The Most Influential Women Leaders in Mortgage Industry- 2023

Exploringa Diversityof ExceptionalQualities

Themortgageindustryhaslongbeena predominantlymale-dominatedfield.However, overtheyears,numerousremarkablewomenhave brokenbarriersandmadesignificantcontributionstothe industry'sgrowthanddevelopment.Theseexceptional womenhavenotonlyshatteredglassceilingsbuthavealso revolutionizedthewaythemortgageindustryoperates, inspiringcountlessothersalongtheway.

Train skill.

Themortgageindustryisundergoingrapidtransformation, drivenbytechnologicaladvancements,changingcustomer preferences,andevolvingregulatorylandscapes.Within thisdynamicenvironment,themostinfluentialwomenin themortgageindustryhavedemonstratedexceptional leadership,innovation,andacommitmenttodriving positivechange.Theyhavechampioneddiversityand inclusion,fosteringamoreinclusiveindustrythatembraces thetalentsandperspectivesofwomen.

Thesewomenhaveheldinfluentialpositionsinvarious sectorsofthemortgageindustry,includingmortgage lending,banking,technology,compliance,andregulatory affairs.Theirexpertise,knowledge,andstrategicvision haveshapedtheindustry'strajectoryandpropelleditinto newfrontiers.Fromimplementinggroundbreakingdigital mortgagesolutionstoadvocatingforfairlendingpractices, thesewomenhaveleftanindeliblemarkonthemortgage industryandhavebecomerolemodelsforaspiring professionals.

InsightsSuccesshighlightsthequalitiesofleadership, resilience,andinnovationoftheleaderswhohave demonstratedexceptionalskillsinnavigatingthe complexitiesoftheindustry,adaptingtochange,and drivingtransformativeinitiatives.Theiraccomplishments haveearnedherrecognitionandrespectfromherpeers, industryexperts,andstakeholders.

Throughthisedition,“TheMostInfluentialWomen LeadersinMortgageIndustry-2023,”wewilldelveinto theachievements,leadershipstrategies,andcontributionsof adeptwomenleadersinthemortgageindustry Through theirinspiringjourney,wewillgaininsightsintothe qualitiesandcharacteristicsthathavepropelledhertothe pinnacleofsuccessintheindustry Theirstoriesserveasa testamenttotheincredibletalentandpotentialthatwomen leadersbringtothemortgageindustryandpavethewayfor amoreinclusiveanddiversefuture.

Asweexploretheachievements,wecelebrate accomplishmentsandacknowledgethesignificantstrides womenaretowardsshapingtheindustry'slandscape. Theirleadership,vision,anddedicationserveasan inspirationtocurrentandfutureprofessionalsinthe mortgageindustry,illustratingthepossibilitiesthatcan beachievedthroughperseverance,innovation,anda commitmenttoexcellence.

SME-SMO

Circulation

Zitlow Key Zitlow

BreakingBarriersand EmpoweringWomen

Ourcompanymission statementis:"WehonorGodbyusing ourtalentstomakeapositivedifference inthelivesofourTeamMembers, Clients,Shareholders,Communities, andthePeoplewhoprovide servicestous.

KellyZitlow ExecutiveVice Presidentof SalesandMarketing Cornerstone

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TheMostInfluentialWomenLeaderinMortgageIndustry-2023

Apassionforeducation.Ifthere’sonethingyou

needtoknowaboutKellyZitlow,it’sthatshehasa truepassionforeducation.Breakingdownbarriers asrelatestothehomeloanprocessandempoweringnot onlywomenbutallpeopletomakeeducateddecisions aboutthehomeloanprocessiswhatfuelsherpassion.

Forover27yearsshehasdevelopedareputationforbeing astrategicthinkerandaninnovativeproblemsolver.Not onlyissheatop1%mortgageoriginatorinthecountrybut shehasalsobecomeastandoutinthedigitalmarketing space.Videomarketinghasprovidedheravehicletoreach peopleallacrossthecountrywiththegoodnewsabout mortgages.

Thishasledhertotakehercareertonewheightsasthe ExecutiveVicePresidentofSalesandMarketingfor CornerstoneHomeLendingadivisionofCornerstone CapitalBank.WecaughtupwithKellytolearnmore aboutherprofessionaljourneyandhowshehasbecomea trailblazerandinspirationforwomeninthemortgage industry

Below are the highlights of the interview:

Kelly,pleasebrieflydescribeforouraudienceyour professionaljourneyupuntilnow.

Myprofessionaljourneyinthemortgageindustrystartedin 1996.Iwasonmywaytolawschoolwhenafriendtalked meintogivingthemortgageindustryatry.So,Itooka detourthatlasted27years.Ihavebeenamortgageloan originatortheentiretime,inadditiontoservinginvarious leadershipcapacities.IamcurrentlyanExecutiveVice PresidentofSales&MarketingforCornerstoneHome Lendingaswellasrunningmyloanoriginationteam.

Whatchallengesdidyoufacealongtheway?

Mortgagelendingisfluidinthattheupsanddownsare cyclicalbasedonwhat'sgoingonintheeconomy,what's goingonintherealestateindustry,andwhat'shappening aroundtheglobe.Alongtheway,therearechallengesthat comeupandimpactpeople.Whenpeoplehavechallenges, itaffectsourindustry.Forexample,oneofthebiggest challengesIexperiencedwasin2008whenthehousing marketcrashed.Itwasnoteasyinthesensethatovernight thefaucetturnedoff.Overnight,liquiditybecameanissue.

Overnight,lendingbecameanissue.Creditbecamean issue.Andwhiletherewereallthesechallenges,Istill believedinhomeownershipandrealizedIhadan opportunity.Despiteallthatwashappeningaroundme--I couldbringeducationtomycommunity.Icouldgetthem thevaluableinformationtheyneededduringthiscrisis.

Therewerestillpeoplebuyinghouses.Therewerestill peoplethatneededguidanceonshortsells,foreclosures, etc.Somepeopleneededatrustedresource,andIrealizedI couldbethatforthem.ThatwaswhenIstartedtothink biggeraboutmyimpact,notjustasaloanoriginatorbut honestlyasaleaderinourcommunity Thatwasalsowhen Ibeganleveragingvideotoexpandmyreachandbring moreinformationtomorepeople.

Whatsignificantimpacthaveyoubroughttothe mortgageindustry?

TheimpactIhavebroughttothemortgageindustryisthat individualloanofficerscangenuinelyinfluenceandeducate theircommunitybyleveragingsocialmedia.Wehavethe abilitytochunkdownfinancinginformationaswellas createthenarrativearoundhomeownership.Thisallowsus tohelppeopleinamuchmorepowerfulway.ThewayIdid itwasbyincorporatingvideoin2014intomybusiness. Thathasallowedmetobuildmybrandandreachmore people.I'vebeenabletobreakdownbarriersthatkeep peoplefrompurchasinghomesandhelpkeepthatdreamof homeownershipalivebyeducatingpeopleonhowtouse homeownershiptobuildwealth.

TellusaboutCornerstoneHomeLendingandits foundationpillar.

Cornerstonehomelendinghasbeeninbusinesssince1988. MarcLairdandJudyBlanchardstarteditwiththepurpose ofwantingtodosomethingbetter Theywantedtocreatea cultureofpeoplethatwerefocusedonservingtheir respectivecommunities.

Ourcompanymissionstatementis:"Weexisttouseand improveuponourGod-giventalentstomakeapositive differenceinthelivesofourteammembers,customers, shareholders,andthepeoplewhoprovideservicestous."

MarcandJudyalwayscaredaboutdoingtherightthing. That'simportantbecausedoingtherightthingishelpfulas aloanoriginatorworkingwithCornerstone.

Cornerstonehome lendinghasbeenin businesssince1988. MarcLairdandJudy Blanchardstartedit withthepurposeof wantingtodo somethingbetter.

Weknowthattheirheadand heartareinasuitablespace. Ifsomethinghappensout there-they'vegotourback, andwehavetheirback, makingitagreat collaboration.Weareallhere topleasedotherightthing andservethoseontheirpath tohomeownership.

HowdoesCornerstone HomeLendingpromote workforceflexibility,and whatisyourroleinit?

EvenpriortoCOVID, Cornerstonehasbeen forward-thinkingwhenit comestoremoteworkers.We areover1500employeesthat workin-officeandremotely acrossthenation.When COVIDcamealong,wedid notskipabeatbecausethe investmentintechnologywas alreadyinplacetoallow

peopletoworkfromhome.Still,tothisday,wecontinueto supporthybridschedules.

Whatisyourtakeontechnology'simportance,andhow areyouleveragingit?

I'mabigbelieverinhigh-tech,high-touch.Technology doesn'truletheroost,nordoestherelationship.It'sa

Mortgagelendingis fluidinthattheupsand downsarecyclicalbased onwhat'sgoingoninthe economy,what'sgoing onintherealestate industry,andwhat's happeningaroundthe globe.

combinationofbothofthosethings.That's wherethemagichappens.WhileI'vealways beenarelationship-basedleaderand relationship-basedloanoriginator,Istill onlyhavesomanyhoursintheday Asa result,technologyisparamountinhelpingus bemoreefficient.Therefore,weare constantlyre-evaluatingourtechnology platforms,improvingthem,andinvesting moneyinthemtocreateefficiencyinboth theclientexperience,thereferralpartner experience,andourloanofficers'experience.

Whatwillbethenextsignificantchange inthemortgageindustry,andhoware youpreparingforit?

TheadvancementoftechnologyandAI, suchasChatGPT,etc.,aregoingtocreate additionaltools,resources,andnoiseinthe industry Anyonewhowantstoremaininthe mortgagemuststayconnectedtowhat peoplewantandneedwhilehelpingtolead themthroughtheprocess.Thisiswhere we'vegottostayfocusedwhilestill leveragingallthefantastictechnology.

Ourindustryrightnowisgoingthrougha massivechange.Wearegoingtocontinueto seeinventoryatlimitedlevelsacrossthe countryforawhile.Wheninterestratesdrop backdowniftheydo,andwhentheydo,

we'llpotentiallyseeanotherresurgenceofthatentry-level buyerbeingbidoutbecausetheycan'tcompete.So understandingwhat'shappeningonthestreetisessentialfor leadershipinthemortgageindustry,andbringingsolutions towhateverrealestatecycleisoccurringisthekey.Weare veryfocusedonaffordabilityandbringingfinancingoptions tothemarketthathelpachieveaffordability,especiallyfor entry-levelandmoderate-incomefirst-timehomebuyers.

Whatareyourgoalsintheupcomingfuture?

AstheEVPofSales&Engagement,myprimarygoal istoevolveCornerstone'sstoryandbringittothemasses viasocialmediaplatforms.I'mlookingforwardto helpingpeoplebetterunderstandwhatweareabout,why wearehere,andthemissionathand.Outsideofthat,I wouldsaytheadditionalgoalistohelpourloanofficers continuetobuildtheirbrandandberelevantinthismarket cycle.

Whatadvicewouldyouliketogivethenextgeneration ofaspiringbusinessleaders?

Bebold,becourageous,andalignyourselfwithreallygreat people.Whenyoucollaborateandtapintothesuperpower andskillsetofthosearoundyou,that,combinedwitha leader'svision,iswherebusinessesaregoing.Those businessleaderswhoareboldenoughtothinkdifferently, havethecouragetogoaftersomethingthat'sneverbeen createdanddothingsmorestreamlinedwillsucceed.It'sthe currentwaveofthefutureandinspiringtome.

Inthefast-pacedandcompetitivemortgageindustry,

effectiveleadershipiscrucialfordrivingsuccessand ensuringorganizationalgrowth.Leadersinthisfield mustpossessauniquesetofskillsandstrategiestonavigate thecomplexitiesoftheindustry,inspiretheirteams,and achieveexceptionalresults.Thisarticleexploreskey principlesandstrategiesthatcontributetoeffective leadershipinthemortgageindustry,providinginsightsand guidanceforprofessionalslookingtoexcelintheirroles.

VisionaryLeadership

:

Effectiveleadersinthemortgageindustryhaveaclear visionofwheretheywanttheirorganizationtogo.They developacompellingvisionstatementthatalignswiththe company'svaluesandlong-termgoals.Byeffectively communicatingthisvisiontotheirteam,leaderscreatea senseofpurposeandinspirecommitment.Avisionary leadermotivatestheirteamtoworktowardsacommongoal andadaptstheirstrategiestomeettheever-evolvingneeds oftheindustry

AdaptabilityandAgility:

Leadersinthemortgageindustrymustbeadaptableand agileinresponsetochangingmarketconditions,regulatory requirements,andcustomerdemands.Theystayinformed aboutindustrytrends,technologyadvancements,andpolicy changestoproactivelyadjusttheirstrategies.Byfosteringa cultureofflexibilityandencouraginginnovativethinking, leaderscannavigatechallengesandseizeopportunitiesas theyarise.

BuildingHigh-performingTeams:

Oneofthehallmarksofeffectiveleadershipinthemortgage industryistheabilitytobuildandnurturehigh-performing teams.Leadersshouldfocusonhiringtoptalent,creatinga diverseandinclusiveworkenvironment,andproviding ongoingtraininganddevelopmentopportunities.They empowertheirteammembers,delegateresponsibilities,and encouragecollaborationtomaximizeindividualstrengths andcreateacohesiveunitthatdeliversexceptionalresults.

EffectiveCommunication:

Communicationisafundamentalaspectofeffective leadership.Mortgageindustryleadersmustbeskilled communicators,capableofconveyingcomplexinformation clearlyandconcisely.Theyactivelylistentotheirteam members,clients,andstakeholders,ensuringopenand

transparentcommunicationchannels.Leadersshouldfoster aculturethatencouragesfeedback,addressesconcerns,and promoteseffectivecollaborationthroughoutthe organization.

EthicalandResponsibleLeadership:

Integrityandethicalconductarecriticalforeffective leadershipinthemortgageindustry.Leadersmustadhereto industryregulationsandethicalstandards,ensuringfairand transparentpractices.Bysettinganexampleofethical behaviorandinstillingacultureofintegrity,leadersbuild trustandcredibilitywithintheirorganizationsandwith clients.Theymakedecisionsthatalignwiththebest interestsoftheirclients,employees,andstakeholders, fosteringlong-termrelationshipsandsustainablegrowth.

ContinuousLearningandProfessionalDevelopment:

Leadershipdevelopmentisanongoingprocess,and effectiveleadersinthemortgageindustryprioritize continuouslearningandprofessionaldevelopment.They stayinformedaboutindustrytrends,attendconferencesand seminars,andseekoutopportunitiesforpersonalgrowth. Byinvestingintheirowndevelopment,leaderscanstay aheadofthecurve,adapttoindustrychanges,andinspire theirteamstoembracealearningmindset.

Effectiveleadershipinthemortgageindustryrequiresa combinationofvisionarythinking,adaptability,team building,effectivecommunication,ethicalconduct,anda commitmenttocontinuouslearning.Byincorporatingthese strategiesintotheirleadershipapproach,professionalscan navigatethechallengesoftheindustry,inspiretheirteams, anddrivesuccessfortheirorganizations.Ultimately, effectiveleadershipsetsthefoundationforsustainable growthandlong-termsuccessinthedynamicandeverevolvingmortgageindustry

Leadershipskillsplayacrucialroleinthemortgage

industry,whereprofessionalsaretaskedwith guidingclientsthroughthecomplexprocessof securingloansfortheirdreamhomes.Theabilitytolead andinspireateam,makestrategicdecisions,andadaptto theever-changingmarketdynamicsisparamountfor successinthisfield.Thisarticleexploresthekeyaspectsof developingleadershipskillsinthemortgageindustry, providingaroadmaptohelpprofessionalsexcelintheir rolesandnavigatethechallengestheymayencounter.

EmbraceContinuousLearning:

Leadershipdevelopmentstartswithacommitmentto lifelonglearning.Mortgageindustryleadersmuststay abreastofthelatesttrends,regulations,andtechnological advancementsshapingtheindustry.Attendconferences, seminars,andworkshopstoexpandyourknowledgebase andencourageyourteamtodothesame.Bycontinuously learningandupdatingyourskills,you'llbebetterequipped tomakeinformeddecisionsandleadeffectively

CultivateEffectiveCommunication:

Communicationisthebedrockofsuccessfulleadership.As amortgageindustryleader,youneedtocommunicate clearlyandeffectivelywithclients,teammembers,and stakeholders.Developactivelisteningskills,learnto articulateideasconcisely,andfosteranopenand transparentcommunicationculturewithinyourteam. Regularlyprovideconstructivefeedback,activelyseek inputfromothers,andensureeveryoneunderstandsthe visionandgoalsoftheorganization.

FosteraCollaborativeCulture:

Inthemortgageindustry,teamworkisessentialfor achievingsharedgoals.Asaleader,itisyourresponsibility tofosteracollaborativeenvironmentwhereindividualscan thriveandcontributetheirbest.Encourageteamwork, establishclearrolesandresponsibilities,andpromotea cultureofmutualrespectandsupport.Byleveragingthe strengthsofeachteammember,youcancreateacohesive unitthatdeliversexceptionalresults.

DevelopStrategicThinking:

Leadersinthemortgageindustrymustpossessstrategic thinkingabilitiestonavigatearapidlychanginglandscape. Stayinformedabouteconomictrends,marketconditions, andregulatorychangesthatmayimpacttheindustry

Anticipatechallengesandproactivelydevelopstrategiesto addressthem.Fosteranenvironmentthatencourages innovationandcreativeproblem-solvingandempoweryour teamtothinkcriticallyandproposesolutions.

LeadbyExample:

Leadershipisnotjustaboutdelegatingtasks;itisabout settinganexampleforotherstofollow.Demonstrate integrity,accountability,andprofessionalisminyourwork. Beaccessibleandapproachableandshowempathytowards yourteammembersandclients.Byembodyingthe qualities,youexpectfromothers,youinspiretrustand loyalty,andyourteamwillbemotivatedtoperformattheir best.

InvestinLeadershipDevelopmentPrograms:

Takeadvantageofleadershipdevelopmentprograms tailoredspecificallyforthemortgageindustry These programsprovidevaluableinsights,training,and networkingopportunitiestoenhanceyourleadershipskills. Seekoutindustryassociations,professionaldevelopment organizations,andreputabletrainingprovidersthatoffer programsfocusedonleadershipinthemortgageindustry. Byinvestinginyourprofessionalgrowth,youposition yourselfforlong-termsuccess.

Developingleadershipskillsinthemortgageindustryisa continuousjourneythatrequiresacommitmenttolearning, effectivecommunication,collaboration,strategicthinking, andleadingbyexample.

Byembracingthesekeyaspectsandinvestinginyour development,youcannavigatethechallengesofthe industry,inspireyourteam,anddrivesuccessinyour organization.Remember,leadershipisnotjustabout personalachievementbutalsoaboutempoweringothersto reachtheirfullpotential.