NAWRB’s Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Council brings you the story of NAWRB Certified Delegate Spokeswoman, Vanessa Montañez. With our Story Tree, we want to showcase the ups, downs, and in-betweens of our team’s careers and lives. Help us grow our tree by sending in your own leadership stories! 

---

I have had a wonderful journey thus far filled with ups and downs.  Not everything planned has turned out perfect. Your life is what you make of it. 

I have been in residential lending for twenty-five years – I love my career because I am able to provide strategies and implement programs for the diverse segments to grow generational wealth.   

Not everyone was born into wealth.  Many of us built our wealth through real estate, investments, careers, and self-employment.  What I want to share is that it takes hard work, perseverance, and ensuring the numbers pencil in before making an investment.  Before taking the plunge into real estate, make sure your numbers provide a positive rate of return before investing in real estate.  If it takes years to invest, that is OK! Life is a journey, not a race.     

Being part of NAWRB has provided me an incredible opportunity to meet like-minded professionals from various industries who want to empower other women.  I have been able to successfully speak across the US on women’s homeownership and why women’s purchasing power matters. I created a PowerPoint deck that speaks to the power in numbers and how women hold the power for homeownership, purchasing power, education, and wealth in America. 

I encourage you to become part of NAWRB and become a delegate to grow your career and voice.