My alarm goes off…
…between 5am and 6am — my alarm being my 18-month-old daughter, who determines much of my daily schedule. I then spend time getting us both ready for the day ahead.
I wanted to work in the mortgage industry because…
…I never saw myself working in the industry until I joined.
When I graduated from university I was working in a retail job where I was approached by a recruitment agency with a role at Coventry Building Society.
Until that point I had never considered working in financial services, let alone the mortgage market. To my surprise I was offered the job on the same day as my interview, and I have now been with the society for nine years!
The programme took me out of my comfort zone and gave me new perspectives on leadership
Something that surprised me about my job was…
…how varied it was. I’ve been at Coventry BS since 2014 and a large part of why I have stayed is the variety the job provides.
I love that my role is fast paced, I get to work with different departments and there’s always a challenge to tackle.
My typical day entails…
…a key part of my role is managing the mortgage book. I like to keep an eye on the numbers as they inform my decision making for the rest of the working day. I then check in with my team on various tasks, including forecasting, portfolio management and proposition development.
It is often thought there are fewer opportunities and roles for women in finance, but it couldn’t be further from the case
It’s also important to check how competitors and the wider market are behaving, and I find being prepared for any possible curve balls is vital.
A perk of the job is…
…one main perk is the people at Coventry BS. I’ve worked across a number of roles at the company and I can honestly say I haven’t met anyone I don’t like.
A large part of why I have stayed is the variety the job provides
Another perk is the society as a whole. While being fast paced, the environment is both supportive and fun, which fits me perfectly. I love that my job allows me to keep up with the mortgage market. I find the finer, granular workings and how rates work especially interesting.
I am often privy to valuable information. This helps me to make financial decisions at home as well as at work.
A misconception about my role is…
…that it’s boring, but this applies to many roles in the industry.
I get to work with different departments and there’s always a challenge to tackle
Similarly, it is often thought there are fewer opportunities and roles for women in finance, but it couldn’t be further from the case. I work with women in different areas of the business every day, so I would really like to dispel this myth and encourage more women to explore opportunities in the sector.
My favourite work memory is…
…I’ve had so many fun memories at Coventry BS that it’s difficult to pin down just one.
Aside from all the laughs with the team, I was nominated for a leadership development programme designed to both prepare and enable the growth of future leaders. It is still one of my proudest achievements at the society and I enjoyed meeting and building relations with people from different areas of the business.
Although the programme took me out of my comfort zone, it gave me new perspectives on leadership and helped me become the leader I am today — although I’m still working on that!
I find being prepared for any possible curve balls is vital
Another core memory is of the Mortgage Sleepout. The charity event highlighted the challenges faced by homeless people, and put into context the importance of homeownership and how lucky we were to support our borrowers in that.
To unwind after work, I…
…spend time with my daughter and take my dog, Buddy the beagle, for a walk. My daughter is heading towards two years old and her personality is starting to come out. Buddy is a funny character too, so it’s never boring in my house.
A key part of my role is managing the mortgage book. I like to keep an eye on the numbers
Before I had my daughter, I enjoyed Friday night yoga sessions to wind down before going to live music events.
This article featured in the March 2023 edition of MS.
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