Meet Roberto Meza

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Roberto Meza. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Roberto below.

Roberto, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Being the only one in the room that looked like me was never unfamiliar—it happened in classrooms, in boardrooms, and in industries I stepped into for the first time. At first, it felt like I had to prove that I belonged. But over time, I realized something important: I wasn’t just trying to fit in. I was there to stand out.

Coming from Peru, I arrived in the U.S. with no built-in network, no roadmap, and no shortcuts. What I did have was what my parents instilled in me—a conviction that I could figure anything out if I worked hard enough and put my mind to it. And along the way, I had the quiet but constant support of my wife of 31 years, whose perspective often reminded me of the bigger picture and steadied me in moments of doubt.

That conviction became my advantage. Where others waited for opportunities, I created them. Where others feared starting over, I embraced it. I moved across roles and departments, often taking what looked like a step down but was really a step forward. Every role became a proving ground. And when management noticed, doors opened—not because I looked like anyone else in the room, but because results don’t have an accent and success doesn’t check your background before it rewards you.

Later, I pushed further. I decided that if I could succeed in different roles, I could succeed in entirely different industries. That’s how I went from telecommunications, to technology, to finance and insurance. And when the time came, I didn’t just adapt—I built. I opened a karate school, turned it into a multi-unit business, and later sold it at a profit. I launched a mortgage brokerage that outpaced competitors with decades of head start. Today, we operate in multiple states.

So how did I learn to be effective as the only one in the room? By refusing to let “only” define me. By leveraging the discipline, perspective, and resilience that my journey gave me—and by never forgetting the steady encouragement at my side. Being different forced me to sharpen skills others took for granted—adaptability, courage, perseverance. And those became the very traits that fueled not just my career, but also my ability to build businesses from the ground up.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

What excites me most about what I do is that I get to transform something as intimidating as buying a home or securing financial stability into a journey of empowerment. Every family we serve isn’t just a file or a loan — they’re people building their roots, their future, their legacy. For me, that’s deeply personal, because I know what it means to start with little and build from the ground up.

What’s special about my work, and what I want readers to know about my brand, is that transparency, education, and empathy drive everything we do. We don’t measure success only by numbers, but by the peace of mind and trust our clients walk away with. Our philosophy is simple: we treat every loan as if it were for one of our own kids. That mindset has allowed us to grow year over year and stand out in an industry where people often feel like just another transaction.

Right now, I’m especially excited about expanding our impact. Our mortgage brokerage is thriving, and we’ve added a second brokerage in the state of Tenneese to better serve families who are moving to a lower cost of living state. Beyond that, I’m planting seeds for my next venture — something completely different in renegerative agriculture and fruit trees/vines, which connects back to my love of nature, growth, and creating something authentic from the ground up.

At the heart of it, whether it’s finance, karate, technology, or grapes on a vine, my brand is about reinvention, perseverance, and helping others build stronger foundations. That’s the story I want readers to take away: with deep roots and vision, you can grow into anything.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

When I look back, the three qualities that had the most impact on my journey were self-awareness, being strategic, and empathy.

Self-awareness was the compass. I always knew where my strengths were, but also where I needed to stretch myself. That’s what allowed me to jump into different roles — sometimes even taking a step down — because I understood that growth requires humility and curiosity.

Being strategic was the engine. I’ve never seen moves between industries or ventures as random; they were calculated risks. From telecommunications to technology, to finance and insurance, each step was part of a bigger plan: learning the mechanics of business so I could eventually build my own. Strategy gave me the ability to see past the short-term and design the long-term.

Empathy was the heart. At the end of the day, business is about people. Whether it’s leading teams, helping families buy homes, or guiding clients through stressful processes, the ability to step into someone else’s shoes has been the difference between transactions and relationships. It’s also what keeps me grounded — knowing that success isn’t just about me, but about the lives we impact.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice is this:
• Develop self-awareness by being honest with yourself. Seek feedback, try different things, and don’t be afraid of uncomfortable truths — that’s where growth begins.
• Sharpen your strategy by thinking a few moves ahead. Don’t just take a job, ask yourself: what skill or knowledge will this give me for the bigger picture?
• Lead with empathy in everything. People remember how you made them feel long after they forget what you said. If you can pair expertise with humanity, you’ll never go unnoticed.

Those three qualities are like roots. Strong, unseen, but powerful enough to hold up the whole tree.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

If I only had a decade left, I would live it with intention, stripping away the unnecessary so I could savor what truly matters. For me, that means more time with my family—working alongside my wife, children, and one day perhaps my grandchildren—not just in business, but in life. I’d want to teach them that real success is not measured by wealth alone, but by the strength of your roots, the resilience to reinvent yourself, and the integrity to persevere with courage.

I would dedicate more of my days to agriculture, to the simple joy of growing grapes and making wine, to living in rhythm with the earth. Nature has always been my place of clarity and energy. It reminds me that to fully enjoy this world, you don’t need more—you need less. Less noise, less excess, less chasing after what doesn’t matter. In needing less, we create space for more: more freedom, more peace, more moments that leave us in awe of life’s wonders.

And I would continue giving back. My purpose has never been only about business; it has been about helping others secure a foundation of their own—a home, financial stability, the knowledge that they, too, can grow into their potential. If I had ten years left, I’d spend them teaching and lifting others, ensuring that the seeds I plant today become strong trees tomorrow.

In the end, I would want my last decade to be less about what I built and more about what I left behind: a living legacy of love, wisdom, and strength—roots deep enough to nourish generations long after I am gone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mezaconsulting.com
• Instagram: meza_home_loan
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/robertomezajr