I genuinely didn’t see this coming.
I recently found out that I’d been recognised in Mortgage Introducer’s Global 100 list of the World’s 100 Best Mortgage Leaders. Needless to say, I’m grateful, a bit surprised, and yes, quietly chuffed.
As Mortgage Introducer explains:
‘The seventh annual Global 100 report spotlights the best mortgage leaders worldwide. This formidable list of talented professions was compiled by Mortgage Professional America and its sister publications, Canadian Mortgage Professional, Mortgage Introducer, Mortgage Professional Australia, and NZ Adviser. The teams collectively deal with thousands of mortgage professionals throughout the year, and this unrivalled insight was leveraged to reduce the industry’s high achievers to just 100.’
But here’s the honest bit.
Being on the list itself is amazing, but after years of being in this business I know what truly matters.
It’s the company culture, the people I work with daily, and the great work we deliver. More importantly, the decisions one makes when the market’s moving under your feet and there isn’t a neat playbook to follow.
The Global 100 isn’t one type of leader, and that’s the point.
When you scroll through the Global 100, you realise there is no single ‘leadership mould’. You get lots of different leadership styles, across different geographies, business models, and markets.
And that’s what stood out.
It’s not a list of people who all do the same thing. It’s a clear snapshot of the industry moving forward, driven by leaders who tend to share a few common habits:
- They shape standards and don’t take shortcuts.
- They back brokers with action, not words.
- They build through change when things get tough.
- They know how to use their voice well, to cut through the noise and push the conversation forward.
If you work in mortgages, you’ll know exactly what I mean. There can be a lot of talk without follow up. The real difference comes from the people doing the unglamorous stuff properly, consistently.
A few global names I’m proud to be recognised alongside
There were a few names I’d like to tell you about on the list that really stood out for me. They have different approaches, but the same underlying focus: to do the work properly.
- Tanya Elmaz (Together) - she’s a specialist lending leader who has built her career on credibility and consistency.
- Simon Bednar (Finsure) - his drive in global distribution and aggregator influence is well worth following.
- Mat Ishbia (UWM) - for his ability to scale, his advocacy, and relentless broker-first leadership.
- Brendan McKay (Broker Action Coalition) - because of his stance on public industry advocacy and determination to raise standards.
- Cory Bannister (La Trobe Financial) - for his non-bank lending leadership through cycles.
- Helen Carter (Barclays) - because she’s a driver of UK intermediary engagement and makes an impact when it comes to distribution.
- Jonathan Stinton (Coventry Building Society) - because he has a long-standing influence in the broker ecosystem.
If I zoom out, this doesn’t feel like a snapshot in a ‘moment’; it feels like a reflection of the last few years of building through uncertainty.
Uncertainty like:
- you’re making decisions without perfect information.
- the obvious answer isn’t always the right one.
- the pressure and responsibility are real.
- your team needs clarity even when you’re still working it out yourself.
Does that resonate with you?
In my opinion, that’s where leadership becomes less about big statements and more about getting the basics right.
Like, backing people, staying transparent, and thinking long term when the short term is noisy. More importantly, keeping standards high when it’s tempting to lower them.
It’s not glamorous. Just necessary.
Impact over noise
Mortgage Introducer describes the Global 100 as recognising professionals who are ‘making a positive difference and helping drive change across the industry’. I couldn’t agree more, because in this industry, we don’t need more noise. We need more people who are serious about doing the work properly.
So, thank you to Mortgage Introducer for the recognition, and for shining a light on leadership that’s driving impact.
I’m proud of this moment, and I’m committed to what comes next.