found that all her approvals did, in fact, qualify. When the lending team she worked for was shuttered, Nor- sworthy obtained her insurance license and tried her hand at sell- ing annuities. While working with people on their finances, she saw so many people paying such a high interest rate on their home loans that she couldn’t help but refer them for refinancing. “I decided loans are in my blood,” she said. Norsworthy returned to Bank of America to work with the Builder Division team and helped it become a top performer. Although Norsworthy had been working private lending deals on the side as she gained experience in these different roles, she decided in 2019 that it was time to go all in. At Bull Funding, she can help others build their business in real estate, drawing on her experience from all aspects of the industry. Norsworthy said she chose the name of her company because a bull is aggressive and tenacious, like her. She doesn’t like to say no to a loan and will find a way, using her background as both a lender and an underwriter, to make a deal. In her estimation, there’s almost always a way to structure the loan, and then the borrower can decide whether the terms are acceptable. That’s an example of how Norsworthy approaches business: She’s direct and pragmatic. She says she likes lending because it’s clear when the numbers work or don’t. “You can’t be fluffy. You have to be direct and to the point,” she said. “I excel in this area because of how I was raised.” Norsworthy grew up with her grandparents, and her grandfather was retired from the U.S. Air Force. She has three sons and saw in her
parenting that they would miss the point if she talked too much, she said. In her experience, if she com- municates directly—with her kids, clients, or colleagues—there’s less likelihood of miscommunication. WHAT MAKES HER TICK An active member of the American Association of Private Lenders, Nor - sworthy serves on the ethics com- mittee. She sees ethics as important for credibility, both for her business and for the industry. It also touches on her desire for justice. She has a criminal justice degree and at one time wanted to work for the FBI. Norsworthy’s goal is to live life to the fullest. She’s survived bouts with cervical and ovarian cancers, both times without receiving chemotherapy. She said
getting rid of the stressors in her life helped her attain remission. Now, she looks for any excuse to try something new. Norsworthy has learned fly fishing, been certified in scuba diving, and hopes to try sand surfing this summer. She said she’ll even “hop onto to other people’s bucket list,”meaning if she hears an idea for something worth trying, she’s game. That led her to go sky- diving, despite her fear of heights. “I don’t know how much time I have, and I don’t live my life in fear,” she said. “I’m going to do every- thing. I can go all the way to the bitter end. And when it’s time to go, I’m going to go.” •
Katie Bean is a former newspaper and magazine editor who loves telling the stories of businesses and great leaders. She is based in Kansas City.
thinkrealty . com | 21
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter