We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Corissa Sutton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Corissa below.
Corissa , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I created the CSE Single Moms Homeownership Initiative and Cohort from one of the most painful and transformative seasons of my life. It did not come from a business plan first. It came from lived experience, heartbreak, survival, and a deep desire to make sure other women did not have to navigate what I went through alone.
In 2017, my life shifted in a way I never could have imagined. I found out that the man I loved deeply—my first love and the father of my three youngest children—was cheating on me and leaving. We had been together on and off for much of my life, and I truly believed we were building a future together. He had encouraged me to sign a rent-to-own agreement because we were supposed to be buying that home as a family. But when he left, everything changed. I was suddenly left trying to lead my household with a broken heart, limited finances, and very little understanding of the real estate process I had stepped into.
What made it even more difficult was realizing how much I did not know at the time. The agreement was never explained to me in a way that made me feel informed or protected. I was signing documents during one of the most vulnerable seasons of my life, and I did not fully understand what I was committing to. That experience stayed with me. I remember what it felt like to be overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, financially stretched, and unsure of where to turn next.
At the same time, I was transitioning out of a 20-year career in banking, finance, fraud, and financial crimes and stepping into entrepreneurship. That season became the intersection of my personal pain and my professional purpose. I began to realize that what I had gone through was not just my story—it was a reflection of what so many women, especially single mothers, experience when they are forced to rebuild after disappointment, instability, betrayal, or financial hardship.
That is when the vision became clear. I did not just want to build a business. I wanted to build what I wish had existed for me. I went back to school, earned my real estate license, and created something rooted in both education and empowerment. I wanted women to have access to real information, real support, real community, and real pathways to homeownership.
The CSE Single Moms Homeownership Cohort is a six-week program that combines practical homeownership education with self-empowerment and community. Yes, we talk about credit, lending, budgeting, and buying a home—but we also make space for healing, confidence-building, and vision. Because for many women, especially single mothers, the journey to homeownership is not just financial. It is emotional. It is spiritual. It is about stability, security, dignity, and creating something different for their children.
What made me believe this was worthwhile is that I knew I was solving a real problem because I had lived it. I understood what it meant to feel unseen in the process. I understood what it meant to be a woman carrying the weight of a household while also trying to rebuild her life. I also knew that women-led households are rising, and many mothers are going back to school, rebuilding after loss, and trying to create a better future with very little support. There are programs that talk about homeownership, but very few center the full experience of single mothers in a way that feels trauma-aware, empowering, and community-driven.
What makes this initiative unique is that I do not separate the strategy from the story. I understand that buying a home is not just about qualifying for a mortgage. It is also about rebuilding belief, restoring confidence, and helping women see that they are worthy of stability and ownership too. I created a space where mothers can feel seen, validated, heard, and supported while working toward real goals.
What excites me most is that this work is bigger than real estate. It is about legacy. It is about helping women break cycles, build wealth, and create a sense of peace and permanence for themselves and their children. I built this because I know what it feels like to need a way forward. And now I get to be part of helping other women find theirs.
Corissa , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For those getting to know me for the first time, I am a real estate professional, entrepreneur, author, advocate, and the founder of Corissa Sutton Enterprises and the CSE Single Moms Homeownership Initiative. At the heart of my work is a deep belief that homeownership should be accessible, attainable, and empowering—especially for women who are leading households and working to create a better future for their children.
My journey into this work is deeply personal. I know what it feels like to rebuild after heartbreak, financial hardship, and major life transitions. I know the strength it takes to co-parent, parallel parent, heal, and still show up for your children while trying to create peace, stability, and something greater for your family. That lived experience shapes how I serve others. This is not just business for me—it is purpose work.
After a 20-year career in banking, finance, fraud, and financial crimes, I transitioned into entrepreneurship, earned my real estate license, and built a business that brings together real estate, education, advocacy, and empowerment. Through my work, I provide real estate services, consulting, coaching, community-centered programming, and educational support designed to help women better understand their options and move toward homeownership with confidence.
What sets my work apart is that I do not just focus on buying a home as a transaction. I focus on the whole journey. Many of the women I serve are navigating limited financial resources, credit challenges, housing instability, or the zero net-worth barrier while also raising children and trying to rebuild their lives. I created the CSE Single Moms Homeownership Cohort to meet women in that reality—with practical education, honest guidance, community, and encouragement.
I am most proud of the community that has grown through this work. So far, I have led four cohorts serving 45 moms, with a waitlist that has grown to more than 100 women. We currently have two moms from the program closing soon, and that means so much to me because it reflects real progress, real possibility, and real impact.
What makes this especially meaningful is that there was a time when I was the one who needed support, community, and a safe place to rebuild. To now be in a position where I get to help lead other moms toward more—more stability, more knowledge, more ownership, and more peace—feels incredibly powerful.
The main thing I want people to know about me and my brand is that my work is rooted in both lived experience and professional expertise. I care deeply about helping women build strong foundations for themselves and their children. My brand is centered on advocacy, education, empathy, and empowerment. I want women to know they are not alone, they are not behind, and they are not disqualified. There is power in rebuilding, and there is power in having the right support while you do it.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
I am still very much in the early stages of building this business, so my funding story has been rooted in bootstrapping, reinvestment, and community support.
In the beginning, I used what I had and made the decision to reinvest income from sales back into the business. Like many entrepreneurs, especially women building mission-driven work, I did not start with a large pool of capital or outside investors. I started with a vision, a clear sense of purpose, and a willingness to build step by step.
I have also been fortunate to receive support through sponsors and nonprofit partnerships, which helped me pilot and test the program in its early stages. That support was important because it allowed me to begin proving the concept, serving real women, and showing that there is both a need and a demand for this work.
At this stage, I am continuing to build through a combination of reinvestment, partnerships, and relationship-based support while actively seeking additional capital and sponsorships to help grow and sustain the program’s reach. My goal is not just to maintain what I have built, but to expand it in a way that allows me to serve more women and families with excellence, consistency, and long-term impact.
What I am most proud of is that even without major funding at the start, I did not let that stop me from beginning. I believe a lot of women, especially women of color and single mothers, are used to having to build with limited resources. That has been part of my story too. I have learned how to start where I am, use what I have, and keep moving forward with intention.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I have had to unlearn is living from a victim mindset and learning how to turn pain into power.
There was a time in my life when I took disappointment very personally. If something did not go the way I hoped, if I was not chosen, or if a door closed, I would internalize it and question myself. I had to do a lot of inner work to realize that rejection is not always personal, and that every “no” is not a dead end—it can also be a redirection.
That lesson became especially important as I grew in business and in life. I began to understand that not everyone is meant for me, not every opportunity is aligned, and not every open door is mine to walk through. Some things are assignments, and some things are distractions. Learning that has helped me move with more clarity, confidence, and peace.
Another major lesson I had to unlearn was people-pleasing. For a long time, I thought being everything to everyone was part of being a good person, a good mother, or a good business owner. But over time, I learned that constantly saying yes at the expense of my own peace is not healthy or sustainable. I had to learn how to say no, create boundaries, and honor my capacity in both my personal life and my business.
That has been a newer path for me, but a powerful one. Unlearning people-pleasing has helped me become more grounded, more protective of my energy, and more intentional about who and what I give myself to. It has taught me that boundaries are not selfish—they are necessary.
Today, I see challenges differently. I no longer see every setback as something that is happening to me. I try to see it as something that is shaping me, teaching me, and building me. That shift has changed the way I lead, the way I heal, and the way I show up for the life and business I am building.
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