Meeting Challenges continued from page 31 888.369.1573 | HTLWHOLESALE.COM HighTechLending, Inc. All Rights Reserved. NMLS #7147 (nmlsconsumeraccess.org). For more information on licensing please visit www.hightechlending.com/compliance-information we’re part of the greater good and not just working in a silo.” Winslow suggests that NRMLA create a women’s networking group similar to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s mPower. “This would promote opportunities for women to connect with their peers in the industry and share ideas in a private community setting,” she says. Historically, reverse mortgages have been a male-dominated industry that women do not consider but fall into, notes Batiste. Proactive steps, such as campus visits, internships and mentorships, can chip away at that phenomenon, as reverse mortgage companies increase their visibility and develop a reputation as places where women can thrive. “There are so many things available today versus when I was in school,” Batiste says. “Organizations can come to campuses, especially during International Women’s Month, and show what women can do with the degrees they’re working toward. If someone is not researching or asking, they will never know.” A Bright Future For women in reverse mortgage leadership roles, the journey never ends. Cosentini is a lifelong learner, reading everything she can about housing and reverse mortgages. Batiste hopes to build her skills and tools for adding clarity to the reverse mortgage process, perhaps learning more about the servicing side to ensure loan recipients succeed. Someday, she would love to assist HUD/FHA in some capacity, focusing specifically on the reverse mortgage program. “That would be my ultimate operations position in the industry,” she says. Continuing to counter misinformation about reverse mortgages will reshape perceptions among women and position the industry as a place for meaningful careers that mesh professional and personal lives and come with built-in supports, Awalt says. “If you keep being the captain of your own ship and not just let it happen to you, you can make it all fit the way you want,” she says. “We are a small, tight-knit industry, and we lean on each other. That is the icing on the cake.” 32 REVERSE MORTGAGE / JULY–AUGUST 2023
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ1MzY1