00:10I'm Allison LaForgia, and today on this episode of 10 Minute Talks, I'm sitting down with Laura
00:16Hopkins, the SVP of Memberships, Meetings, and Empower at the Mortgage Bankers Association.
00:22Laura, thank you for joining me today.
00:25Oh, my pleasure.
00:27So we have an exciting thing to talk about.
00:31Empower is celebrating 10 years, which is amazing.
00:36First question, what's changed most for women in the industry?
00:41Well, I think what has changed most is that more women are visible as leaders.
00:47We're connected to one another, and we're really advocating for ourselves now and for other women.
00:54So I think we've gotten very comfortable in doing that.
00:58We're increasingly represented among originations, senior roles in operations and technology and capital markets.
01:07I think there's definitely opportunity still in the C-suite.
01:12So it's not exactly reflecting women's representation, but we are making huge strides.
01:21Now, Empower You 2026 is coming up right around the corner, October 10th.
01:27What do you want attendees to take away from this year's event?
01:31Oh, gosh, I'm super excited about this year.
01:36I'm excited every year, but I'm especially excited.
01:38This year, we're diving deep into hands-on workshop and AI.
01:47We're talking a lot about high functional depression.
01:53So a lot of us are high performers, highly motivated, take the initiative, always have a smile on our face,
02:02always willing to say yes.
02:04But there's another side to that.
02:06So we're exploring that as well.
02:08And then, of course, we have a great featured speaker, Hoda Kotb, talking about joy.
02:15And then the other piece, what I really want people to take away from so they'll have actionable items.
02:22But I really want them to take away the feeling of unity in the community and support.
02:29We're celebrating this year our inaugural Empower Visionary Award, where we had 67 nominees all across the industry,
02:40nominated by each other and co-workers and advocates.
02:47And so it's going to be a very beautiful celebration of each other.
02:52So I want people to feel like they have a deep support network, even if it was their first time.
03:02I love the positioning that I've seen, not just in your answer, but online around the Empower events,
03:11connecting, learning, lifting each other up and leaving feeling inspired.
03:15And I feel like that's something that I would love to see more and more of in the industry.
03:20And it brings me to something that I feel like kind of can get lost, especially in mortgage finance.
03:28And that is what women supporting women actually looks like in practice.
03:35Yeah.
03:36And that is that's a that's a very popular topic that we all talk about as women and and men
03:44talk about it, too.
03:45And what does that really mean?
03:46We have to support each other, but and we do, but we need to take it a step further and
03:53really intentionally make those introductions to important people,
03:59to that particular person or woman that you're friends with or colleagues, bringing them.
04:06We talk a lot about mentorship.
04:08And I just did another interview the other day, and we talked a lot about bringing other people to the
04:15table,
04:16not only giving them a seat at the table, but bringing them along with with us and and feeling that
04:24there's enough room for all of us.
04:27So there's plenty of opportunity and and putting each other's names forward when we hear of opportunities and really supporting
04:37each other,
04:38not only in times of need.
04:40We're always there for each other, but really thinking forward, building your teams, having a succession plan that include other
04:49qualified women just really focusing in on intentionality.
04:54Now, in an earlier answer, you were talking about some of the ways and new launches that you've had this
05:00year with this year's event.
05:02Why was it so important to take a broader approach to this year's programming?
05:08So Marsha Davies built this unbelievable platform, and it is super, super strong.
05:1810,000 women and men are part of the organization.
05:23And so we went through this evolution of women in the workplace, women advocating for themselves.
05:31And now we have we have a great foundation.
05:34I have been talking to many people.
05:38I've had my own little working group.
05:40And then and the next step is really giving ourselves the tools to.
05:46Grow in our positions and really to be leaders in the industry and to position ourselves.
05:55In ways where we can help shape the industry.
05:59So I think we're just continuing to grow as as a as females and also as a community.
06:09So we just keep evolving and listen to what our members of the community want.
06:17And now they want help strategizing with resources.
06:22They want help with like using the actual tools when we talk about technology.
06:28So just giving the people what they want and what we need.
06:33That is fantastic.
06:35And as you look at people who really especially women who really want to grow and advance their careers and
06:41take on more leadership roles.
06:44Where do you see some of the biggest opportunities for women in real estate finance right now?
06:54This is my opinion, but I think our biggest opportunity right now are in the areas that are shaping the
07:01future of the industry, like technology and AI, capital markets and executive leadership.
07:08So we shouldn't only have a seat at the table, but we should really be helping determine where leadership goes
07:19with AI, where the next industry trend is going and getting involved in in those decisions and policy making.
07:29And I do see that, but I think it's a great opportunity with the evolving technology we have, too, in
07:38in our industry.
07:40So I think really focusing in on those future and foundational areas of mortgage where we've always been very strong
07:50in kind of the back office and the operations and the supporting roles.
07:56And we are continuing to step out in the front there at those at those tables.
08:07But I think that's the biggest opportunity that we have.
08:11Now, there has been so much conversation and so much excitement from women in the industry about this year's event.
08:19I love to see more and more people talking about Empower.
08:23What advice would you give to somebody who's attending Empower for the first time?
08:28Yeah, that that can be overwhelming in a way.
08:34And I've been thinking a lot about this, too.
08:36So it's a great question.
08:38We have people that come by themselves and then we have people who come in groups and have been coming
08:43since the inception of Empower.
08:45So my advice would be to receive what is coming at you because you will have many women who are
08:56reaching out to you, who are introducing themselves there.
09:00We sit in tables.
09:01So you've got a great opportunity to kind of network and meet the people right beside you.
09:09But my biggest advice is just be open and ready to receive what's coming at you because you will be
09:18included and and try not to be intimidated by the groups because it is a very inclusive atmosphere.
09:28But it can be somewhat overwhelming.
09:31And definitely, if you see me, pull me aside and let me know it's your first time.
09:36We also have a lot of MBA staffers that will be there, too.
09:40So make it known that it's your first time, too.
09:44So we can really give you a warm, comfortable welcome.
09:47Well, thank you so much for sitting down with me on this episode of 10 Minute Talks.
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