The Mortgage Solutions Rising Star feature spotlights people who have been working in the mortgage sector for fewer than three years.
This week, Mortgage Solutions is speaking to Georgia Smith, telephone business development manager (BDM) at Hinckley and Rugby Building Society.Â
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What does your role entail, and how long have you been doing it?Â
My core responsibility is to build strong working relationships with mortgage advisers looking to place business. I’ve been in my current position for a year, following a 10-month secondment to our product and propositions team, which further developed my knowledge of the mortgage market and the background of product creation.Â
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What attracted you to working in the mortgage/property/finance sector?Â
I was working in the branch network when a Business Development Officer role came up. Despite having no prior knowledge of the field, I was drawn to the fast-paced environment and the career progression opportunities available.Â
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What were you doing in the five years before starting here?Â
Before joining Hinckley and Rugby, I had a varied work history. I was a sandwich artist at Subway, a head cashier at B&M Home Stores, and finally a content creator for an online gambling firm before beginning my career in financial services.Â
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What personal talent/skill is most valuable in doing your job?Â
Communication is key in any relationship management role. I believe acting with integrity and being clear from the outset helps build a strong foundation.Â
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What personal talent/skill would you most like to improve on?Â
Confidence in public speaking to larger audiences. Although I have experience presenting, it doesn’t stop the ‘pre-game’ nerves.Â
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What is the most interesting/memorable property deal/case you’ve been involved in?Â
One memorable case involved a client who wanted to use a portfolio of cars as assets for affordability. One of the cars was an Aston Martin DB5 – one of the most iconic James Bond vehicles.Â
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Where do you see yourself in five years?Â
In five years, I see myself working towards becoming a department head, gaining as much experience as possible in a variety of roles, including account management.Â
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If present-day you could go back in time and tell yourself something five years ago, what would it be?Â
I would tell myself to be confident in my abilities and the path I want to take. You have more power than you realise, and you are enough.Â
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What’s the biggest challenge you’ve tackled so far in your career?Â
My biggest challenge was returning from maternity leave. I had to step down from my team leader role to work part-time. Upon returning, I felt like I had lost my sense of identity, but over the past two years, I’ve rebuilt it. I’ve taken several opportunities for growth, including the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) Working in Mortgages Mentor program.Â
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If you could have one superpower, what would it be?Â
I would love to be able to split myself into two people because there’s never enough time in the day.Â
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And finally, what’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?Â
Once, while waiting at a bus stop, someone asked me if I had Viking blood because of my fair complexion, and then they walked off. It was one of the strangest encounters I’ve had.Â