Thomas Swetman: Sagent’s Creative Director Shapes Servicing’s Future + Superdad & Extreme Sports Buff

In this series, we’re focused on the humans who make up Sagent. We’re fortunate to have a team that is constantly evolving – both professionally and personally – folks from all over the world who bring a variety of experience, education, and perspectives to advance our challenging mission. We’re excited to introduce you to some of these talented people who make Sagent a vibrant, productive community. 

Tell me about your family, pets, where you live, and anything else you’d like to share about your life to help people get to know you.  

I am lucky to call beautiful Southern California home. My wife, three children (ages 12, 9, and 6), and I have been enjoying this summer’s fantastic weather, spending plenty of time at the magnificent beaches before the school year ramps up. 

Tell me about where you grew up and went to school.  

I grew up in Jacksonville Beach, Florida – just four blocks from the beach. That should give you some idea of how much I love being near the water. I began attending a magnet school for fine arts, focusing on sculpting. Later, I continued my education at the Atlanta College of Art, where I graduated with awards and honors, and discovered my passion for digital arts – skills which I now use in my role as Creative Director at Sagent. 

What was your first “real” job?  

After high school, I enlisted in the US Navy. During my four years of service, I worked in administrative roles supporting military personnel and their families. This experience allowed me to travel extensively and engage with a diverse range of people, which I found immensely rewarding.  

 What are your hobbies?  

Since I was kid, I have always been drawn to extreme sports, whether that be surfing on the beach near my house, skateboarding through my neighborhood, or testing out new mountains with my snowboard. I have always loved pushing myself to the limits. Nowadays, you can still find me riding around and doing kick-flips on my old skateboard. 

Do you do any volunteer work or have a soft spot for any charity in your community?  

My free time is often spent traveling for one of my kids’ sports-related events. I regularly volunteer to help set up these events – and everything that goes along with that commitment.  

What are your favorite movies, music, or TV shows?  

As a huge film buff and connoisseur of all types of entertainment, I could spend hours talking about my favorite movies. If I had to pick just one favorite in each category, it would be the original Star Wars Trilogy and Community. As for music I’m a huge Pixies fan.  

Tell me more about your career journey. Highlight a particularly positive or negative experience and what you learned from it.  

Early in my career I worked for one of the largest ad agencies in Atlanta where I had the opportunity to collaborate with major companies on their online media campaigns. As a creative professional, it was incredibly rewarding to refine or even completely transform brands through modernizing and enriching the visual appeal of logos and websites, shaping how people perceive them.   

Despite the excitement, this was also an incredibly demanding role, switching between campaigns with minimal downtime, enduring long hours, and pushing creative boundaries to meet tight deadlines. One key lesson I learned from this intense environment is that creativity and deadlines must work in harmony to achieve the best results. 

How did you find your way to mortgage fintech? 

Prior to joining Sagent, I worked for close to ten years designing and building numerous websites and mobile applications. One of my most notable achievements was launching LoanDepot’s mobile POS platform which has reached millions of potential homeowners. This helped spur my love for mortgage fintech, especially platforms that push innovative and technological boundaries like Sagent’s Dara, the first end-to-end mortgage servicing platform.  

What does your “day-to-day” look like in your role at Sagent?  

One of my favorite parts of being Creative Director at Sagent is that my day-to-day never looks the same. One day I am branding video content, the next I am crafting informational client presentations or enhancing Sagent CARE UI/UX with new features. No matter the day there is always a flurry of creative projects demanding my fresh perspective. The pace is fast but rewarding and there is never a dull moment. 

What is it about your job that motivates or challenges you?  

I absolutely love my job because it allows me to utilize my design knowledge and contribute to Sagent’s mission to revolutionize America’s $14 trillion mortgage servicing industry. My role lets me unleash my creativity in numerous ways, and it’s rewarding to see the tangible results, from employee t-shirts to convention booths. It’s gratifying to know that my creative efforts help strengthen Sagent’s brand and reputation. 

Recently, I embarked on a passion project to modernize our intranet. When I first joined Sagent, it was a legacy site with very limited functionality. Ultimately, the decision was made to start from scratch and build a new, modern, and engaging platform. Now, SPARK –—as we call it — serves as a comprehensive hub for “all things Sagent” and is consistently updated with the latest news, awards, and team information. This project was an gigantic undertaking, but I am so proud that we successfully created a portal that is a useful, enjoyable, and informative experience for every Sagent employee.  

Have you had an impactful mentoring experience, either giving or receiving? 

I have the great privilege of mentoring Sagent’s creative team every day. I always encourage them to embrace their individual design strengths and express their unique styles on every project. I have found that this promotes confidence and often reveals unexpected talents. In my view, creative mentoring is about fostering growth and embracing individuality to find the right solution to any design issue. 

In your opinion, what is the greatest impact of building cloud-native servicing technology?  

I first joined Team Sagent in 2020, and since then it has been amazing to witness the technological advancements, especially Dara, the first end-to-end servicing platform that offers real-time data and is cloud-native. The success of this journey, to transform the mortgage servicing ecosystem, is a testament to the collective talent and hard work of everyone involved. 

When you think about Sagent’s values of “Relentless, Relevant, and Reliable” which of those resonates with you most?  

I’d have to say Relevant – highlighting Sagent’s innovative approach and strong brand identity is clearly paying off. Hearing such positive feedback from industry leaders, and recognizing our impact lets us know our strategy is working. 

What has your experience working at Sagent been like?  

The best part about working at Sagent is that I collaborate with so many brilliant and thoughtful individuals who support our brand identity. Seeing employees represent Sagent in photos and videos from around the world — that never gets old. It’s incredibly gratifying to witness their excitement, whether they’re wearing our gear or showcasing our cutting-edge servicing platforms. I’m proud of how our brand embodies our ongoing commitment to modernize the servicing industry. When other companies tell me how excited they were by the Dara introduction video, it truly feels fulfilling to work with such a talented team. 

I am lucky enough to work alongside both the Marketing Team and the CARE Team where my roles differ substantially. Whether it’s crafting a responsive, branded homeowner experience or producing unforgettable Rewind videos, I find it so rewarding to stretch my skills across both areas. It’s a perfect example of why I can genuinely say, “I love what I do.”  

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We always like to ask our Sagent Standout’s colleagues for insights into what it’s like to work with them. Jouna Saza, Sr. Designer, shared this: 

“With his chilled-out SoCal vibe and positive attitude, working with Thomas is fun… but his pace and intensity are anything but chill. On any given day, he’s designing product UI prototypes, building web pages, producing videos — without his creativity, Sagent wouldn’t look nearly as good as it does. He pushes his limits with a smile (plus a perfectly chosen animated GIF) and his passion inspires everyone around him to deliver our best work.”