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

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/ [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.