Loan Market’s leading female broker, who also recently graced MPA’s Top 100 Brokers list, has used the platform of International Women’s Day to encourage more females to enter broking and harness the changes taking place within the industry to catapult themselves to future success.
According to Sarah Thomson, senior lending manager of Loan Market Geelong, the industry is on the cusp of developing an even stronger relationship with the marketplace, and it’s crucial for women to “claim their place within the growth”.
“Whether the legal profession, IT or broking, I think it’s really important for any industry to have a healthy mix of women and men to service the marketplace,” said Thomson.
“And honestly, I don’t think there’s a better place to grow your career as a woman than in broking.”
Last year, Thomson was named 7th in the annual MPA Top 100 Brokers list after settling 317 loans worth more than $118m.
Thomson is now using the platform she’s created through her overwhelming success to highlight how crucial it is for the industry to support women.
“I’ve been a member of Loan Market’s Leading Ladies group for several years and we have a combination of events, networking sessions and [training] that really helps our professional development,” she said.
“At my first event, I was amazed at the knowledge sharing and questions the women asked that may not have spoken up in a room full of men. From then on, it cemented the need for these events in my mind and I’ve been an advocate ever since.”
Late last year, the MFAA reported there had been a decline in women working as brokers, with just 27% of industry participants being female.
The Opportunities for Women report also revealed that while 66% of women feel there are barriers to their succeeding in the industry, just 41% of men feel the same.
“If women are thinking about broking as a career, they can be assured that there’s support out there,” said Thomson.
According to executive director Andrea McNaughton, Loan Market’s Leading Ladies community has truly become more than just an event.
“It’s an integral part of the culture,” she said.
“In 2017, we initiated the Leading Ladies of Loan Market for female entrepreneurs to come together to drive growth and profitability in their businesses. Since then the initiative has swelled to touch hundreds of women in our network and beyond.”
“International Women’s Day is a reminder that there are support networks like Leading Ladies in our industry which enables women to take their careers to the next level.”
