M O R TG AG E W O M E N M AG A Z I N E ’ S
PATTY ARVIELO President & Co-Founder New American Funding
Have you had any great female mentors? What is the importance of mentoring and is this something that you focus on? I was lucky enough to meet several leaders early in my career who served as mentors for many years. In fact, a few of them have been with us at New American Funding for a long time. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. That’s why I have long believed in the power and importance of mentorship. I want to help others find their way like I did when I was first starting out, which is why I established several mentorship programs at New American Funding. In these programs, we work closely with team members to help them navigate the challenges and triumphs that come when building their career. The purpose of these programs is to uplift as many people as possible, so they are positioned for their own success. Which of your qualities do you think contributed most to your success? For me, it’s all about helping people. I am a giving person by nature. I love nothing more than to give to others. What drives me professionally in the mortgage industry is the tremendous opportunity to increase homeownership in minority communities, which have long been underserved in our country. That drives me to create change and offer everyone the opportunity to buy a home, the American Dream, if they choose to. Beyond that, I love the human aspect of this industry. I love people, and I value being able to lead people. It drives me to give back and mentor others, providing insight and guidance to both those who have just joined this wonderful industry and those who want to progress in their careers. What is the most important or valuable advice that can offer to women starting their careers in the mortgage industry? It’s critically important to support and uplift those around you. It’s also important to show intellectual curiosity and be willing to learn as much about
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the mortgage business as possible. When I joined the mortgage business, I learned every part of the business and it helped me grow and progress to the point where I was able to start my own mortgage company. You never know where your journey may take you. But don’t forget to bring others along on your journey. Be the example so they can see you as the example. But that’s only part of the equation. They need to see you as something to aspire to, but beyond that, they need to see you as someone they can rely on and learn from. You need to be willing to share your knowledge and experience.
What drives me professionally … is the tremendous opportunity to increase homeownership in minority communities. What are the main problems that women in the industry are facing today and what have you done to address or resolve them? One thing I want to change is that by the time I’m done in this business, I want to see a lot more competitors who look and sound like me. I want to mentor the younger generation and help lift them up. If you have a C-suite or a boardroom that doesn’t have diverse faces in it, then you’re stuck in the past and you’re not going to evolve as a company. The views and perspectives that come from a diverse and inclusive team are priceless. As a woman-led company, we focus on providing our team with the opportunities, tools, and support to advance their careers. Our workforce is also 57% women, an achievement that we are very proud of. We are helping to grow and shape the next generation of women leaders in this business and we are very excited about what the future holds. n