Melissa Rifai

I've learned that success isn't built on one big moment but on showing up everyday with integrity and reliability. I've learned collaboration over competition gets you farther ahead. I've learned that resilience and a quicker ability "bounce back" are key. I've learned that having great plans means very little without quick action and execution. Above all, I've learned that my success has mostly been attributed to serving others and staying aligned with my values, the rest usually just falls into place.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to never be satisfied. The day you decide that you are fine where you are at is the day you start dying. It sounds harsh, I know. But we are meant to grow. There is always more to learn and do and see if you can stretch farther. If we continue to become a better, smarter, stronger, version of ourselves then we are showing up better for the people in our lives and whom we serve in our industries. So never be satisfied. Seek to serve one more person. Learn one more skill. Reach for one more goal.

The advice I would give to young women entering the mortgage business is, don't be afraid to ask for opportunities. Imposter syndrome is real in women so you need to get comfortable with stepping up and stepping out even when you think you aren't ready, qualified, or good enough...because you probably are.

One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now is competing against "big box" and "online" lenders who are really good at making things appear as though they care about a client's interest when they really don't. People are taken advantage of everyday by these companies and most will never even know it. That's what I am working to fight against. Building something where people are educated, they are involved in their choices, and transparency is a priority.

Both my family and the people who work with me know, the values most important to me are integrity, community, growth, and impact. I believe in doing the right thing when no one is looking. I believe in building trust through honesty, consistency and follow-through. Community to me means showing up for people and creating spaces where others feel seen and supported. I believe when we rise together, we rise higher. I value growth in business but I believe it comes from growth in personal development first. I always try to become a better version of me than yesterday. I encourage my husband and kids to do the same. We love to talk together about our observations in our work, school, and life. Above all, I value making an impact. Small or big, you can make an impact every day to leave people better than you found them. Sometimes it's a smile or a kind gesture, and sometimes its about building a company that will create opportunity that will make a lasting impact in peoples lives forever through the industry of financing people's real estate dreams.