Casey Cunningham (#7)

I had the chance to interview Casey Cunningham, CEO of XINNIX. XINNIX is a company in Atlanta that is designed to sharpen seasoned veterans and produce new mortgage sales professionals. This is a privately held company that has been very successful and was founded in 2002. I talked with Casey about her previous experience that led her to her current career, and what made her realize that entrepreneurship was her calling.

Casey went to Wofford College and Georgia State University and studied marketing and business. She said that early on, she wanted to reap the benefits of hard work and not have limitations on earnings. After graduating college, she started out in straight commissions sales in order to have unlimited upside. She later decided that she wanted to be an entrepreneur after realizing that she had a service that people wanted. She said that she always felt like an entrepreneur even working for companies because she would always work as if she owned the company. This attitude caused multiple promotions for her. In 2002, she decided to turn from sales and start her own business- a mortgage academy.

When asking about her unexpected challenges that she ran into while starting her company, she mentioned market conditions, lack of quality workers available, managing cash flow, and time limitations. When asking her if she often uses her schooling experience to help her run her business, she said that she does to some degree but real life work experience has definitely been more meaningful and helpful to her. When I asked her if there is any advice she would give to her college self, she said “Work hard in school so you are getting experience and education simultaneously, realize that the future is as big as you make it, apply yourself 100%, and be involved in a leadership position on campus as this is the greatest skill you will need as a successful entrepreneur.”