Michelle Wilde has established herself as one of the most influential leaders in the mortgage industry by drawing on underwriting, management and sales skills earned over three decades.
In 2016 Michelle became a Divisional Vice President at Orion Lending, helping the organization realize its goal of being one of the nation’s leading residential lenders.
Orion Lending is a Nationwide Mortgage Banker founded by proven industry leaders who bring a legacy of success and ambition to the Mortgage Banking industry. www.Orionlending.com
Orion Lending combines innovative technology with a wide array of products and competitive pricing. This enables a large network of brokers to grow through referral business and satisfied clientele.
We caught up with Michelle Wilde and discussed her professional journey and how she implements her experience at Orion.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Briefly describe your professional journey up until now.
I entered the mortgage business in 1992 and worked at every level of the company throughout my first ten years in the mortgage industry. Before joining wholesale sales, I was an Underwriter and an Underwriting manager. I’ve watched the industry evolve through many cycles. In 1992 I wouldn’t have imagined that I could be a Divisional Vice President of a nationwide wholesale company as you didn’t see many women in leadership roles. I’ve been with Orion Lending for six years, and I’m proud to say we have many women in leadership roles.
What challenges did you face along the way?
In the early years, I was pigeonholed into traditionally female roles. I had to work twice as hard as my male counterparts in the early years to earn respect and opportunities. In recent years, the challenges became learning how to grow and change as the industry changed.
What significant impact have you brought to the Mortgage industry?
Throughout my career and especially in management positions I’ve advocated advancing anyone willing to work hard and learn. There isn’t a day that passes that doesn’t provide opportunity to impart wisdom and secrets I’ve learned from countless mentors onto our next generation of mortgage professionals. I’ve taught the value of relationship building to everyone I mentor.
What methodologies do you implement that contribute to new growth opportunities?
We are always looking for the right partners. In this industry, there are clients who want mutual success and partners who are only looking out for their success. We push for clients that want everyone to succeed.
Tell us about Orion Lending and its foundation pillar.
Our founding Pillar is “We See It, We Own It, We Solve It.” At Orion Lending, we approach every situation with the mindset of quickly addressing and resolving whatever challenges arise. There is nothing that is “not my job.” Everyone works with the same spirit.
What is your take on technology’s importance, and how are you leveraging it?
I’m a firm believer that Technology will be essential to every company in 2023 in the mortgage industry. Every company should be investing in technology. At Orion, we have invested in some of the best technology in the industry.
What will be the next significant change in the mortgage industry, and how are you preparing for it?
The future of mortgages is finding ways to be more profitable with fewer costs. Only through quality people and fantastic technology can you plan to succeed in the future mortgage industry.
What are your goals in the upcoming future?
My current goals are to increase the success of the people I mentor. I firmly believe that helping others succeed is the most important thing.
What advice would you like to give the next generation of aspiring business leaders?
Learn your trade. The younger generation is looking for the quickest and easiest way to do everything without learning why things are done. The same way the Boomers learned that the Readers Digest Version won’t cut it on challenging loan scenarios the next generation needs to learn that just linking to the click bait isn’t going to get them the whole story. To succeed, you must slow down. Learn your guidelines and why things are done the way they are. Only then can you look for opportunities to improve on what we do now.
