The energy was unmistakable. On Wednesday, May 7, the inaugural Mortgage Star West event made its debut at the California Mortgage Expo, bringing a wave of empowerment, resilience, and connection to women across the mortgage industry. This half-day summit marked the launch of a new regional chapter of the long-running Mortgage Star Conference for Women, celebrating its 10th anniversary this July in New Orleans.

Mortgage Star West was more than just a conference—it was a community coming to life, a collective rising to meet the challenges of a complex, male-dominated industry with grit, grace, and a renewed commitment to leadership.

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Themes That Hit Home

A central theme throughout the day was adversity—how it shows up in different ways and, more importantly, how we choose to respond. Speakers like Nicole Andrews, LaDonna Lockard, Megan Marsh, and Mindy Stearns shared powerful, vulnerable stories of facing challenges early in their personal lives,  their careers, during pivotal business transitions. Their honesty resonated deeply, reinforcing that success often begins on the other side of struggle.

In one memorable moment, Megan Marsh posed a bold question to the audience: “What kind of loser are you?” Far from being about failure, her message was about reframing setbacks and building mental resilience as a powerful strategy for navigating not only today’s mortgage landscape, but all the challenges you may face in life.

Powerful Voices, Real Conversations

The day kicked off with a warm welcome and opening remarks, setting the tone for a series of powerful sessions led by women who are reshaping the industry.

• LaDonna Lockard confronted cultural and personal bias in her session "Women Don’t Like Me and I Don’t Like Women", delivering a bold call to shift from competition to collaboration among women in leadership.
• Nicole Andrews, CEO of FastApp and a U.S. Air Force veteran, shared her remarkable story of grit in "Oh No, You Don’t!"—a testament to standing up, speaking out, and pushing forward despite systemic challenges.
• Mindy Stearns, Chief Kindness Officer at Kind Lending, reminded us that kindness is not weakness—it’s strategy. Her talk, "The Kindness Edge", illustrated how leading with empathy can create high-performing teams and meaningful success.
• Mosi Gatling of New American Funding took the stage with a clear mission: equity. Her presentation hit home on the importance of know your customer by "going outside,"  making sure your words and messages reflect the mindset and demographics of your community, and understanding your value lies not in your identity, but in your life experience.
• A panel of elite originators from West Capital Funding, Linzey Ostrow, Paula Kasneci, Nikki Yun, and Romina Zamanpour from loanDepot, pulled back the curtain on top-tier success in "Secrets of Top Originators", offering practical insights for thriving in a changing market.
• And finally, Megan Marsh returned with "Mortgage Warfare: The Battleplan & Weapons for Unstoppable Success",  urging attendees to rethink the battlefield—not as rates or referrals, but the internal struggle for belief and boldness.

A Community That’s Just Getting Started

The day closed with a lively patio reception, where attendees sipped cocktails, shared stories, and deepened the connections sparked throughout the event. For many, Mortgage Star West wasn’t just a conference—it was a turning point.

As we build momentum toward the 10th Annual Mortgage Star Conference in New Orleans on July 9, Mortgage Star West is proof that our mission is growing, region by region, voice by voice.

Thank you to all who joined us in Irvine. Your presence, passion, and perspective made this first edition unforgettable. Let’s keep showing up for one another—and let’s keep building.

👉 Learn more and register for our next national event at Mortgage Star New Orleans.