Her Story
About Liliana
Liliana Herrera serves as a Loan Originator and Loan Officer in the mortgage industry. She started her career in banking in 2004, progressing from seller management to branch management with a focus on client education and customer experience. After more than twenty years in financial services, including three years specifically in mortgage, she obtained her Mortgage Broker's License to work with a broker. Originally from Mexico, she completed some college coursework in Computer Science. Herrera maintains an active presence in professional networks, participating in the Hispanic Chambers and Federal Commerce Forward South while considering membership in the National Realtors and Mortgage group. She attributes her success to her network of family and friends who provide honest feedback and keep her grounded. In her daily work, she emphasizes strategy over rate, client consultations, file management, and building partnerships with realtors through cooperation and transparency.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Liliana
01What do you attribute your success to?
It will be my network, and it can be my family and friends. You have to surround yourself with people that really bring value to your life and people that really want to see your success. Also the ones that have your best interest, like they can be honest and telling you even if sometimes you don't like what they have to say. The feedback is not what you want to hear but always kind of keep you grounded. I think that's the most important thing.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I think one of my managers back in banking, she's like, you gotta do the work that you want, not the work that you have. Also, we always want to have to keep the client's benefit in mind. Like what is it really benefiting the client? Not just thinking about your job or the commission. So it's always about having the client's best interest in mind.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say reach out to someone to be your mentor, even if it's not someone that has a long tenure but somebody that is at least like one two years into it. The easiest part will be getting your license then the toughest part comes which is creating those relationships trying to find clients. You can take all the training that you want but unless you are hands-on you're never gonna know exactly. Getting in the various sessions reach out because there are not a lot of support groups or women's group. It's a male-dominated field. Try and look for your girls like I need a mentor let me reach out to someone and tie in also network with people women that are in the same field so you can get someone to really mentor you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think it will be just being non-nice like we all are in this together. It's more about cooperation and not jumping right away shut down somebody because they're trying to make connections with you. We all need each other to make these things work. Realtors need our help so they can get the client approved and we need them also so we can get clients so it's more about that corporation and being a partner not that you oh well I'm the realtor so I do more than you do. Everybody has their own role. Just to be a little bit more approachable and mindful of the other people as well.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Transparency and honesty. And not convenient how can I say it? Like if you say you're gonna do something you're gonna do it because a lot of people say they're gonna do something and they never do it so kind of like a commitment too like commitment transparency honesty. And also having those uncomfortable conversations because we don't like to have those but sometimes they're necessary.
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