacy—inspired by his father’s dedication to helping homeless veterans secure stable housing.

When we address the elephant in the room, the conversation takes an important turn: gender diversity in mortgage leadership. Taylor acknowledges the issue and delves deep into why having diverse perspectives at the decision-making table leads to better outcomes for everyone looking to buy a home. In this episode, as in our first conversation, Taylor’s advocacy for women is truly admirable in this industry.

We also explore an intriguing shift in the industry’s mindset. Remember when realtors were viewed as the primary customers? Taylor explains why this perspective is evolving, with an increasing focus on serving homebuyers directly, particularly in diverse communities where language barriers have historically posed challenges.

When the discussion turns to first-time homebuyers, the statistics reveal an interesting trend—the average age of first-time homebuyers has risen to 38. Taylor and I unpack what this means for mortgage professionals aiming to build long-term customer relationships.

The episode concludes with a look ahead to 2025, where Taylor offers a refreshing perspective that challenges the conventional wisdom of waiting for the next refinance boom. Instead, he highlights unexpected opportunities that could reshape the industry.

Looking to level up your mortgage leadership game? You won’t want to miss this week’s Minds of Mortgage podcast! Host Kelly Yale sits down with Scott Reese, SVP and Regional Manager at Rate, for a candid conversation about what really works in today’s market.

Scott’s story is fascinating - from his early days hustling in New Jersey to leading top-performing teams across multiple regions. But what makes this episode special is how he breaks down the real challenges mortgage leaders face every day. Whether you’re dealing with tough market conditions, trying to keep your team fired up, or making the leap from producer to leader yourself, Scott’s got practical advice you can use right away.

The best part? Scott doesn’t just share his wins - he digs into the lessons learned from challenging times and shares exactly how he keeps his teams motivated when the market gets tough. You’ll get actionable strategies for building stronger relationships with clients and partners, plus insider tips on spotting and developing talent that many leaders miss.

Ready to transform your leadership approach and build stronger teams? Tune in to hear Scott’s proven strategies for balancing supportive leadership with high performance, maintaining momentum in any market, and creating the kind of authentic relationships that drive long-term success.

If you attended a Digital Mortgage event in the past decade, you may have thought, “Why hasn’t anyone combined these systems into one?” you, Amit Ghole, and I should be friends. Amit, the CEO of Inflooens, entered the mortgage industry as an outsider but brought extensive experience in Salesforce solutions from major corporations. His journey into mortgages began with his frustrating experience as a consumer when, over two decades, he went through eight loan originations with little evidence of technological advancement. Initially, Amit’s vision was to create the best mortgage CRM in the world, but he and his team soon realized that the industry required more than just another database sending out drip campaigns.

Through market research and feedback, the team identified an opportunity to address the fragmented nature of mortgage technology systems, often leading to poor experiences for employees and borrowers. As a result, they developed a unified platform that consolidates mortgage operations onto a single screen, making enterprise-grade technology accessible through a subscription model. Inflooens can serve as both a point-of-sale system and a broker loan origination system, with the ability to integrate seamlessly with existing loan origination software (LOS) platforms. This integration reduces the need for loan officers to manage multiple system logins by providing one unified interface.

Additionally, the platform’s approach to data consolidation allows companies to build comprehensive customer profiles and identify targeted opportunities. This shift in focus transforms the industry from transactional, rate-centric interactions to value-based relationships that prioritize long-term financial planning and address customer needs.

Amit discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) will function as an enablement layer rather than replacing human roles. He points out that certain regulatory aspects of mortgage lending will continue to necessitate rules-based systems to ensure transparency and prevent bias. Simultaneously, AI can enhance efficiency in product recommendations and service optimization.

Looking ahead to 2025, Amit believes the mortgage industry is entering a new era of disruption in loan origination and sales. He views the current market cycle as a reset period, with higher volumes potentially accelerating the adoption of new technologies and approaches to mortgage lending. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Welcome to another episode of the Minds of Mortgage podcast! Prepare for an honest and insightful conversation that could transform your mortgage business! I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Geoff Zimpfer, who has rightfully earned his nickname as the "Chief Truth Teller" of the Mortgage Marketing Institute. This isn’t your typical industry discussion.

We cut through the distractions and focus on what truly works in building the essential relationships that keep your pipeline full. Drawing on our extensive experience in the field, we discuss an important issue: Why are so many loan officer-realtor relationships struggling? Trust me, the answer may surprise you.

If you’re tired of posting uninspired market updates on social media and receiving little to no engagement, you’ll appreciate Geoff’s innovative approach to enhancing your digital presence. He shares striking examples of loan officers excelling online by being authentic rather than aggressive in their sales tactics.

Are you curious about the true secret behind those sought-after referral partnerships? We dive into what distinguishes the top performers from the rest. Spoiler alert: it might not be what you expect, and Geoff’s insights could challenge your current understanding of networking in this industry.

As we look ahead to 2025, we'll discuss exactly what you need to do to stand out in an increasingly crowded market. These strategies are not just theories but practical and proven methods you can start implementing tomorrow.

By the end of our conversation, you will have a clear roadmap for building authentic relationships that lead to real business growth. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Today on the "Minds of Mortgage" podcast, we welcome Greg Sher! Greg, who is not only the Managing Director at NFM but also the visionary behind the "All of Us" movement, joined me fresh from our visit to the MBA conference in Denver.

You know those gloomy headlines we've all been seeing? Well, Greg spotted something different on the ground in Denver. He had this fantastic conversation with an industry veteran who completely changed his perspective on tech in our business. (Wait until you hear what they discovered about what matters to today's borrowers!)

We were honest about the challenges ahead—the kind that keeps us up at night. But here's the thing: Greg sees golden opportunities where most people see obstacles. The way he breaks them down, you'll wonder why you didn't see these possibilities before.

Remember how we used to think about client relationships? Greg's take on connecting with younger homebuyers is mind-blowing. He's throwing the old rulebook out the window, and his fresh approach makes so much sense in today's world.

And speaking of 2025 – Greg's predictions about independent mortgage bankers are spot on. Trust me, this isn't your typical market forecast. His enthusiasm for what's coming is contagious, and by the end of our chat, you'll probably feel as fired up about the future as we do.

If you're in the mortgage business and trying to figure out what's next, this conversation will be a game-changer. Greg doesn't just share insights—he gives you a whole new perspective on where our industry is headed. Ready to have your perspective shifted?