Exec talks about staying mindful of who's at the table and who's missing
Elite Woman Joni Pilgrim jumped into the mortgage industry from a career in restaurant management. Despite her lack of experience, Pilgrim worked for a local appraiser as a sales associate and used her sales knowledge and customer service skills to kick off her career.
In 2008, Pilgrim co-founded Nationwide Appraisal Network (NAN), a real estate appraisal management company. She currently serves as CEO, guiding the company to be a top valuation services provider in the country. In a recent conversation with MPA, Pilgrim talked about her core principles, leadership, and inclusion in the workplace.
“I love to build and create,” Pilgrim shared. “So, opening up my own company felt right, and I think I kind of always knew I wanted to be my own boss and create a company that is known for integrity and also a company that people are proud to work at. NAN exemplifies that for me.”
When it comes to leadership, Pilgrim always tries to strike a balance between being fair and empathetic.
“You have to know where the challenges are, where there are efficiency breakdowns, who needs more support or training, who’s ready to grow in their career,” she said. “When you have a clear vision of where you are going, you know exactly who you need to be at the table with you. I’m a big proponent of promoting from within, and when I see the passion and desire and consistency in a team member, then I know that is who I want at my table.”
Pilgrim also shared how the pandemic worked to the company’s advantage and helped them push for inclusion in the workplace.
“We are able to source talent from all over the country instead of being limited to our backyard. Even though we have team members that span 26 states across America, we promote a collaborative work environment. New team members feel a sense of belonging right away because of our culture. We are highly focused on learning, growth and development and invest in the future of our team members. I truly feel like the team at NAN feels like they have a voice and can bring new and fresh ideas to the table as well.”
You can learn more about Pilgrim and the other Elite Women by reading the special report here: Charting a different path.
