Tammy Richards is enterprise chief operations officer at loanDepot, and has also been a C-level executive at some of the nation’s largest lending organizations during the industry’s shift into contemporary times. She currently oversees more than 1,600 team members and is responsible for growing and refining loan production, as well as managing underwriting, processing, credit policy, funding/closing processes and quality controls. In the last year, Richards’ group helped originate and fund $35 billion, making loanDepot a top 5 retail lender.

Richards has been a leadership pioneer for women in mortgage lending for over 30 years. Prior to loanDepot, she served in senior roles at Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Caliber Home Loans. In her impressive career, she’s overseen the move to digital mortgage processing and eSignings, reduced costs and driven company efficiency and growth at scale.

She teaches the long game to all her team members and has mentored many women who have become leaders of major divisions and companies. In her community, Richards established a literacy program for adults and an elementary-level reading program. She is a coordinator for the Special Olympics and volunteers with UNICEF and the Primary Children’s Medical Center, and devotes weekly time to supporting on-base troops and their families at MCAS Camp Pendleton.