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For the sixth time, HousingWire is recognizing women leading out in our industry in mortgage lending, servicing, investing and real estate with our Women of Influence award.
Although these 43 women represent a range of occupations within the housing economy, all of them demonstrate leadership that inspires those in their own company, in their communities and in the industry at large.
Some of our 2016 award winners have worked their way up in traditional mortgage companies, while others started their own businesses. They have made their mark in marketing, technology, economics, compliance, asset management, operations and business development. Their fields of accomplishments vary but their impact is indisputable.
Reading through this year’s nominations, one of the things that stood out about our winners is their tremendous value to the companies they run, or work for. This value comes not only from the job duties they perform — although those were impressive on their own merits — but also in the way they lead and mentor others within their companies.
Many of our winners mentor other women in the industry, run internship programs for college students or work with business groups in disadvantaged areas. Others coordinated volunteer programs for their employees or served on advisory boards that inform the industry. Investing time and effort to see others succeed is a hallmark of this group, and should be celebrated in its own right.
We’re happy to do just that, and invite you to find out more about each of these winners, the most influential women in housing. FIND THE FULL LIST HERE
As CEO of the National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses, Desiree Patno champions the contributions women are making in the industry and works to support and sustain women-owned businesses.
As part of that effort, Patno created the Women’s Global Resource Center to connect women in housing with a depository of vendors and clients to increase opportunities for inclusion at all levels. She also created the Women in Housing Financial Fitness Road Show, partnering with the Small Business Administration to increase business growth and opportunities.
Patno led NAWRB’s Women’s Homeownership Initiative, dedicated to preparing women for owning a home and improving data collection for women’s homeownership. By increasing women’s homeownership throughout the nation, NAWRB is helping decrease women’s poverty and cement women’s personal and professional strides.
Patno also filled a pivotal role in creating conversation between the FDIC, CFPB, FHFA and SBA regarding housing issues and the manners in which they could best serve and aid consumers.
In addition, Patno created NAWRB Magazine, an international publication featuring exclusive interviews, business development tools, access to capital and market studies, in addition to federal initiatives and legislation updates affecting the housing economy’s women.
She also made history for women with NAWRB’s inaugural conference as she interviewed Dodd-Frank’s Section 342 author, Rep. Maxine Waters, and associated OMWI executive directors. She brought women-owned small businesses full circle by featuring Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae supplier diversity, financial institutions and several of the agencies associated with the Small Business Administration, including the oversight of the use of small businesses.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Selected Economic Characteristics, based on 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 30.9 percent of American families headed by women with no husband present are below the poverty level. As women make advancements in the American workforce—by progressing to executive roles, achieving higher pay and eliminating longstanding barriers—the percentage of women householders living in poverty will decrease accordingly, and as this progress occurs, it is important to secure it with tangible assets.