Event chair thanks speakers for an “awesome” day of insightful discussions
The first ever Women in Mortgage and Finance Summit concluded yesterday, and attendees heard from a vast range of speakers from across the industry who shared some deeply personal stories, as well as their thoughts on resilience, career growth, mental health and digital innovation.
The summit was chaired by Mike Pero network sales manager Colleen Dennehy, and supported by event partner Bluestone Home Loans. Financial Advice New Zealand CEO Katrina Shanks started off the day with an inspiring keynote, where she discussed her career journey as a leader within the industry, and how that journey had shaped her drive to make a difference in the lives of New Zealanders.
Attendees also heard from speakers from New Zealand’s largest banks, as well as its small mortgage businesses. Mental health was a key theme throughout the day, and many speakers noted just how important it is to discuss mental health in a fast-paced, high pressure industry.
Read more: Speakers gear up for first ever Women in Mortgage and Finance event
“Mental health is really important because in this industry, it’s something that we’ve all experienced,” The Mortgage Girls co-founder Elyce Peters said.
“We all know what it’s like when you get to the end of the day, and you’ve still got 46 emails in your inbox and you still have something else to do. In our organisation, we find it really, really important that you have something else you can do that will take your mind off things, and do something other than just work 24/7.”
Michelle Russell, head of talent and culture at ANZ said that leaders in the finance industry have a vital role to play when it comes to encouraging the mental health conversation, as well as modelling good practices themselves.
“We have 8,000 staff in New Zealand, and we’re also part of a global business,” Russell said.
Read more: Report calls on small businesses to focus on wellbeing initiatives
“Mental health, for us, falls under health, safety and wellbeing, and listening to all the conversations today - the part that I can influence within my organisation is about leadership. Mental health is all about managing the things that could trigger issues or stress at work, and it’s ultimately about the role that leaders can play to encourage that.”
Event chair Colleen Dennehy congratulated speakers and attendees on a successful event, and thanked them for the insights and practical tips that were shared throughout the day.
“Hopefully everyone has some really awesome things to take away from the day,” Dennehy said.
“A big thank you also to the event partner, Bluestone Home Loans, without whom this event would not have been possible.”
