Leading CEO discusses the challenges faced by women in the industry
Women in the mortgage space have made great strides towards achieving gender equity in the workplace. However, female mortgage entrepreneurs are still trying hard to shift away from a David versus Goliath narrative as they face tougher competition, according to Clarifire founder and CEO Jane Mason.
Mason joined MPA news editor Richard Torne in the latest episode of MPA TV, where she discussed the challenges female entrepreneurs face and how to combat gender bias.
"The competition between large, publicly traded companies and woman-owned small businesses really is stiff and scary," Mason told MPA. "But I keep seeking out those people that believe in small businesses and believe in the American Dream. I keep looking for those people in order to continue growing the company."
"There's going to be competition. There's always going to be somebody that says they do it better than you. But that's not something to be afraid of. You just have to keep going and make sure that when you're talking to somebody, they're collaborative and kind. And so, that's what I look for in business partnerships. I want to make sure that any interactions that we have are respectful and collaborative," she added.
Mason also shared about a recent interaction she had with someone who she described was biased, dismissive, and didn't give her the chance to talk about herself or her work.
"I think that kindness needs to be more pervasive. If you're trying to do business with someone that you haven't met and might be a little different, don't make snap judgments. Just give the interaction a chance."
The MPA Elite Women 2021 winner, who admitted she experiences impostor syndrome from time to time, also offered advice on how to overcome this nagging feeling. Mason shared all her tips on MPA TV, which you can watch here.
