SPECIAL SECTION: INSPIRING WOMEN
Kristen Sieffert President Finance of America Reverse How did you get into this field? What keeps you motivated to stay? After graduating college, a friend told me about this great opportunity with a reverse mortgage company. I had no idea what a reverse mortgage was, but I was intrigued by the prospect of working with a good friend and seeing what could come of it. That was 16 years ago! Since then, there have been several pivotal moments when I almost left. Each time I entered into a new rewarding growth phase. Now at FAR, I have found a sense of purpose in my work that I couldn’t have anticipated early on. Have you had any great female mentors? What is the importance of mentoring? I’ve never had a formal mentor, female or male, but I’ve had a number of “accidental mentors”—people I’ve worked for or with—who took the time to invest in me and help me grow, and played a pivotal part in my success. Now that I’ve served as a mentor—mostly to women I’ve met outside of our industry—I’m finding how transformative and rewarding of an experience it can be for the mentor as well as the mentee.
Valentina Wilber VP Washington DC Metro Region / Sr Loan Officer Homespire Mortgage How did you get into this field? What keeps you motivated to stay? I was in the right place at the right time! Back in 2012 I was a relationship banker where my boss now happened to be a client. He approached me with a job opportunity at his mortgage company that I originally politely declined. After reconsidering I decided to try to conquer a fear of the unknown and give it a shot. My motivation to stay revolves largely on the direct impact that I am privileged to have in my clients’ lives. Have you had any great female mentors? What is the importance of mentoring and is this something that you focus on? Since the mortgage industry is very male dominated, I focused on connecting with female Realtors early in my career. I would pick their brains to help me develop the confidence that I was lacking professionally. By helping me grow it instilled in me I would do the same for other women. I used to think that being a woman within the mortgage industry was a disadvantage but now I think of it as a strength!
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Cristen M. Talbert Director, National Underwriting and Credit Risk Gold Star Financial How did you get into this field? What keeps you motivated to stay? After leaving the Air Force, the Department of Veterans Affairs placed me in a position working for the SBA. I processed disaster home loans for borrowers in need of relocation due to the Flood of 1993 in Southern Illinois, and soon found my passion in helping people retain and secure homeownership. When the Disaster Field Office closed, I looked for a local mortgage company in order to continue my work in the field. Aside from believing that what my company does truly makes a difference in our customers’ lives, I’m also energized by the hectic pace and ever-changing landscape of mortgage lending. Have you had any great female mentors? What is the importance of mentoring and is this something that you focus on? My Mother has always been my strongest mentor. She is a retired USAF Colonel and was presented numerous awards during her military career. Her drive to make a mark as a female officer when it was largely unpopular had a dramatic effect on my own work ethic and my determination to never be limited by my gender.
Sue Woodard Chief Customer Officer Total Expert How did you get into this field? What keeps you motivated to stay? Weirdly enough – fear for my life. The credit union branch I was working in was robbed at gunpoint, and my roommate and good friend was the head teller. I decided to seek a job in another branch – and the only job open was mortgage processor – so the rest is history. What keeps me motivated to stay? The love I have for what the mortgage industry does. It helps people get into homes; provides guidance on the largest financial transaction of most people’s lives; and advises during what is a major life event. Have you had any great female mentors? What is the importance of mentoring and is this something that you focus on? Many, including my first manager in financial services 30 years ago Sharon Bolster, who is a dear friend to this day. Mentoring is so important. And not only to be mentored, but to BE a mentor – always important to be thinking of not only whose help you may need, but who can YOU help. Like Maya Angelou said, “Prepare yourself to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”
