International
Women’s Day

I am proud of my seamless transition from educating children to training adults, a shift that has allowed me to train over 100 agents, both in the United States and internationally. I embrace change and celebrate continuous growth throughout my career.

I have been fortunate to be surrounded by diverse groups of successful women throughout my life. From 20 years of cheerleading to six years working in the public school system, and most recently, three years alongside exceptional teammates at Figure, I have consistently been in environments that foster personal and professional growth. These experiences have introduced me to individuals who not only inspire but also challenge me to continuously improve. More recently, I’ve been reminded to place more trust in my abilities, pushing me to take bold steps in my career and personal development.

To me, Accelerate Action means taking a stand now. While creating a more equitable world may seem like a distant goal, "Accelerate Action" is a reminder that every voice counts. When we all speak up, change can happen quickly.

Audrey Chaudhary

Senior Manager - People Projects, Operations and Analytics

One of the achievements I am most proud of is being a mom while having a career. Balancing the demands of work and family isn't always easy, but it’s taught me resilience, time management, and empathy— skills that I bring into the workplace every day. I'm proud to show my children the value of hard work and dedication while also striving to make an impact professionally.

My career has been significantly shaped by the mentors and leadership opportunities I have encountered along my journey. My mentors have provided guidance, encouragement, and valuable insights that have helped me navigate challenges and grow both personally and professionally. The leadership opportunities I have been presented with have allowed me to develop confidence and strengthen my decision-making skills. These experiences have played a key role in shaping the individual I am today, and I enjoy supporting and empowering others in their career journeys as well.

This year's International Women's Day theme, "Accelerate Action," is a call to drive meaningful change by empowering women to step into leadership roles and create more inclusive environments. It's about breaking down barriers that limit women's growth and actively championing their voices in decision-making spaces. Accelerating action means not waiting for change but being the catalyst for it, fostering a culture where women are encouraged to lead, innovate, and shape the future.

Amy Dunn

Senior Analyst

I am most proud of my work on the small Finance team during a very busy time for Figure. This responsibility and autonomy have pushed me to grow my skillset as well as become more confident personally and professionally. This opportunity has propelled me to take ownership of my work and understand the broader business better.

I have an amazing mentor at Figure, Sarah Chau! She is devoted to Investor Relations and Go-to-Market Finance. She is a great listener, offers very helpful advice, and is extremely productive and successful herself, which I strive to be like. I am so grateful for having met such a wonderful mentor at Figure.

Keep moving forward positively; Keep improving yourself and the organization.

Alysse Guitar

Senior Director, Growth

Learning to be more thoughtful. It's a "soft skill" but I spent the beginning of my career moving fast and making mistakes. Learning to slow down, keep my head, and be more thoughtful has been a big achievement for me and has helped me be a more effective leader, partner, and friend.

So many mentors have helped me grow! I don't think anybody reaches any level of success alone. It's so important to learn from others, even if it’s to learn what NOT to do.

Accelerate Action echoes a bias towards action. It means DOING what you think is right and not just thinking about it or talking about it.

Karry Karavolos Bryan

Controller

I would like to celebrate my grit for this Women's Day celebration. I have had grit throughout my personal and professional career, which allowed doors to be opened for me that might not have had otherwise. It's been a wild ride— many sleepless nights and tough-earned victories—but watching it flourish has made it all worth it.

My career has been shaped by a mix of mentorship and hands-on leadership opportunities. Early on, a mentor taught me to trust my instincts and take risks, which gave me the confidence to step into bigger roles. Later, a leadership training program sharpened my skills and showed me how to navigate through tough + challenging decisions. Those experiences have built the backbone of where I am today.

To me, "Accelerate Action" is a call to stop talking and start doing. It's about pushing past excuses and making real moves—whether that's breaking barriers or helping to lift up other women. It's a reminder that change doesn't wait, and neither should we.

Yanina Langer

Senior Software Engineer, CSP

Relocating from Argentina to the U.S. was a transformative experience that significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth. This journey involved adapting to a new culture and environment, which enriched my perspective and enhanced my problem-solving skills. Achieving fluency in English was a crucial milestone that not only broadened my communication abilities but also deepened my appreciation for diverse viewpoints. During this period of transition, I continued to work on my Java programming expertise through personal projects, ensuring that my technical skills remained sharp. Securing my first programming role in the U.S. marked a significant career milestone, demonstrating my resilience, determination, and ability to thrive in new and challenging situations.

This experience taught me the value of adaptability, continuous learning, and perseverance, which have been instrumental in my success as a software engineer. It also reinforced my commitment to fostering inclusive and diverse work environments, where different perspectives are valued and celebrated.

My career has been shaped a lot by mentorship, leadership opportunities, and training programs. I've been lucky to have mentors who gave me great advice and support. They helped me tackle tough challenges, improve my skills, and see the industry in a new way.

Since joining the team at Figure, my manager and colleagues have been really helpful with various tasks, making it easier for me to learn and grow. Their mentorship has been essential in helping me overcome the initial learning curve. I've also been encouraged to ask questions and find solutions on my own, which has boosted my confidence and problem-solving abilities.

Training programs have been another key part of my journey. I love learning new things, and these programs have kept me updated with the latest technologies and best practices. They have also helped me become more innovative and adaptable.

Overall, these experiences have helped me grow both personally and professionally, allowing me to make meaningful contributions to my projects and team. I'm grateful for the mentorship, leadership opportunities, and training programs that have shaped my career and continue to inspire me to do my best.

To me, "Accelerate Action" means we need to speed things up and make real changes for women's rights and equality. It means:

Speak Up: We should all speak up more about gender equality and support women's rights.

Empower Women: Let's help women get more opportunities in education and careers so they can reach their full potential.

Create Change: We need to make our workplaces and communities fair and welcoming for everyone.

Celebrate Success: Let's celebrate the achievements of women who have made a difference and inspire others.

Work Together: Everyone—governments, businesses, and individuals—needs to work together to create a fairer world.

In short, "Accelerate Action" is a reminder that we need to act now and keep working toward gender equality. Every little step counts!

Carolina Leon

Senior Accountant

Immigrating to the U.S. at 17 and being a first-generation college student was a life-changing experience, but is was a huge opportunity that I never take for granted and make it part of my personal and professional life’s mission to help others find their potential and encourage them not to be afraid of change and seeing how far they can go and lead by example.

An achievement I am proud of has been my ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle while balancing the demands of motherhood and my career, remaining present for those around me, while also enjoying what I’m doing. I recently joined Figure to have a better work-life balance, and although change always comes with some challenges, I am happy I made that decision as I’ve joined a great team; we're making so many improvements and are learning so much through the process.

I have been very fortunate to have many mentors and leaders throughout my career, too many to mention, but I appreciate those who believed in me and guided me through all these years. I continue to keep in touch with them, even though distance separates us. My biggest leader on a personal level is my mom, she raised us as a single mother and gave up so much for us, even through the struggles, she always had a smile and good attitude, she’d always remind me of a song by Celia Cruz “La vida es un carnaval” which means, Life is a carnival, that alone describes her passion and worldview to always enjoy life and make the most of it.

When I think of “accelerate action” I think of all the women throughout history who have fought for our rights, equality, and to win women’s place in society. We need to continue that fight and not forget how far we’ve come. We need to empower our children, boys and girls, to be welcoming individuals and speak up if they see inequality or someone not being treated fairly.

Rhiannon Meyers

Manager, Financial Crimes Investigator

I’m proud to celebrate growing my career in financial crimes at Figure as the Financial Crimes Manager. It’s been an incredible journey tackling complex challenges, enhancing fraud prevention, and making a meaningful impact in the industry. I hope to inspire other women to pursue leadership roles in this field!

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to grow my career under the mentorship of Darin DeFreece and alongside a passionate, talented team at Figure. Their guidance, along with leadership opportunities and training, has helped me navigate challenges, strengthen my expertise in financial crimes, and develop as a leader. These experiences continue to inspire and empower me to make a meaningful impact.

To me, 'Accelerate Action' means driving meaningful change with urgency and purpose. It’s about breaking barriers, amplifying women’s voices, and creating opportunities for growth and leadership. In my role at Figure, it inspires me to take proactive steps in fostering inclusivity, mentoring others, and continuously pushing for progress in the financial crimes space.

Courtney Nichols

Post Close Operations Associate

Personally, I want to celebrate buying a house. While it was a joint effort between my partner and I, it is still a huge accomplishment. I know that I wouldn't be able to buy or even help buy without my grandmother's generation fighting for the right to own a home.

I was very lucky to have several strong women in my life to help guide me. These were women who achieved their goals and helped others do the same. Without them I would have never taken as many risks as I have because I would be afraid to fail. They truly taught me to apply my skills in new ways and see how I could transfer my skills through different career paths.

It means we can not settle. It is a reminder that every right we have regardless of who we are has been fought for. That if we become complacent, we become ok with losing rights we once thought were a given. It also means that we have to work hard to ensure that future generations are able to live a better life than us.

Berlesha Palmer

Senior People Operations & Relations Coordinator

First, I would like to honor all women and the professional and individual experiences that they bring to this world and our company. We show up, and we give it all we have to help others. We are flexible and transition to the needs of those around us. Second, learning that leadership is less about me and more about investing in people. I learned this at an early age, and it has truly helped the success of my career, colleagues, teams, and organizations. My professional journey in Human Resources is being the voice of the people and being a safe place and an ear for employees to encourage them, train and develop, motivate them, and provide a sense of belonging. I am truly proud of this as the people are the heart of the organization. Our success is the company’s success. I never lost sight of the true definition of Human Resources and the significant role and impact we have on all things people.

I have been truly blessed with leaders who showed and taught me everything they knew and helped me develop into the strong, motivated leader I am today. Knowledge is power and leads to success for the individual and the company. Having a leader push you and encourage you is a selfless leader who knows that developing your team is how you win. A leader who listens to understand. Pushing them out of their comfort zone, challenging them to become better, and seeing the results are priceless. It is extremely rewarding to be impacted by leaders who genuinely care for your success and lead by example. I was selected for a Martin Luther King Leadership program in Pennsylvania, in my previous position, there were programs to support and electorate my career journey, in leadership and Human Resources, and I took advantage of the opportunity. I was always being prepared and trained for the next position, which in turn led to internal opportunity. To name a few, the Disney Leadership Training, ATIXA Workplace Investigations Training, Law Arbitration Institute Training, Cornell University Training program for Human Resources Investigations, and SHRM Development Training.

Think Big! To be ready and stay ready, to embrace change and be the change, to always stay prepared, proactive not reactive, so no matter the changes or challenges you may face, you are ready to overcome and conquer successfully. To be open-minded, stay calm, and be humble about everything. Be open to learning and trying things differently from a different lens than you experienced in the past. Change is good and promotes growth. With acceleration comes growth, and with growth comes endless opportunities.

Diana Patino

Marketing Manager

I migrated alone to a country where I had no social support, family, or friends. Despite that, I built a career I’m passionate about and created an amazing family in what was once a foreign place but is now home.

This quote from Jane Fonda resonates with me: "Stay curious, keep learning and keep growing. And always strive to be more interested than interesting." Looking up to inspiring leaders and understanding their journeys reinforces the idea that we can go anywhere we want as long as we set our minds to it with purpose. I’m a strong advocate for learning and curiosity, as it allows us to discover new paths or deepen our growth in the same direction if that’s where we choose to go. The key is to always stay curious.

To truly drive change in the communities we impact, we must continue investing in women’s progress and opportunities.

Sarah Polanco

Site Operations Manager

As a transplant from Paris, France, I’m most proud of the journey I’ve taken over the past 10 years. A decade ago, I made the bold decision to leave my home country and start a new life. In that time, I’ve built a family with four beautiful children and crafted a career from the ground up. It was and sometimes still is incredibly hard, but each step has been a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of change. This Women's Day, I celebrate the strength it took to make this leap and the life I’ve built, both personally and professionally.

My career journey has been profoundly shaped by incredible mentors who have shown me that it’s possible to have both a strong career and a fulfilling family life. Their guidance has been invaluable, helping me navigate challenges and embrace new opportunities. I’ve also had the privilege of participating in various learning programs, always pushing myself to grow, there is always something to learn! One of my most recent milestones was licensing with NMLS in 10+ states. These mentorships, leadership opportunities, and training programs have truly shaped who I am today!

To me, 'Accelerate Action' is a reminder that we have the power to create change at a faster pace, but also to challenge the notion that we have to choose between success and family! As a woman, I’ve learned firsthand that you can be both successful in your career and have a fulfilling family life even though was told the opposite so-many-times- I can't count!

To me, this is about breaking down those old narratives and accelerating the action that allows us to thrive in both spaces. It’s about empowering women to embrace both their professional and personal lives, and showing the world that balance isn’t JUST possible—it’s essential!

Heather Pye

Senior Quality Control Engineer

I feel very accomplished that I've been able to acquire new skills and knowledge through various continuing education courses/conferences while balancing career and family life. It has been very challenging, but rewarding.

Mentors have been vital to my success in my career! I will always be thankful for them taking the time to give guidance and encouragement, as well as share their knowledge and experiences with me. I, in turn, try to do the same for others. I am always happy to lend a hand whenever I can.

Accelerating action to help create a more accessible world, and also, to build community is very important to me.

Madison Rozier

Accounts Payable Specialist

Joining Figure's dedicated and hardworking team has changed my mindset even in my personal life. I have become braver, grittier, and more prone to think outside the box. I just moved all the way across the country and I wasn't even scared because I have learned how to deal with the unknown and work through any challenges that come my way. I love that I continue to push myself to the max and do everything that I say I am going to do. I have built trust in myself and that feels like one of my biggest successes.

My biggest influences have been my parents. They took a leap of faith and started their own business, sacrificing everything to make it happen. Watching their determination, resilience, and willingness to chase their dreams has shaped my mindset. They taught me to dream big, work hard, and believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Their example continues to drive me in my own career journey.

To me, “Accelerate Action” means taking purposeful, meaningful steps toward progress rather than just acting for the sake of action. It’s about making deliberate choices that create real impact, whether in personal growth or professional development. True progress happens when our actions are intentional, well-thought-out, and aligned with a bigger purpose.

Debra Steelman

Business Triage Analyst

I'm proud of my ability to balance motherhood, career, and education this Women's Day. I've learned to navigate challenges with adaptability and resilience, a lesson I learned while simultaneously having toddlers, finishing my degree, and starting my career in leadership. I'm also passionate about empowering women by providing mentorship, encouragement, and guidance; seeing those I've mentored grow and take chances makes me proud to be a part of their journey.

Each leader has taught me something; we just need to be open to learning.

I've had three influential women leaders/mentors in my career that I truly enjoyed watching and learning from, one being Helena Farrar here at Figure. All three women showcased confidence, intelligence, a commitment to their teams, and continually evolving. They encouraged and advocated for not just me but all, ensuring opportunities were not missed to take the lead, grow, or share. The mentors and leaders I've experienced are likely why I am so passionate about paying it forward by continuing to mentor and uplift others.

To me, "Accelerate Action" is about moving past conversations and working together to keep the upward momentum of gender equality. It means creating opportunities, breaking down barriers, and advocating for women around me to continually ensure we're empowered. After all, change happens when we take action together.

Emi Sutton

Corporate Counsel

I'm most proud of being able to be an engaged and active mom to my toddler while having a full-time, intellectually-challenging job. That might sound pretty basic - but even in 2025, we're still navigating exhausting gender dynamics where moms are expected to manage the childcare, handle the housework, and be excellent employees at work. The mental load that working moms carry is massive and often invisible, and it's a true accomplishment that any of us are managing it at all! I hope we can continue to celebrate our achievements at work and home while challenging the status quo, making things better for the next generation of working parents.

I’ve been so fortunate to have had several great mentors and leaders, many of whom were women, who gave me opportunities to take on challenges outside of my subject-matter expertise and comfort zone even when I struggled to see it in myself. Like many women, I've battled with intense imposter syndrome and self-doubt throughout my career, constantly fearing that everyone else knew what they were doing and I just wasn't as good. To have mentors that challenged those thoughts and poured their confidence and patience into supporting me has been invaluable, and I'll be forever grateful to them.

To me, Accelerate Action is a call to everyone, and particularly those in leadership positions, to step up and work towards real, tangible change. This means going beyond good intentions, presentations, meetings, etc. to take concrete steps: If someone says something inappropriate, call it out directly or raise it to HR instead of just slacking privately about it. If someone is being unfairly judged or singled out, challenge those assumptions or behavior. We'll likely face the eye-rolls or whispers to just lighten up, but none of us benefit from just brushing this stuff off. While we all can benefit from conversations and general awareness, what actually fosters change is doing the hard, uncomfortable things to make it happen.

Tiffanee Vasquez

Principal Product Manager

One thing I continue to work on is the ability to keep flexible and calm in stressful situations. This has allowed me to be more present and learn from situations. :) Practicing this, has helped me in my career as well as personal relationships.

I have been lucky enough to have many different mentors in my career. I have learned different skills from each one. This allowed me to put all the learnings together and be nimble! Without these individuals helping me grow I would not be where I am today!

Helping other women grow in life and their career is a definite way to "Accelerate Action". It is a treat for me to help others gain confidence, learn problem solving skills, and provide constructive feedback. I feel these women will accelerate in whatever they do!

Holly Wendt

Staff Software Engineer

I'm proud of the work that I do bringing teams together to accomplish our big goals. Watching everyone take on their pieces and being able to effectively keep us moving forward makes me immensely proud of all the individuals I work with on a daily basis, and is the best part of my job.

My career is what it is because others took a chance on me with little experience at the time and provided opportunities to learn and grow over the years. From taking on larger and larger projects to running teams and products, each person along the way that believed in me helped shape where I am, and for that I am beyond grateful and continue to pay it forward with that same positivity any chance that I get.

Accelerate Action to me underscores the reminder that we all need to be receptive to seeing individuals as they are and how their life experiences have shaped who they have become. If we can recognize that, we can better understand and have compassion for differences, and instead of fear or ignorance, we can celebrate them as the uniqueness that they are. This awareness can accelerate equality by bringing recognition to those differences and allowing the opportunity for minds and sentiments to evolve in a more tangible way.