Cheri Caudillo-Kluft

SVP, National Sales, Boston National Title Agency LLC PRESIDENT, BNT TITLE CO. OF CA Irvine, Calif.

What factors impact a woman’s ability to lead others?

Time management is particularly important. Successful leaders have to learn balance and prioritize relationship building, especially when business gets tough. Nurturing an atmosphere where people celebrate and inspire one another’s best thinking is a leader’s No. 1 job. Women should seek out companies known for embracing great leaders, whatever their gender.

What advice would you give to those just getting started in the mortgage industry?

Consult successful professionals on how they have advanced. Learn from their wins and losses. Don’t be afraid to admit what you don’t know, and ask many questions. Build on your core strengths. Take what you learn and make it your own.

What’s changed for you the most since you joined the mortgage industry?

The more the mortgage industry changes, the more it remains the same. The industry’s economic cycle is W-shaped. What I’ve learned is that you can never take partner relationships for granted. It’s a joy to rise with your whole network and to lift people up when times are tough. When business is down, though, you can’t let your ambition be clouded.

What significant changes would you like to see from the mortgage industry in 2023?

That a new age of equilibrium and balance is ushered in after the dizzying changes of the past few years.

What has been your biggest accomplishment as a mortgage professional?

It gives me a wonderful feeling to help people obtain the American Dream of home ownership. I know how amazing that feeling is from the other side. I come from a hard-working family of modest means; we were always renters, and it was a watershed to buy my first home.

Tai Christensen

Co-Founder and Chief Diversity & Public Relations Officer

ARRIVE HOME

Eagle Mountain, Utah

What factors impact a woman’s ability to lead others?

Among the factors that can have an impact are: Being underestimated or overlooked because of gender bias; difficulty in finding mentors and sponsors because of the lack of representation in leadership roles; being perceived as less competent or less suited for leadership roles; the challenges of finding a good work-life balance; and possibly struggling with confidence, particularly in male-

What advice would you give to those just getting started in the mortgage

The best advice I received when entering the industry is to build in daily hardstops to leave your desk and take a break. Building in hardstops forces me to walk away from my proverbial desk, take some deep breaths and

What’s changed for you the most since you joined the mortgage

The dynamic shift in the number of women working within our industry. Changes in societal expectations and an increased focus on diversity and inclusion within our industry has helped to drive more women into the housing industry at large.

What significant changes would you like to see from the mortgage industry in 2023?

I would love to see a significant increase in the diversity of individuals working within our industry. Diversity within the mortgage industry can help to improve access to credit and homeownership for people of color.

What has been your biggest accomplishment as a mortgage professional?

Being a co-founder of Arrive Home is my greatest accomplishment as a mortgage professional. My fellow cofounders and I pooled a combined 80 years of experience in the mortgage industry and created a company that is focused on expanding homeownership to minority and underserved communities in a meaningful and innovative way.