Podcast: One-On-One With Megan Castleton, Chief Credit Officer At Constructive Capital

Competitive boxer Megan Castleton says many of the principles she learned in the ring can be applied to business.

“It’s mental over physical. You know how much you can get done, and you know how much you can withstand. So, you’re balancing a career and a life, and this sport and all the demands of this sport. And I think that translates really well into the corporate environment. It instilled a toughness,” Castleton said.

Castleton began boxing as a young woman. What started as a form of exercise and a way to have fun with friends turned into something she has a passion for. And over the years, she has overcome many challenges competing in a sport that is typically dominated by male athletes.

Castleton has also made strides in the financial world. She started her career in the 1990s and has been the chief credit officer at Constructive Capital since December 2024.

Constructive Capital provides capital to a third-party origination network, mainly made up of mortgage brokers who work with real estate investors who use residential transition loans – also known as fix and flip loans – and DSCR-related products.

Castleton recently sat down with The Mortgage Note’s Scott Kimbler to talk about how she balances boxing and her career. She said during the interview that she has learned to embrace the challenge of being told, “No.”

“Women were not in that sport. You get told, ‘No,’ a lot. That you can’t do this. You can’t do that. You’re never going to be this, you’re never going to be that. And so, you know, for me and my personality, that’s like waving the red flag in front of the bull. It’s like, ‘Okay, well, that’s the challenge, and that’s why I want to take it up,’ And I want to prove that we can,” Castleton said.

Castleton’s background in water polo helps her understand the value of a good team. That translates nicely to the corporate world.

“You become very self-aware as an athlete of what your weaknesses and your strengths are. And you can go out and find those things in your teammates and your team members, and your coaches, the same way that you do in building teams,” Castleton said. “I would say that’s definitely one of the pieces that I use to this day still.”

Sports have also taught her how to handle and adapt to the highs and lows of constantly changing markets.

“If you do not adapt and change to your environment in lending, you go the way of the dinosaur, and there’s just nothing here for you. It’s a constant evolution, the same way that it is in an athlete’s body and mind. It’s a constant evolution of who you are, your skill set, and how you translate those things into the environment around you,” Castleton said.

Castleton moved from the residential consumer space to residential transition loans and DSCR-related products. She was drawn to Constructive Capital because of the leadership team.

“Constructive really understands who brokers are and what brokers need, and what the challenges are that brokers face, and the need for additional revenue streams even in the residential space,” Castleton said.

“We’ve definitely put a lot of money and time into building out our technology. So, I think over the next year or two, what Constructive is right now is going to look entirely different. And that’s so exciting to me because it’s a passion. Constructive has a passion for bigger, faster, stronger. How do we make this a better client experience?”

Castleton also reflected on what keeps her going to work every day. 

“Every day it changes. There’s never been a calm market. I guess you’re always waiting for the shoe to drop. What’s the next thing? What’s the next product? How do I improve this?” Castleton said. “It’s always improving. It’s always changing. And I think that’s what gets me out of bed every day.”