The definition of a pathfinder, amongst many, is “one that discovers a way especially: one that explores untraversed regions to mark out a new route.” The Pathfinder Podcast is about the journeys we take in business and in our life.
It’s about the fact that the destination is not the be-all and end-all, it’s the paths we take along the way that is the real journey. It is this that defines us and makes us who we are today.
I am setting out to meet real people who have inspired me, both within the mortgage, property and finance industry and outside it, to hear their stories and learn from the paths they have taken. Their successes and failures that have led them to become who they are today. We all have a story to tell, and perhaps their story will resonate with yours and make you realise that you are never alone. We are all pathfinders finding our way in the world.
This is the Pathfinder Podcast, may the path you take be the right one for you.
Pathfinders 5 - Stacy Penn & Rachel Edwards: Overcoming bullying, dropping out of university and doing what makes you happy. How two very different paths led to the Financial Services Industry.
Stacy Penn and Rachel Edwards are two of the mortgage industry's young, shining lights. Working in highly technical and important roles for the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, (AMI), much of what they do is generally not seen or understood by many they represent, though they are part of a new team who are changing this, and much more besides in an industry ready to embrace change. This episode is proof you never really know someone until you ask the questions and listen to the story.
Stacy and Rachel are Senior Policy Advisers at AMI, dealing with a whole host of challenges and helping to shape the whole industry, battling on behalf of mortgage brokers with regulators, the Government, and other bodies. They are passionate about the industry, D&I and equity, the green agenda, and much more besides.
They have come into the Financial Services world via very different paths, one dropping out of University, one working in a Northern bookmakers, and are really interested in showing how welcoming FS can actually be for young women and changing the culture of the industry from within. For any young people looking for inspiration on where to go next, or who think financial services is not for them, you may well think again.
In this episode, we chat about many things, including:
• How intense bullying led to "filling in a pond" and moving schools
• Dropping out of University
• Finding the positives and letting setbacks work for you
• Lessons from a betting shop
• Starting in Financial Services and dealing with being a young woman within it
• The importance of doing what makes you happy
• Learning from the Egyptians: Aggressively helping others
• The new industry Mentor Scheme and how you can help
• The best piece of advice Stacy & Rachel ever had
• The one person you would want to meet in history and what would you ask them
I am sure you will find something to take away from both of these ladies' journeys.
This is the Pathfinder Podcast, may the path you take be the right one for you.
Stacy on Linked In - (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyreeve/)https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacypenn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacypenn)
Rachel on Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-edwards-a8219417a (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-edwards-a8219417a/)
AMI on Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-mortgage-intermediaries/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-mortgage-intermediaries/)
AMI Website - https://www.a-m-i.org.uk (https://www.a-m-i.org.uk/)
Working in Mortgages Website - https://workinginmortgages.org.uk (https://workinginmortgages.org.uk/)
Details of the AMI & DIFF Mentors Scheme can be found here:
https://workinginmortgages.onpld.com
(https://workinginmortgages.onpld.com/)
Please do get involved.
You can contact and follow Monty:
Twitter (https://twitter.com/montysblog)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-montlake-9248092/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/andymontlake/)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2on998y3-HCrmO_fbhHANQ)
TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@andymontlake)
11 Apr 2023
Pathfinders 4 - Esther Dijkstra: From a rural Dutch village to the City of London, lessons in management and creating your own path
Esther Dijkstra is a role model to many young women, showing a drive and determination to be the best, and becoming an outstanding manager and leader of people.
From her early life growing up in a small rural village in the Netherlands and wanting to be a Prima Ballerina, Esther has worked her way up, traveling from Amsterdam to London, dealing with a different culture, and changing and learning along the way.
Esther began her career in management consultancy with IBM in the Netherlands and moved to the UK in 2000. She previously worked for Legal & General where she was the Commercial and Marketing Director of the L&G Network and UK Mortgage Club. She has been at Lloyds Banking Group for almost a decade now, formally Director of Strategic Partnerships and now the Managing Director, Intermediaries.
She is passionate about helping people and inspiring a new generation and has been described as “one of the best managers I have worked for in my 25-year career” by a previous employee.
There are so many nuggets in this episode and Esther really is a delight to talk to in this very open and revealing chat.
In this episode, we chat about many things, including:
• Growing up in a small rural town in The Netherlands which was too small to hold the adventurous Esther
• Wanting to become a Prima Ballerina
• Taking opportunities and changing your mindset
• The nickname that made Esther change
• Travelling to London and working as a foreign female in FS – dealing with cultural differences
• Advice for a new generation
• Management styles and changing attitudes – what makes a good manager?
• The importance of empathy and connection
• The key to leadership
• Esther's definition of success and connecting to the deeper why
• The best piece of advice Esther ever had
• The one person you would want to meet in history and what would you ask them
I am sure her story will be of interest to you.
This is the Pathfinder Podcast, may the path you take be the right one for you.
Esther on Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherdijkstrauk (https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherdijkstrauk/)
You can contact and follow Monty:
Twitter (https://twitter.com/montysblog)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-montlake-9248092/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/andymontlake/)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2on998y3-HCrmO_fbhHANQ)
TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@andymontlake)
1 Feb 2023
Pathfinders 3 : Richard Rowntree: Council estate to the top table and why social mobility is so important
From his early life growing up in a Council Estate in Southend, Richard Rowntree has worked his way up in a wide range of jobs, reinventing himself along the way and hungry to learn and help change the Financial world by encouraging and assisting more new talent from different socio-economic backgrounds to progress to top positions.
19 Dec 2022
Pathfinders 2 - Sarah Tucker: How Grief Of The Voice Gave Birth To A Movement
Sarah Tucker is so much more than just “The Voice”. Some may see her as something of an overnight sensation, such has been the meteoric rise of her company, The Mortgage Mum, in such a relatively short space of time, but as ever, the truth is always different.
Her path has shown her that life is not always a little bit Disney, from trying to fit in, the elation and devastation of The Voice that led to The Mortgage Mum, through to getting validation, equity, overexposure, and dealing with critics, her path is both interesting and inspirational.
23 Nov 2022
Pathfinders 1 - Ying Tan Entrepreneur On Starting A Business And Not Pushing Too Many Trolleys
Ying Tan is a self-made Entrepreneur who has worked hard to build and sell a successful business.
After his father hitchhiked his way from Malaysia over to the UK in search of a better life, his path has taken him from humble beginnings through to Investment Banking and Accounting, building a buy-to-let portfolio that led him to starting his own business, and is a forward thinking, innovative and dynamic entrepreneur with a proven track record, who thrives in founding, scaling, and exiting businesses.
30 Oct 2022
Pathfinders - Podcast Trailer
The Pathfinder Podcast is about the journeys we take in business and in our life.
It’s about the fact that the destination is not the be-all and end-all, it’s the paths we take along the way that is the real journey. It is this that defines us and makes us who we are today.
We all have a story to tell, and perhaps their story will resonate with yours and make you realise that you are never alone. We are all pathfinders finding our way in the world.
This is the Pathfinder Podcast, may the path you take be the right one for you.
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