Rebekah Benz
A LEAP OF FAITH
Rebekah Benz grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, where her father worked as a government contractor and her mother was a teacher. Being the eldest and only girl with two younger brothers, she found her own path from an early age. From becoming a competitive cheerleader, to joining the swim team and student government, she fell in love with the process of trying new things.
Rebekah attended college at Virginia Tech and had several career paths she considered taking. One thing she knew for certain was that she loved to travel and wanted to explore more of the world. The stars aligned when, one day, she stumbled upon a pop-up booth for the Peace Corps. After a lengthy interview process, hours of preparation and a significant amount of volunteer work, Rebekah was given an opportunity to become a teacher for a village located in Mozambique. Although she had never been this far away from her family, she decided to take a leap of faith.
Immediately after graduating, Rebekah left for Africa. She went through three months of training to learn how to survive and function without running water, electricity or internet — and she had to learn Portuguese, the main language spoken there. Rebekah's assignment was to work in the village of Manjie, in a province called Tete. Her responsibilities involved teaching English to eighth, ninth and tenth graders, all while engaging in other projects like women empowerment initiatives and volunteer work around HIV and Malaria prevention.
Rebekah reading to children in her school.
Before joining the Peace Corps, Rebekah considered herself to be a flexible person. After completing her term, she felt as though she had an entirely new perspective on life, with the ability to adapt to any challenge — something that she would carry with her indefinitely.
When she returned home to Virginia, Rebekah pursued a master's degree in international development at George Mason University. While working part-time as a concierge at a local apartment complex, one of the residents noticed her impeccable work ethic. This same resident recommended that Rebekah apply for a job at Freddie Mac, where they worked. Rebekah applied and landed a job doing project management for the Single-Family division. After some time, she moved to Production & Sales in Multifamily, and eventually went to the Targeted Affordable Housing (TAH) team.
Now, 8 years after joining Freddie Mac, Rebekah is a production manager on the TAH team and works from her home in Bend, Oregon.
Let's hear more from Rebekah on what it's like to find your stride at Freddie Mac.
Freddie Mac's mission is to 'Make Home Possible'. What does that mean to you?
Knowing that my work directly impacts people's access to affordable housing gives me a strong sense of purpose. I feel lucky to be in the position I'm in — to contribute to something so much bigger than myself. When I go out to some of these properties and meet the tenants, it's eye-opening to see the direct results of deals I had a role in financing. Having a positive influence on other people's lives is very motivating, and I know that holds true for so many of us at Freddie Mac.
What are some hobbies/activities you enjoy doing outside of your job?
Living in the mountains here in Oregon, we love to go skiing. We are lucky to be able to have Mt. Bachelor right near us, and we love to ski during the winter. During the summer, my husband and I like to hike and explore new and familiar paths. This type of day usually ends at a brewery, which has become a tradition for us. All of that said, my biggest hobby is still traveling. I am trying to get to 50 countries before I turn 50 years old, and I am happy to be on track to hit that goal. We recently just visited the Patagonia Mountains near Chile and Machu Picchu in Peru, which was a blast.
Rebekah and her husband Rory hiking in Patagonia, Chile.
What are some traits that you think make a great teammate?
A great teammate is someone who is adaptable in any situation. For me, that means stepping up when challenges arise and approaching them with a positive attitude. I believe communicating clearly and effectively without getting lost in the details is also valuable. I would also say that it's good to be easily accessible — to your team, manager and co-workers — and that being reliable is something people notice and appreciate immensely. This is especially true in difficult situations where people feel they can rely on you. Much of work, and life for that matter, is just showing up. Once you do that, figuring out the rest comes naturally.
What advice do you have for someone who just started working at Freddie?
Being open to learning something new is very important, but this only works if you have the right mindset. I encourage new people to figure out what they're passionate about, whether that means moving around different divisions or just growing in the team where they currently are. At Freddie Mac, you can access and acquire knowledge about almost anything in this industry. So, learn as much as you can, be a sponge, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Have the courage to step outside of your comfort zone, because it will take you far in your career.
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