Two weeks ago, I participated in the MBA’s National Advocacy Conference for the very first time. It’s always been something I wanted to do but never properly prioritized. It was worth the wait. The first day is a conference setting of speakers and panels discussing the top issues the MBA is lobbying. The second day is boots on the ground, walking through the Senate and House of Representatives, speaking with your elected officials and their staff.
While advocacy isn’t necessarily for everyone, these are the types of events that more people should be attending. Even if it’s not something you’re passionate about (although I hope you are), and even if there are no issues that are directly relevant to your business, there are also a few more cynical reasons you should attend. Let me advocate for advocacy, if you will…
First of all, the attendee list at NAC is impressive. Most attendees are passionate about this industry and want to make a difference. Accordingly, there are a lot of decision makers in attendance; CEOs, Presidents, VPs, etc. These are all great people to add to your network.
Secondly, the advocacy conference is wide-reaching, covering all aspects of the mortgage industry. I have spent my career in single family residential lending yet found myself working alongside a group of multifamily mortgage professionals. I learned more about multifamily lending in 48 hours than I have in my entire career – what a great way to get exposure with real life examples and discussions.
And most importantly, you never know what these extra experiences will lead to – whether it’s an interaction with a top professional in our industry or exposure to new topics and current events. All too often I see the most unexpected chain of events lead to incredible things. So, while LLPAs, trigger leads, and the CFPB may seem unrelated to your current career arc, I encourage you to be open-minded about exploring new things.
Mo Oursler, CMB
Executive Vice President, Mortgage Career Exchange
Mo Oursler is an established mortgage leader who has served in wide range of executive roles in operations, originations, credit risk, capital markets, university training, and leadership development.
For more, visit Mortgage Career Exchange: mortgagecareerexchange.com