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When Regan Kelly took on the role of mentor, she dug deep, learning about herself along the way, including the importance of working through stress and jumping in despite her fears.
Throughout the process she gleaned what it truly means to be the mentor. It was less about giving advice than she anticipated. She didn’t always need to find the right answer. Instead, she discovered that calls with her mentee were conversations, with words flowing easily between them.
“It's listening and being genuinely engaged,” she said. “I think that I had gone into it thinking I needed to be kind of wise like a monk or something, you know, and I was, like, oh my gosh, am I able to do this, but a lot of it, I think, was just active listening and making sure that my feedback was relevant to her.”
Kelly, Senior Customer Success at Polly in San Francisco, California, was a mentor in the Mortgage Women Leadership Council’s (MWLC) Women Who L.E.A.D. Mentorship Program, guiding Hollyanna Vopat-Steiner, mortgage loan officer at Peninsula Credit Union in Shelton, Washington.
The program isn’t just a boon to the mentees, Kelly said. It’s also a help to the mentors.
It started with self-reflection. Though it felt “intentionally selfish,” Kelly said it was necessary.
"You are going to spend a bit of time making sure that you're really prepared. You don't want to let them down,” she said. “You want to make sure that you're giving them everything that they need from you, depending on the situation that’s going to be different for every person.”
Kelly had to be able to see herself through Vopat-Steiner’s eyes and make sure she was positive and engaged, that she was focused and not distracted by other tasks during their calls.
“What I really want to do is make sure that I'm showing her that I care,” she said.
After 16 years in the mortgage industry, it was Kelly’s first time as coach rather than protégée. Being on the opposite end of the spectrum was a confidence builder that made Kelly appreciate her own mentors all the more. It gave her perspective, helping her see that they too went into situations with their own frets and fears, but still gave her all they could so she would come out on top.
"Doing something new was always good,” Kelly said. “I thought other people felt like this and I, I didn't realize somebody probably would, and it made me appreciate the more the time that people have spent mentoring me and helping in those situations."
That was when she really began to embrace the act of overcoming fear, doing what she was afraid to do and learning she could come out on the other side stronger and better.
“I think the personal growth of doing something when you're afraid is all the more reason you should do it,” Kelly said. “Doing something while you're afraid is very important.”
Taking that leap over fear is all that much more crucial and brings more substantial results when you’re doing it while showing up for another person and giving them what they need, she added.
“I think that pushing yourself through that will help in all aspects of life,” she said.
It helped her in moving jobs and taking on a role in originations, an area in the industry where she had never worked before and was nervous to go. Not only was the new gig scary in itself, she was leaving a place where she was comfortable and had great co-workers but she was looking for career growth. So, halfway through the mentorship program, with fear catching in her throat, she took a new position at a new company.
“You get more used to that feeling of doing it while you're afraid,” she said. “You may find that you're afraid every single time you do it, but you get more used to that feeling, and that feeling becomes less foreign and you're able to just do the thing. Just do it anyway.”
The program has also helped Regan find her way through stress, giving her ideas to look at the day ahead and see through the muck to the core of what’s happening.
“If I can see my day is just 12 meetings, I know these are the things that are going to come out,” she said. “I just approached the day differently”
For example, when faced with a hectic day, she made sure to get a good night's sleep, got up early to walk her dogs, and got some exercise ahead of time. She planned healthy meals in advance, approaching the day like a training regimen.
“Look, what can I do before work that's going to help remove any extra stress?” she said, noting that the approach was born from her role as a mentor — a tangible return she got from the program.
Kelly also learned new ways of communication and how to be a better leader.
In helping Vopat-Steiner see herself through different eyes and come to the realization that she does a lot more than she was aware of, Kelly, once again, looked back over all the people who have helped her get where she is.
“I wanted to make sure that I gave what I [received] from the other people that I've worked with in my life,” she said.
Given her positive experience, Kelly has reached out to a former colleague to recommend participating in Women Who L.E.A.D. “I would say 100% worth it,” she said. “I was so thrilled to be a part of it.”
If you’re interested in stepping into a mentorship role or being paired with a mentor, the Mortgage Women Leadership Council is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Women Who L.E.A.D. Mentorship Program. Mentor training kicks off this October, providing the tools and guidance to make a meaningful impact while growing personally and professionally. You must be a member of the Mortgage Women Leadership Council to apply.
When Regan Kelly took on the role of mentor, she dug deep, learning about herself along the way, including the importance of working through stress and jumping in despite her fears.
Throughout the process she gleaned what it truly means to be the mentor. It was less about giving advice than she anticipated. She didn’t always need to find the right answer. Instead, she discovered that calls with her mentee were conversations, with words flowing easily between them.
“It's listening and being genuinely engaged,” she said. “I think that I had gone into it thinking I needed to be kind of wise like a monk or something, you know, and I was, like, oh my gosh, am I able to do this, but a lot of it, I think, was just active listening and making sure that my feedback was relevant to her.”
Kelly, Senior Customer Success at Polly in San Francisco, California, was a mentor in the Mortgage Women Leadership Council’s (MWLC) Women Who L.E.A.D. Mentorship Program, guiding Hollyanna Vopat-Steiner, mortgage loan officer at Peninsula Credit Union in Shelton, Washington.
The program isn’t just a boon to the mentees, Kelly said. It’s also a help to the mentors.
It started with self-reflection. Though it felt “intentionally selfish,” Kelly said it was necessary.
"You are going to spend a bit of time making sure that you're really prepared. You don't want to let them down,” she said. “You want to make sure that you're giving them everything that they need from you, depending on the situation that’s going to be different for every person.”
Kelly had to be able to see herself through Vopat-Steiner’s eyes and make sure she was positive and engaged, that she was focused and not distracted by other tasks during their calls.
“What I really want to do is make sure that I'm showing her that I care,” she said.
After 16 years in the mortgage industry, it was Kelly’s first time as coach rather than protégée. Being on the opposite end of the spectrum was a confidence builder that made Kelly appreciate her own mentors all the more. It gave her perspective, helping her see that they too went into situations with their own frets and fears, but still gave her all they could so she would come out on top.
"Doing something new was always good,” Kelly said. “I thought other people felt like this and I, I didn't realize somebody probably would, and it made me appreciate the more the time that people have spent mentoring me and helping in those situations."
That was when she really began to embrace the act of overcoming fear, doing what she was afraid to do and learning she could come out on the other side stronger and better.
“I think the personal growth of doing something when you're afraid is all the more reason you should do it,” Kelly said. “Doing something while you're afraid is very important.”
Taking that leap over fear is all that much more crucial and brings more substantial results when you’re doing it while showing up for another person and giving them what they need, she added.
“I think that pushing yourself through that will help in all aspects of life,” she said.
It helped her in moving jobs and taking on a role in originations, an area in the industry where she had never worked before and was nervous to go. Not only was the new gig scary in itself, she was leaving a place where she was comfortable and had great co-workers but she was looking for career growth. So, halfway through the mentorship program, with fear catching in her throat, she took a new position at a new company.
“You get more used to that feeling of doing it while you're afraid,” she said. “You may find that you're afraid every single time you do it, but you get more used to that feeling, and that feeling becomes less foreign and you're able to just do the thing. Just do it anyway.”
The program has also helped Regan find her way through stress, giving her ideas to look at the day ahead and see through the muck to the core of what’s happening.
“If I can see my day is just 12 meetings, I know these are the things that are going to come out,” she said. “I just approached the day differently”
For example, when faced with a hectic day, she made sure to get a good night's sleep, got up early to walk her dogs, and got some exercise ahead of time. She planned healthy meals in advance, approaching the day like a training regimen.
“Look, what can I do before work that's going to help remove any extra stress?” she said, noting that the approach was born from her role as a mentor — a tangible return she got from the program.
Kelly also learned new ways of communication and how to be a better leader.
In helping Vopat-Steiner see herself through different eyes and come to the realization that she does a lot more than she was aware of, Kelly, once again, looked back over all the people who have helped her get where she is.
“I wanted to make sure that I gave what I [received] from the other people that I've worked with in my life,” she said.
Given her positive experience, Kelly has reached out to a former colleague to recommend participating in Women Who L.E.A.D. “I would say 100% worth it,” she said. “I was so thrilled to be a part of it.”
If you’re interested in stepping into a mentorship role or being paired with a mentor, the Mortgage Women Leadership Council is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Women Who L.E.A.D. Mentorship Program. Mentor training kicks off this October, providing the tools and guidance to make a meaningful impact while growing personally and professionally. You must be a member of the Mortgage Women Leadership Council to apply.
When Regan Kelly took on the role of mentor, she dug deep, learning about herself along the way, including the importance of working through stress and jumping in despite her fears.
Throughout the process she gleaned what it truly means to be the mentor. It was less about giving advice than she anticipated. She didn’t always need to find the right answer. Instead, she discovered that calls with her mentee were conversations, with words flowing easily between them.
“It's listening and being genuinely engaged,” she said. “I think that I had gone into it thinking I needed to be kind of wise like a monk or something, you know, and I was, like, oh my gosh, am I able to do this, but a lot of it, I think, was just active listening and making sure that my feedback was relevant to her.”
Kelly, Senior Customer Success at Polly in San Francisco, California, was a mentor in the Mortgage Women Leadership Council’s (MWLC) Women Who L.E.A.D. Mentorship Program, guiding Hollyanna Vopat-Steiner, mortgage loan officer at Peninsula Credit Union in Shelton, Washington.
The program isn’t just a boon to the mentees, Kelly said. It’s also a help to the mentors.
It started with self-reflection. Though it felt “intentionally selfish,” Kelly said it was necessary.
"You are going to spend a bit of time making sure that you're really prepared. You don't want to let them down,” she said. “You want to make sure that you're giving them everything that they need from you, depending on the situation that’s going to be different for every person.”
Kelly had to be able to see herself through Vopat-Steiner’s eyes and make sure she was positive and engaged, that she was focused and not distracted by other tasks during their calls.
“What I really want to do is make sure that I'm showing her that I care,” she said.
After 16 years in the mortgage industry, it was Kelly’s first time as coach rather than protégée. Being on the opposite end of the spectrum was a confidence builder that made Kelly appreciate her own mentors all the more. It gave her perspective, helping her see that they too went into situations with their own frets and fears, but still gave her all they could so she would come out on top.
"Doing something new was always good,” Kelly said. “I thought other people felt like this and I, I didn't realize somebody probably would, and it made me appreciate the more the time that people have spent mentoring me and helping in those situations."
That was when she really began to embrace the act of overcoming fear, doing what she was afraid to do and learning she could come out on the other side stronger and better.
“I think the personal growth of doing something when you're afraid is all the more reason you should do it,” Kelly said. “Doing something while you're afraid is very important.”
Taking that leap over fear is all that much more crucial and brings more substantial results when you’re doing it while showing up for another person and giving them what they need, she added.
“I think that pushing yourself through that will help in all aspects of life,” she said.
It helped her in moving jobs and taking on a role in originations, an area in the industry where she had never worked before and was nervous to go. Not only was the new gig scary in itself, she was leaving a place where she was comfortable and had great co-workers but she was looking for career growth. So, halfway through the mentorship program, with fear catching in her throat, she took a new position at a new company.
“You get more used to that feeling of doing it while you're afraid,” she said. “You may find that you're afraid every single time you do it, but you get more used to that feeling, and that feeling becomes less foreign and you're able to just do the thing. Just do it anyway.”
The program has also helped Regan find her way through stress, giving her ideas to look at the day ahead and see through the muck to the core of what’s happening.
“If I can see my day is just 12 meetings, I know these are the things that are going to come out,” she said. “I just approached the day differently”
For example, when faced with a hectic day, she made sure to get a good night's sleep, got up early to walk her dogs, and got some exercise ahead of time. She planned healthy meals in advance, approaching the day like a training regimen.
“Look, what can I do before work that's going to help remove any extra stress?” she said, noting that the approach was born from her role as a mentor — a tangible return she got from the program.
Kelly also learned new ways of communication and how to be a better leader.
In helping Vopat-Steiner see herself through different eyes and come to the realization that she does a lot more than she was aware of, Kelly, once again, looked back over all the people who have helped her get where she is.
“I wanted to make sure that I gave what I [received] from the other people that I've worked with in my life,” she said.
Given her positive experience, Kelly has reached out to a former colleague to recommend participating in Women Who L.E.A.D. “I would say 100% worth it,” she said. “I was so thrilled to be a part of it.”
If you’re interested in stepping into a mentorship role or being paired with a mentor, the Mortgage Women Leadership Council is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Women Who L.E.A.D. Mentorship Program. Mentor training kicks off this October, providing the tools and guidance to make a meaningful impact while growing personally and professionally. You must be a member of the Mortgage Women Leadership Council to apply.
When Regan Kelly took on the role of mentor, she dug deep, learning about herself along the way, including the importance of working through stress and jumping in despite her fears.
Throughout the process she gleaned what it truly means to be the mentor. It was less about giving advice than she anticipated. She didn’t always need to find the right answer. Instead, she discovered that calls with her mentee were conversations, with words flowing easily between them.
“It's listening and being genuinely engaged,” she said. “I think that I had gone into it thinking I needed to be kind of wise like a monk or something, you know, and I was, like, oh my gosh, am I able to do this, but a lot of it, I think, was just active listening and making sure that my feedback was relevant to her.”
Kelly, Senior Customer Success at Polly in San Francisco, California, was a mentor in the Mortgage Women Leadership Council’s (MWLC) Women Who L.E.A.D. Mentorship Program, guiding Hollyanna Vopat-Steiner, mortgage loan officer at Peninsula Credit Union in Shelton, Washington.
The program isn’t just a boon to the mentees, Kelly said. It’s also a help to the mentors.
It started with self-reflection. Though it felt “intentionally selfish,” Kelly said it was necessary.
"You are going to spend a bit of time making sure that you're really prepared. You don't want to let them down,” she said. “You want to make sure that you're giving them everything that they need from you, depending on the situation that’s going to be different for every person.”
Kelly had to be able to see herself through Vopat-Steiner’s eyes and make sure she was positive and engaged, that she was focused and not distracted by other tasks during their calls.
“What I really want to do is make sure that I'm showing her that I care,” she said.
After 16 years in the mortgage industry, it was Kelly’s first time as coach rather than protégée. Being on the opposite end of the spectrum was a confidence builder that made Kelly appreciate her own mentors all the more. It gave her perspective, helping her see that they too went into situations with their own frets and fears, but still gave her all they could so she would come out on top.
"Doing something new was always good,” Kelly said. “I thought other people felt like this and I, I didn't realize somebody probably would, and it made me appreciate the more the time that people have spent mentoring me and helping in those situations."
That was when she really began to embrace the act of overcoming fear, doing what she was afraid to do and learning she could come out on the other side stronger and better.
“I think the personal growth of doing something when you're afraid is all the more reason you should do it,” Kelly said. “Doing something while you're afraid is very important.”
Taking that leap over fear is all that much more crucial and brings more substantial results when you’re doing it while showing up for another person and giving them what they need, she added.
“I think that pushing yourself through that will help in all aspects of life,” she said.
It helped her in moving jobs and taking on a role in originations, an area in the industry where she had never worked before and was nervous to go. Not only was the new gig scary in itself, she was leaving a place where she was comfortable and had great co-workers but she was looking for career growth. So, halfway through the mentorship program, with fear catching in her throat, she took a new position at a new company.
“You get more used to that feeling of doing it while you're afraid,” she said. “You may find that you're afraid every single time you do it, but you get more used to that feeling, and that feeling becomes less foreign and you're able to just do the thing. Just do it anyway.”
The program has also helped Regan find her way through stress, giving her ideas to look at the day ahead and see through the muck to the core of what’s happening.
“If I can see my day is just 12 meetings, I know these are the things that are going to come out,” she said. “I just approached the day differently”
For example, when faced with a hectic day, she made sure to get a good night's sleep, got up early to walk her dogs, and got some exercise ahead of time. She planned healthy meals in advance, approaching the day like a training regimen.
“Look, what can I do before work that's going to help remove any extra stress?” she said, noting that the approach was born from her role as a mentor — a tangible return she got from the program.
Kelly also learned new ways of communication and how to be a better leader.
In helping Vopat-Steiner see herself through different eyes and come to the realization that she does a lot more than she was aware of, Kelly, once again, looked back over all the people who have helped her get where she is.
“I wanted to make sure that I gave what I [received] from the other people that I've worked with in my life,” she said.
Given her positive experience, Kelly has reached out to a former colleague to recommend participating in Women Who L.E.A.D. “I would say 100% worth it,” she said. “I was so thrilled to be a part of it.”
If you’re interested in stepping into a mentorship role or being paired with a mentor, the Mortgage Women Leadership Council is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Women Who L.E.A.D. Mentorship Program. Mentor training kicks off this October, providing the tools and guidance to make a meaningful impact while growing personally and professionally. You must be a member of the Mortgage Women Leadership Council to apply.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education when you use our code WOMENWIN.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education. Become a member for our unique code.
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MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education when you use our code WOMENWIN.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education. Become a member for our unique code.
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