Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Soukhamneut.
Hi Christy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I work from my home in Savannah for Flagstar Bank, a federal savings bank that operates nationally as a leading originator of residential mortgages.
My job is at the C-suite level; my work is as a mortgage strategist, and I’m credentialed as a certified mortgage banker. I have a master’s degree in business, sit on the board of a publicly-traded company, and on my personal side, have raised three children who are now high-achieving adults, each exceptional in their own right.
It may sound like a smooth trajectory to the great job I have today in an industry that I know and love at a company that is a leader in its space. But my path was not a straight trajectory to success. Shortly after graduating from college—and after a few stumbles—I opened a mortgage business in partnership with my dad. Three years later, just after giving birth to my first child, my husband was transferred to a new state, and I had to start my career all over again.
Then there were several more moves and each time I had to rebuild my business from scratch. It was especially tough because my success is built on relationships. In 2010, I took a leap of faith on an opportunity and stepped into a new role—sales strategy and execution. Two years later, I left that world and went back into mortgage loan production and sales management so that I could be at home and spend more time with my family.
By 2016, I was comfortable moving back into an executive role leading sales strategy and performance. I then spent three years in leadership roles of increasing responsibility at my company, which helped me gain recognition in the industry.
One of the most satisfying parts of my job is the opportunity to empower others to achieve more than they thought possible. I’m personally committed to non-stop learning, and I’m always looking for ways to share what I have learned. It’s not about how many likes or comments I get, or even awards. It’s about having a positive impact on the lives of others.
A favorite part of my job right now is running an incubation program for startup fintech. It folds nicely into what I like to do and what gives me job satisfaction.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I graduated from college in May, got married in June, and bought my first house a short time after that. Two days after I closed on my house, I was laid off.
As a first-time homebuyer, I used most of my savings for the down payment. It was a scary time. Then I started a new job in a new field only to find out a few months later that the company was involved in fraud. I resigned. That’s when, in partnership with my dad, I opened my own business.
And like so many women in business, despite all the progress, yes, there were times I felt I wasn’t on a level playing field with my male counterparts. But I’m also proof that things are getting better. I can see it around Flagstar where until recently, the mortgage business was led by a Black woman, Kristy Fercho, who is now chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association and head of the country’s largest mortgage operation.
Other women at Flagstar head mortgage fulfillment, non-agency mortgage lending, technology, compliance, retail banking, operations, and audit, and are highly visible in other key roles. Perseverance pays off—a lot of hard work and extra hours, too.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
One of the best things about my job is helping people.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to bring new people into the industry and train them. And for many of them, it’s been a game-changer. Once I even hired someone off a street corner. He was wearing a sandwich board that said, “Have a finance degree will work for free first 30 days.”
Well, that 30 days lasted over 10 years. He eventually became one of the top salespeople in the company. There also was a firefighter, a guy who worked in trucking logistics, and many others that I was able to bring on board and help launch successful careers.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
Take calculated risks. Step far outside your comfort zone, but make sure you have done your research, planning, and built the foundation to make the return on risk worth it.
Never underestimate the power of strategic planning—that’s where the “calculated” comes in.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christysoukhamneut/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christysoukhamneut/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisellaloans
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/chrisellaloans
