Real Estate Mogul and Business Consultant

Barbara Corcoran

She took a bite out of the real estate world and turned her extensive knowledge into exhilarating  opportunities on the hit television show “Shark Tank.” As one of the most sought-after investors, she shares how women business owners can achieve success.

NAWRB: You’ve revealed your struggles with school and establishing your career as a young woman. What sparked your transformation into the powerful mogul you are today?

Barbara Corcoran: I don’t think there’s such thing as transformation. For me, it happened inch by inch. I had  many setbacks along the way that I got very good at moving forward. I wouldn’t call that a transformation but definitely moving forward, no matter what. I was like many of the entrepreneurs I work with now. We take a hit, but we keep popping back up. We don’t lay low in recovery. I learned how to get back up and move forward. Taking those hits can inspire people to achieve what they want.

NAWRB: At the beginning of your journey, you started your real estate business, The Corcoran Group, in 1973 with only $1,000 to invest in the company. What challenges do you see for women who want to start a business in our country’s current economy, and how can they overcome them?
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Founder and CEO of AmeriCatalyst and EuroCatalyst

Toni Moss

The inspiring CEO of AmeriCatalyst and EuroCatalyst shares her insights on the future of the mortgage industry,  state of the global economy, and what she’s doing to promote awareness of present and future economic conditions.

NAWRB: Your early career started in venture capital with a focus on tech start-ups before moving to the mortgage industry. What sparked your interest in the mortgage industry to make the switch?

Toni Moss: It was more my corporate intelligence background that led to my interest in the mortgage industry, although my experience with tech start-ups did help. In the early 90’s, I was working for one of the world’s largest multinationals, which was losing money in their financial services division. Ultimately, we found that it was due to a software glitch in their servicing platform. That piqued my interest. At the same time, I met a brilliant underwriter who had an idea to create a cutting-edge due diligence firm with bleeding-edge technology. I initially made an investment in the new company, and ended up immersed in it myself. We specialized in evaluating and acquiring non-performing loan portfolios primarily for Wall Street firms. We were also chosen as one of the subcontractors on the HUD Single Family Loan Sales, which were the largest series of loan sales in history. The more I saw in terms of the dysfunction of servicers, the more enthralled I became about making a difference. Everyone viewed the servicers as the “back office” of the originators, while I saw them as the front office for investors and borrowers. I had the benefit of being an outsider, which always makes you see things differently.
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Founder of the Adelante Movement and Owner of Galán Entertainment

Nely Galán

More than an Emmy Award-winning producer, successful self-made mogul, and dedicated mother, Nely Galán is the voice of a grassroots movement to empower Latinas everywhere. She talks about her involvement with the inspiring Adelante Movement and her journey to success.

NAWRB: From executive producer of “The Swan” to the first Latina president of Telemundo, you have extensive experience in media and entertainment. As a self-made mogul, how did you break into the industry and what challenges did you face?

Nely Galán: I broke into the industry as a teenage girl. I was working for Seventeen Magazine after I had written an article for them. I learned of a television show that was about to happen; it was a teenage version of 60 Minutes. I applied for a job as a researcher and got the job in Austin, Texas. I moved to Texas at the age of 17. That was bad because my parents didn’t want me to go and I said that I would escape if they didn’t let me. So, I went, sat with the producer, and watched all of the interviews and auditions of the reporters they were trying to hire. I really watched what she was looking for in a reporter and asked her if I could audition at the very end. I auditioned based on all the notes I heard her say about people over three days. I got the job! That’s how I got into television.
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RE/MAX’s CEO Powerhouse

Margaret Kelly

NAWRB is honored to have had the opportunity to have an insightful and candid interview with Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX. Kelly is responsible for the day-to-day operations and strategic direction at RE/MAX across North America and in more than 95 countries around the world. She is recognized by countless organizations for her exceptional leadership skills, commitment to community involvement, and for being an advocate for businesswomen around the globe. Kelly has not only had a phenomenal, 27-year career with RE/MAX, she is an incredible person with valuable insight to both personal and professional matters.
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Glenda Gabriel

An industry change agent serving as a relentless champion for sustainable homeownership for underserved and multicultural customers

As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, it is imperative that businesses build strategies and create outreach initiatives to connect with and better serve multicultural consumers and communities. It is also vital for businesses to understand the consumer dynamics that shape demand for their products and services, and to recruit the right talent to lead through an increasingly complex business environment. Glenda Gabriel as always been known in the industry as a strategic thinker with the ability to lead through complex business issues, and this underlying capability is why she was sought out by Bank of America.

As Bank of America’s Neighborhood Lending Executive, Gabriel leads a team dedicated to meeting the homeownership needs of low-to-moderate-income and multicultural customers, whether they are those with modest means or clients with substantial wealth. Gabriel and her team connect and build relationships with key real estate market influencers, including local and national non-profit housing organizations, multicultural real estate trade organizations and others to educate consumers and connect them to the products, programs, tools and resources that enable successful homeownership.
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