“Mentorship is also incredibly important,” Shelton said. “Many women thrive when they have guidance and support as they grow in their careers. The organizations that help collaborate instead of compete tend to see more women step into leadership roles.”
As the percentage of women grows in the industry, Shelton said it has been important to get into higher-profile positions to have more influence over the future of the industry.
“We had this conversation for a long time, of women wanting a seat at the table,” she said. “Well, we’re 46% of the entire mortgage industry, and so we have a seat at the table. So now, what do we do with it? I think that seeing more women in leadership and having more women mentors just creates an environment for other women to feel confident.”
The industry has changed significantly since Shelton began as a broker. Now, there are women across the landscape of the largest companies holding critical leadership roles.
“I think when I started, there weren’t many women in leadership roles that you could look up to,” Shelton said. “Now we are seeing some of the greatest women, like Melinda Wilner and Sarah DeCiantis at UWM, who lead in huge positions at the number one lender in America. What is better for women than to look at other women who have carved their space in this industry?”
