Ladies in Lending

Unlock the Power of Her with Sue Meitner

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 bring together powerhouse voices from real estate and lending to tackle topics like AI, imposter syndrome, money mastery, and confidence building, all while giving back to charity. All proceeds will be donated to Partners Making a Difference. Tickets are under $100!
 
Are you ready to unlock your power? Register today at https://suemeitner.com/power-of-her-summit/

Building Business: Brittany Hodak's Journey From Startup to Success

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 working with icons like Katy Perry, Dolly Parton, and Luke Bryan, Brittany has mastered the art of turning customers into superfans. 
 
In this episode, we dive into Brittany’s “spark moment” to create something extraordinary, behind-the-scenes business lessons from working with music icons, what it was really like receiving one of the highest valuations in Shark Tank history and the biggest misconception about building customer loyalty today.
 
Brittany brings incredible insight with energy, strategy, and inspiration to this packed episode that you don’t want to miss.

Serving Your Community: Laiken Charles on Building Trust in Business

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.
 

The Multifaceted Mindset: Trystin Durgin's Journey with New Media

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 influence her unique personal brand. 
From community outreach to being authentically yourself, Trystin does a deep dive into how she utilizes her skills to increase outreach in todays market.

Leading with Curiosity and Courage: Shelley Leonard’s Journey to the C-Suite

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 comfortable.
You’ll hear how she balances leadership with life, stays grounded in her purpose, and builds strong teams by leading with compassion and authenticity.
Her story is a masterclass in embracing growth, setting boundaries, and inspiring the next generation of women to lean into leadership with confidence.

Jump and the Parachute Will Appear: The Brenda Wyatt Story

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, legacy, and heart-led leadership. 
You’ll hear how her deep family roots in real estate shaped her mission to leave every client better than she found them—and why connection matters more than just closing the deal. 
From community outreach to coaching the next generation, Brenda opens up about the power of collaboration, formalizing your systems, and leading with purpose. 
She leaves us with a challenge every woman needs to hear: “Jump, and the parachute will appear.” 

Resilience, Real Talk & Redefining Success: Carolina Vergara’s Journey

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, navigating a major culture shock, and finding her voice—and her path—in the competitive world of lending. 
She opens up about burnout, motherhood, creating structures that allow for freedom, and the courage it takes to prioritize what really matters. 
From building a loyal team to embracing vulnerability and shifting definitions of success, this episode is a must-listen for women striving to lead boldly and live fully. 

Resilience, Purpose & Lending with Heart: Rachel Lester’s Inspiring Journey

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 surviving inflammatory breast cancer, grieving the loss of her daughter, and finding healing through action, advocacy, and service. 
You’ll hear how she built a thriving branch, honors her daughter's legacy through a heartfelt new project, and supports veterans with deep conviction and care. 
This episode is a moving reminder that success isn’t just about numbers—it’s about grit, grace, and leading with purpose. 

The Money Mindset Shift: Lisa Chastain on Healing, Identity & Financial Freedom

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 money coach, author, and speaker—revealing how healing your relationship with money starts with healing yourself. 
Together, they dive into identity loss, comparison culture, motherhood, and the unique challenges women face while building wealth and leading at home and work. 
This episode is packed with honest insights, transformational mindset shifts, and practical encouragement to help women break through outdated money paradigms and define success on their own terms. 

The Mortgage Mentor: Rebecca Richardson on Building a Brand That Educates, Connects and Lasts

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 over 770 videos and a loyal following by simply focusing on what buyers really need to know. 
You’ll hear her take on how to blend tech and human connection, why consistency is the only silver bullet, and how she’s helped reshape the way loan officers think about video, branding and legacy. 
Whether you’re brand new or rebuilding, this is a masterclass in building something that lasts without burning out or losing who you are.