By National Mortgage Professional
Recognizing the female powerhouses as forces in the mortgage industry
Influencer, Innovator, Visionary — those three words can be used to describe National Mortgage Professional Magazine’s 2023 Mortgage Lending Women of Inspiration.
What sets them apart is they are pushing women forward in a male-dominated industry. They fight against inequality and make women’s voices in the mortgage business louder, stronger, and more impactful. These 17 women of inspiration are driven to innovate and they spur the creativity and passion of those around them and their achievements highlight their strength, passion, and intelligence.
In the following pages, we recognize female powerhouses who, through their personal achievements, advocacy and influence, highlight women as forces in the mortgage industry.
Chelsea Balak
VP of Operations
wemlo
Boca Raton, Fla.
What factors impact a woman’s ability to lead others?
Things that can hinder the ability to lead can include second-guessing yourself or your skills. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, it will be difficult to gain the trust of your employees and colleagues. Prepare, be confident in your ability, and don’t be afraid to fail. Finally, just remember that you CAN have it all. You can be a great mom and partner while having a flourishing career.
What advice would you give to those just getting started in the mortgage industry?
Always say yes when an opportunity to learn presents itself. To succeed in the mortgage industry, you must have a hunger for learning and the ability to evolve quickly. Step out of your comfort zone and explore different roles, find what you do and don’t like, then figure out how that fits within your professional goals.
What’s changed for you the most since you joined the mortgage industry?
When I entered the field, someone would have to mentor you because training resources were slim to none. Educational opportunities and resources available to newcomers and veterans alike have increased exponentially.
What significant changes would you like to see from the mortgage industry in 2023?
Looking forward to seeing continued growth of the wholesale brokerage channel. Wholesale offers a marketplace of rates allowing consumers to pick a loan that best fits their needs all while working with a mortgage expert in their community.
What has been your biggest accomplishment as a mortgage professional?
I am proud of the work I’ve done building a business (wemlo) that empowers loan processors with education and fosters a culture of collaboration. Since I joined wemlo in 2019, the company has experienced 164% growth in full-time staff.
Just remember that you CAN have it all. You can be a great mom and partner while having a flourishing career.
Read the story on National Mortgage Professional here.