Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Correa.
Hi Karla, can you introduce yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My name is Karla Correa. I am a hardworking, confident, and courageous woman. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, I was born on October 23, 1988. My mother, Carmen Oliver Miranda, has been my biggest influence, a single, strong, and powerful woman who raised me. The dreamy little girl within me told me that when I grew up, I wanted to overcome all obstacles that life would throw at me and achieve all my goals. With my efforts and sacrifices, I pledged to become a successful woman. My mother has sown the seed in me that will bear fruit in the future, and I hope to make her proud and see the result of her efforts. To provide my brother Luis Correa Oliver and me with better opportunities, my mother left our country and moved to Orlando, Florida, on August 01, 2000. It has always been my nature to be a very determined woman. As soon as I set my mind to something, I chase it until it is achieved. I was promoted to managing The Mall at Millenia’s number one store when I was 18, following a year as a store manager for a well-known retail store, Sunglass Hut. During my time at Palm Atlantic University for Business Administration, I had a clear vision: one day, I would work in an office and apply my knowledge and leadership skills.
Then, in 2009, I was hired as a secretary at a Law Firm focusing on mortgage loan modifications. Shortly after, I was promoted to office administrator. In 2014, I was recruited and worked as the Office Administrator at a Mortgage Company; they recognized my potential and trusted my abilities, which led me to my current position. My dream came true when they promoted me to the Business Relationship Manager position in 2017, the same year I won the “Employee of the Year” award. My achievements are the result of hard work, perseverance, and determination. God has always opened doors for me, and I am grateful for the opportunities and goals he has given me. My bag of dreams included achieving the personal success I desired in my life. Among those dreams was finding a man who would love God first, knowing he would also love and protect me. As a result of my prayers, I found my person in 2014, Abdiel Otero, who I married on December 17, 2016. There are always challenges in marriage. My philosophy is that love is a decision, and you must choose to love the other person every day. If there is love and understanding, building a life together between two different personalities is always possible.
As a woman, I am passionate about positively influencing other women in all aspects of their lives. The strength of our community comes from embracing our individuality and embracing one another. I love this quote by Steve Harvey: " Look in the mirror; that is your competition." When we focus on our abilities and path, we are more likely to achieve our goals. There is no point in comparing who is doing it better or how far they have come. Since we don’t know the struggles others have gone through to get where they are, what matters is how we are doing and our goals. Each woman possesses a unique gift that can enhance our lives and help us grow personally. I need to find out everything despite my best efforts. My support system is essential to me as we learn
from each other.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Even though I would like to say that the road has been smooth and easy, I am confident that if that were the case, I would not be where I am now. Being raised without a father figure led to profound and painful struggles. Despite being an exceptional father to one of his daughters, he neglected the rest of his children. The reality that I had another brother and could not grow up with him as a typical family, despite our parents’ circumstances, was very difficult for me to comprehend. The first time I met my oldest brother, Luis Emilio Correa Polanco, and his wife, Elsie Cardona, with my nephew of 8 months, was in 2014, after many years. Our communication and connection have grown since then. Having been diagnosed with ADHD at a very young age, I was told I wouldn’t be able to achieve much in life. My attention problems made it hard for me to concentrate in class, and I had trouble understanding what was being taught. As a result, I was put on medication, felt miserable, and wanted a change in my life because I didn’t want to feel that way forever. Regardless of the challenges we might face, we have the potential in our hands to turn our circumstances around in a positive way. It transformed my mind to behave as if that diagnosis no longer existed. Speaking positive words about my life and declaring a bright future became part of my daily routine. My response to negative words and circumstances was to convert them into a step towards moving forward. It has been 23 years since I last took medication. I believed I was intelligent, brilliant, capable, and a conqueror when I told myself those words. Although we will face struggles, rejections, and traumas, my approach to such situations is always the same: we are what we think about. The key is understanding our obstacles and challenges and working on the necessary healing to move forward. Either we stay in the same circumstances or change them and see different results.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a representative of My Mortgage, Inc, licensed in 22 states, a mortgage company known for fairness, honesty, integrity, and exceptional mortgage experience, I am proud to represent the company that believes everyone should be able to own their dream home. We specialize in all kinds of loans, including FHA, VA, CONV, USDA, FFN, ITIN, and FOREIGN NATIONAL. Our company won the 2020 TOP MORTGAGE PLACES -MPA award. Our direct mortgage lenders specialize in home loans and start with FICO credit scores as low as 570. All deals can be closed in weeks rather than months by streamlining the process. My role as a Relationship Manager is to develop and promote a unique agent and borrower experience. I manage operations, develop standardized procedures, and support our Central Florida Division. I ensure timely closings of our loans by constantly monitoring them. I love organizing events for our company to network with influential brokers and agents. Due to my strong communication abilities and propensity for finding solutions, I am well-known as a problem solver.
In 2019, I won the " Difference Maker" award. I stand out because of my commitment and purpose. I am passionate about what I do and always like to go above and beyond. When changes arise, I am optimistic, positive, and open about it; to me, it is the meaning of evolution and growth. We have a devoted team to support our client’s mortgage lending needs at every step of the journey. We strive to provide Mortgage Clarity. Our team aims to educate the consumer to know what options are available. Our company has a unique method to provide same-day Pre-Approval results, In-house Processors, Underwriters, and Mortgage Loan Commitment before the contract. This method allows us to fulfill closings in less than 30 days. It makes me happy to say & quote: In our company, every client qualifies. It is only a matter of time & quote.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
There’s nothing better than having someone or a group of individuals in the industry who can guide you, advise you, and hold you accountable in every business. We will inevitably face days when we need to know the answer or feel a certain way. You can greatly ease the process by talking to people whose careers positively influence you and often direct you back to the right path. In my career, I want to thank Jorge Diaz, Vice President, who has been my mentor and influence since day one. With over 20 years of work experience, Jorge has been a valuable asset to me. I admire his ability to handle loan scenarios and close deals that other lenders couldn’t. He continues to teach me more about the mortgage market daily as he shares his knowledge and experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/karlizcorrea
- Instagram: bit.ly/KarlaCorrea
