In this episode, I sit down with mortgage industry veteran and coach Carrie Guarrero to trace a three-decade career built on service, community, and relentless growth. Carrie shares how an 11-year-old’s flyer route in her mom’s mortgage office became a billion-dollar origination career—and why the trophies eventually mattered less than the names and stories behind each loan. She opens up about a career “pause” that didn’t go as planned, the humbling return that led her to Fairway, and how that detour became the on-ramp to launching Fairway Ignite, an internal coaching organization now serving 600+ teammates with 80 coaches.

We also get into how Carrie is building a multigenerational legacy; handing portions of her book of business to her daughter and longtime partner, and what “effective coaching” really looks like inside a high-performance culture: individualized matches, data-driven accountability, and an always-on community. Beyond business, Carrie reflects on being an Army mom (and former Army spouse), holding pride and fear at the same time, and the leadership lessons that come from service, ambiguity, and letting go. She previews her forthcoming guided journal Discovering WISE: Women in Search of Excellence—a 52-week journey designed to help women define success on their own terms—and shares the daily non-negotiables that keep her grounded in faith, family, gratitude, sweat, and stillness.

Discussion Highlights:

• How a “failed” pivot can become the exact path you need next
• The core ingredients of coaching that actually moves numbers (and people)
• Why legacy leadership means empowering others, even before you feel ready to let go
• Navigating male-dominated rooms without dimming your light or your voice
• The power of holding two truths (proud and scared) and leading through uncertainty
• A simple morning framework: gratitude, sweat, and reflective thinking

Links & Mentions:

• Connect with Carrie Guarrero: Instagram • LinkedIn
• Book: Discovering WISE: Women in Search of Excellence — 52-week guided journey - grab your copy here!

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