Website design By BotEap.comTurning adversity into opportunity: this is Angelo Mozilo’s story of overcoming adversity

Website design By BotEap.comThis is the fourth part of the article of an electronic publication; this is the third of four segments.

Website design By BotEap.comIn this Part III, Angelo Mozilo will share, in his own words, the difficult journey of his life, including his specific trials and challenges. H will share with the reader his own unique story about what habits and success secrets he developed to overcome adversity. Angelo is a “man of the people” with a unique combination of financial genius, unstoppable drive to succeed, and “street smarts” that enabled him, despite facing severe adversity, discrimination, or difficult challenges, to make Angelo Mozilo a respected and successful leader in business and community.

Website design By BotEap.comAngelo will candidly share how he succeeded in life and the “White Anglo-Saxon Ivy League” dominated world of finance and mortgage banking despite the odds stacked against him and being an Italian-American with a degree from Fordham, not the “Ivy League Schools”. , such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton or the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Angelo Mozilo fought his way out of an ethical neighborhood and literally his father’s butcher shop. When he founded and currently he serves as president and CEO of one of the largest credit institutions with offices throughout the United States and even in Europe, with an office in the United Kingdom. He created the largest lending institution in the United States, Countrywide Home Loan and Countrywide Financial. Mozilo has overcome adversity to become an effective and successful leader.

Website design By BotEap.comThis groundbreaking, proven research on overcoming adversity and “Turning Adversity into Opportunity” has received wide endorsements and rave reviews from leading business, political, and academic leaders and leading scholars who participated in the study or reviewed the research. recommendations.

Website design By BotEap.comThe nine initial successful leaders who overcame adversity or tragedy who were interviewed included: Dr. Tony Bonanzino, US Senator Orrin Hatch, Monzer Hourani, US Senator Daniel Inouye, Dr. John Malone, Larry Pino, Maj. Gen. US Army Sid Shachnow, Dr. Blenda Wilson, and Zig Ziglar.

Website design By BotEap.comThis story was The data from these nine research participants was materially augmented by seven more interviews with successful people who overcame adversity, abuse, or loss of a parent in their youth, including: Jack Canfield, William Draper III, Mark Victor Hansen, J. Terrence Lanni, Angelo Mozilo, Dr. Nido Qubein, and Dr. John Sperling.

Website design By BotEap.comIn addition, five internationally known and respected leadership scholars offered their reviews of leadership research findings, including: Dr. Ken Blanchard, Jim Kouzes, Dr. John Kotter, Dr. Paul Stoltz, and Dr. Meg Wheatley .

Website design By BotEap.comPART III of IV: This is Angelo Mozilo’s Story of Overcoming Severe Adversity

Website design By BotEap.comPart III Angelo commented on the discrimination he experienced because he was a second generation Italian American. He said: “At least in my generation, when you’re Italian in the financial services company, you’re terribly underestimated. A natural reaction for some in the financial community was to infer or suggest that maybe you were associated with the mafia.” Mozilo added “that even today [Countrywide] they are underrated.

Website design By BotEap.comAngelo Mozilo shared his candid comment on the banking establishment: “Major banks like Chase, Wells Fargo and others have continued to underestimate our achievements and fail to recognize Countrywide’s future potential.” He continued on this subject: “Because the financial services business has always been obsessed with an ‘Ivy League’ education from Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Wharton. It might have been easier if I had had that kind of education, but that it was impossible”. because I needed to live at home.” Angelo further commented that “Countrywide’s management mostly came from state universities, so they never took us that seriously. Because I graduated from Fordham and only briefly attended NYU Business School, I was always looked down upon and it was always a problem.”

Website design By BotEap.comAs Angelo Mozilo looks back on his unique life, he says, “I never would have dreamed that I would end up where I am today with a company that spans the country. [and even includes significant operations in the United Kingdom]Angelo continued: “I learned from my partner [and mentor] Don’t give up on something you really believe in. We had some terrible days, but then something happened that encouraged us to continue another day. You can’t give up when the going gets tough. You have to work hard, stay focused and lead by example. I also think it’s important to have fire in your belly.” He also expressed the “importance of your track record, reputation, and maintaining relationships.”

Website design By BotEap.comMozilo shared with me: “I am very conscious of the example I set for my children and grandchildren. I have always tried to behave properly and preserve the integrity of my name and my company. I care about my legacy and I want my grandchildren to be proud of our name.” . Angelo regularly donates his time, talent, and money to higher education. He said, “One of the few regrets I have is that I didn’t finish my graduate degree at NYU Business School. I have all kinds of excuses, but the fact is I didn’t finish. I’m convinced it would have drastically shortened the time it’s taken me to build this company”.

Website design By BotEap.comAngelo summed up his deep feelings about the importance of education: “My mother’s gift to me was that I cared a lot about education. I spend time and resources on children and education because they are the future of our country. Education is essential to have options in life.”

Website design By BotEap.comAngelo’s educational activities include serving as a member of the Board of Trustees of Fordham University in New York City, Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, St. Francis High School in La Cañada, California, and the Board of Visitors from the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University. , in Malibu, California. Mozilo received a Bachelor of Science from Fordham University in 1960 and has an honorary Doctor of Laws from Pepperdine University.