From Bank Teller to CEO: Susan Brown's Journey in Entrepreneurship

We continue to celebrate National Entrepreneurship Month by recognizing our WEW members who have started their own businesses. Susan Brown is the founder and CEO of CoreSGB, a housing finance consulting firm that aims to solve the problems of financing and planning for novel, creative, and less expensive housing for a new American future. She started her company after witnessing the changing housing landscape during the COVID pandemic, and she recognized that she had much more to offer to the mortgage marketplace.

Susan’s advice to other women looking to venture into entrepreneurship is network, network, network! “Women spend so much time perfecting their work performance and virtually no time on relationships outside their immediate roles. Get to know others outside your company and your industry.”

Briefly tell us about your work history – what position you started in and where you were working/what you were doing prior to your current role:

I started my banking career as a bank teller at US Bank right out of high school – a dream since I was seven (I know, I wanted to be a banker since I was seven!). After successive promotions, I landed a job at Washington Mutual as a Regional Sales Manager. Then, I moved through the ranks in the branch banking system to become a Vice President overseeing multiple branches. After 25 years in branch banking, I moved to work exclusively in mortgage at Umpqua Bank, where I grew a small sales region into a thriving, multi-state sales success. Finally, I built and ran a $5 billion, nationally recognized, residential construction lending program, which became the cornerstone of my current work.

What is the name of your current company and what is your title?

Founder and CEO of CoreSGB, LLC.

When/how did you decide to take the leap to entrepreneurship?

After 42 years in corporate America, I faced a professional crossroad in the middle of the COVID pandemic. After taking some time to reflect, I knew I had much more to offer to a marketplace in turmoil. Pam Dabbs, one of my favorite WEW members, helped me connect with a consultant to shape my business plan to help mortgage lenders launch a construction loan program in just 90 days. I had my first client within a few months and haven’t looked back.

Did you face any setbacks/challenges on your path to being a business owner?

Launching my first client was like flying a plane while building it because I didn’t have all my materials developed. I took it day by day and finished the development of the next day’s materials, and the client was none the wiser.

What is the best piece of advice you received that help you get where you are in your career today?

Always do the hardest thing first thing in the morning. Also, speak in a voice that others can hear. Literally and figuratively.

What advice would you give others who are looking to venture into entrepreneurship?

Network, network, network. Women spend so much time perfecting their work performance and virtually no time on relationships outside their immediate roles. Get to know others outside your company and your industry.