Elite Women 2022

Charting a different path

Authoritative yet participative. Demanding yet caring. Professional yet approachable. If these paradoxes sound familiar, then you are probably one of the millions of women trying to succeed in a man’s world.  

Women face the constant need to be both tough and nice, and this is where the struggle to be seen as leaders begin. In the corporate space, female leaders are held to higher standards than their male counterparts. Why? Because of ingrained rules that favor what are traditionally considered masculine working styles. When people think of managers or executives, they think of men.  

Elite Women think differently. They don’t let unconscious biases trap them in a mould. They break the rules and work to make the mortgage industry more inclusive for all people, no matter their gender identity.  

As MPA celebrates the 67 women who made the 2022 Elite Women list, it is timely to take stock of the gender inequality in leadership and how women are continuously challenging societal expectations stacked against them. 

“I can’t imagine a workplace where men and women don’t co-exist, co-influence, and co-lead”
Katherine Campbell, Assurance Financial 

Walking a fine line 

Elite Woman Katie Sweeney describes herself as someone who has a more traditionally masculine personality – assertive, decisive, and willing to take risks and initiative. But because of these traits, the AIME chief executive is sometimes worried about being judged as too bossy or too opinionated. Often, she has to seesaw between being seen as likable but inconsequential or capable but harsh – a classic case of the “double bind” predicament. 

Catalyst, a nonprofit advocating for women’s progress in the workplace, depicted the double-bind dilemma this way: When women take charge, they are viewed as competent leaders but disliked. When women take care, they are liked but perceived as less effective leaders. As a result, female leaders are held to a higher standard of competency and often reap smaller rewards than men. This raises the question, do women have to be masculine to succeed in the mortgage industry? 

“I will never shrink myself or water down my personality to make others more comfortable, but I am very self-aware and make an effort to understand the best ways to engage with others based on their needs,” Sweeney says. “Being competitive or communicating directly doesn’t mean I can’t lead with empathy and kindness; it simply takes a little effort.” 

On the other hand, Katherine Campbell, chief digital officer of Assurance Financial, leans toward the feminine leadership style, which is more democratic, nurturing, and collaborative. Campbell describes her approach as being based on the “goddess principles,” which she claims have been historically proven by women since the beginning of time.  

“I let the men be men, which is why I think I work well with them,” she Campbell. “I am in awe at times with their ability to be more black and white and less gray. I greatly admire that strength, particularly when difficult decisions need to be made. I can’t imagine a workplace where men and women don’t co-exist, co-influence, and co-lead.” 

“To be good at maintaining balance in your work and personal life, you must decide what is best for you”
Julie Wink-Davies, Xactus 

A balancing act

Delving deeper into gender-based differences, Julie Wink-Davies, EVP of client success at fintech firm Xactus, noticed a common thread in women’s leadership styles: their inherent ability to maintain balance. 

“Traditionally speaking, there are certain areas where women are particularly effective – balancing workloads and multitasking. We’re pretty much wired that way. This is especially true if you are a working mother – you have a lot more to balance and don’t have much of a choice,” Wink-Davies tells MPA. “I saw this firsthand when my mom went back to work when I was in 8th grade and saw how she balanced everything – making meals, managing schedules, overseeing schoolwork – all of that.” 

While women are naturally good at balancing life, Wink-Davies confessed that it’s not her strong suit and pointed out that there are tradeoffs. “To be good at maintaining balance in your work and personal life, you must decide what is best for you – and oftentimes that means what is best for you right now,” she says. 

Another barrier the 2022 Elite Woman faced was the ongoing struggle to get a silent partner to invest in the technology of her former company, Data Facts. 

“It was holding the company back, and I could plainly see it. However, once we bought him out, we were able to ensure we continually invested in the company’s technological capabilities so it could grow faster than our competitors,” Wink-Davies shares. 

Like Wink-Davies, Campbell followed her instincts and intuition to navigate power structures.  

“Power is a funny word,” she explains. “It means very different things to different people. If you accomplish a goal by yourself, you realize you have power. If you accomplish it with a team, you’re empowering. However, the goal itself is the VALUE of power. Do you value power over people or enabling people? What is it that you’re trying to accomplish? Navigating power structures means having a very clear goal of what you’re trying to achieve.” 

“You were given a seat at the table for a reason. Own it”
Katie Sweeney, AIME 

Leading distinctively

“We work in an industry that is constantly changing,” says Wink-Davies. “That’s why it is important to stay true to yourself – know what you like to do and what you don’t want to do. 

“For those in a hiring position – it’s only natural to want to hire people like us. But at the end of the day, for a company to be successful – you must be open to understanding different people, personalities and perspectives,” she adds. 

Nationwide Appraisal Network CEO and Elite Woman Joni Pilgrim shares Wink-Davies’ sentiments. Pilgrim believes there is nothing more important than keeping your finger on the pulse of your people. 

“You have to know where the challenges are, where there are efficiency breakdowns, who needs more support or training, who’s ready to grow in their career. When you have a clear vision of where you are going, you know exactly who you need to be at the table with you,” she says. “I’m a big proponent of promoting from within, and when I see the passion and desire and consistency in a team member, then I know that is who I want at my table.” 

“Many women know what it feels like to be marginalized, so it’s critical to be mindful of other marginalized groups, especially in the housing industry,” Sweeney adds. “You were given a seat at the table for a reason. Own it.” 

Times are changing. Biases are breaking down, and society is starting to shed its unfair perception of women. The less we think of leaders as alpha males, the easier it will be for women to shatter the glass ceiling and for our unconscious minds to recognize them as competent leaders. 

Campbell shared a personal mantra she wrote a couple of years ago: “Today, you have nothing to prove. But, every day, there is something to improve.” 

  • Abbie Jefferis
    Mortgage Loan Officer
    New England Federal Credit Union
  • Amberlynn Boyle
    Sales Manager
    Network Capital Funding
  • Amy K Slotnick
    Regional SVP
    Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
  • Anna Pitcock
    Loan Officer
    Stockton Mortgage
  • Carolina Moreno
    Residential Mortgage Loan Officer
    TexasBank
  • Chelsea Balak
    VP of Operations
    wemlo
  • Cheryl Braunschweiger
    VP of Professional Development and Coaching
    Producing Loan Officer
    Universal Lending
  • Chris Harrington
    President & Co-Founder
    Usherpa
  • Crystal Batts
    Loan Officer
    Palmetto State Home Mortgage
  • Danielle Young
    Loan officer, SVP
    Guaranteed Rate Mortgage
  • Denise Fitzpatrick
    Mortgage Originator
    Guaranteed Rate
  • Dianne Crosby
    Regional Manager and SVP of Mortgage Lending
    Guaranteed Rate
  • Donna Krall
    EVP, Mortgage Operations Director
    Flagstar Bank
  • Elizabeth Sicre
    Broker
    Motto Mortgage
  • Eloise Schmitz
    CEO and Co-Founder
    LoanNEX
  • Erin Carvelli
    Loan Officer, Team Lead
    Shore Mortgage Team, Greenway Mortgage
  • Giselle Bonzi
    President
    Washington Capital Partners
  • Heather Craig
    Loan Officer
    Ideal Lending Solutions, a division of American Financial Network
  • Heather Mitchell
    SVP of Business Development
    Lower LLC
  • Jennifer Corcoran
    SVP of National Operations
    Caliber Home Loans
  • Jess Rodas
    Sales Manager/Loan Officer
    Academy Mortgage – The Rodas Team
  • Joni Pilgrim
    Chief Executive Officer
    Nationwide Appraisal Network
  • Julia Brown
    VP of Corporate Development
    Lower LLC
  • Julie Velasco
    Senior Loan Officer
    Network Funding LP
  • Julie Wink-Davis
    Executive Vice President
    Xactus
  • Kari Anderson
    Branch Manager
    Oceans Lending
  • Katherine Campbell
    Chief Digital Officer
    Assurance Mortgage
  • Katherine Sweeney
    Chief Executive Officer
    Association of Independent Mortgage Experts
  • Kathy Wentworth
    Senior Loan Officer
    Leader Bank
  • Kelly Gill
    VP, Marketing & Advertising
    Motto Mortgage
  • Kimberly Callas
    EVP, Chief Operating Officer
    CMG Financial
  • Kristi Hardy
    SVP, Sales Manager, Senior Loan Officer
    Atlantic Coast Mortgage
  • Kristina Cornejo
    Senior Loan Officer
    CrossCountry Mortgage
  • Kristy Fercho
    Head of Home Lending
    Wells Fargo
  • Laura Brandao
    Chief Growth Officer and Partner
    Equity Prime Mortgage
  • Leslie Garner
    SVP of Sales
    InstaMortgage
  • Leslie Herring
    Loan Consultant
    Caliber Home Loans
  • Leslie Moss
    Expert Loan Lady
    Vintage Lending
  • Lorie Helms
    Chief Technology Officer
    Cherry Creek Mortgage
  • Louann Bernstone
    Managing Direct, Head of Vendor Management
    Promontory MortgagePath
  • Marissa French and Margo Krogulsk
    Co-Founders
    People’s Home Equity
  • Mary Ann McGarry
    Chief Executive Officer
    Guild Mortgage
  • Melinda McPherson
    Chief Financial Officer
    Applied Business Software
  • Micaela Lumpkin
    Chief Credit Officer
    CoreVest Finance
  • Michele Zachensky
    Chief Operating Officer
    Reverse Mortgage Funding
  • Michelle Bruto da Costa
    Branch Manager/Mortgage Loan Officer
    Homebridge
  • Natalie Arshakian
    Director of LockCentral
    Mortgage Capital Trading
  • Nicole Hanrahan
    VP of Technology Education and Engagement
    Cherry Creek Mortgage
  • Patricia Arvielo
    President and Co-Founder
    New American Funding
  • Patty Wills
    National Retail Sales Manager, Reverse Mortgage Division
    Open Mortgage
  • Pinky Shah
    Mortgage Strategist
    Fairway Mortgage
  • Roxana Davidoff
    Founder and CEO
    Big Purple Dot
  • Sara Knochel
    CEO of Data and Analytics
    Candor
  • Sophie Kim
    SVP, People and Culture
    CIVIC Financial Services
  • Stacey Maisano
    Director of Business Development
    Polunsky Beitel Green
  • Susan Naftulin
    President and Co-Founder
    Rehab Financial Group
  • Susan Pomilia
    Regional Manager
    Supreme Lending
  • Susan Rindahl
    Chief Operations Officer
    LHM Financial
  • Susan Stewart
    Chief Executive Officer
    SWBC Mortgage
  • Tabitha Mazzara
    Director of Operations
    MBANC
  • Tai Christensen
    DEI Officer, Director of Government Affairs
    CBC Mortgage Agency
  • Tamika Donahue
    Branch Manager
    Academy Mortgage Corporation
  • Tawn Kelley
    President
    Taylor Morrison Home Funding
  • Terri Larson
    VP of Operations
    Motto Mortgage
  • Trish Maraski
    Vice President, Operations
    Sourcepoint
  • Vicky Reese
    Senior Loan Originator
    Caliber Home Loans

Mortgage Professional America invited industry professionals from across the country to nominate exceptional female leaders for the sixth annual Elite Women list. Nominees had to be working in a role that related to, interacted with, or in some way impacted the industry and should have demonstrated a clear passion for their work. 

Nominators were asked to describe the nominee’s standout professional achievements over the past 12 months, along with their contributions to diversity and inclusion in the industry and how they’ve given back through volunteer roles and charity work. Recommendations from managers and senior industry professionals were also taken into account. 

After a thorough review of all the nominations, the MPA team narrowed down the list to the final 67 Elite Women who have made their mark on the industry. 

Comments are closed.