Women leaders are bold, resilient and forward thinkers who are empathic, inspirational and aspirational. They make a difference every day.

Research from The Conference Board’s Ready-Now Leaders report shows that organizations with women in at least 30% of leadership roles are 12 times more likely to be in the top 20% of financial performers. That’s just the start of what women bring to the table.

At ServiceLink, a number of women are at the forefront of our operations, making a remarkable impact throughout the industry. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we asked women leaders across our organization to share their perspectives on what it takes to be successful in the mortgage technology space and sought their advice on what can be done to continue building a more inclusive industry.

Their insights emphasized the importance of authenticity, mentorship, collaboration and supporting one another.

Here’s what they had to say:

What key skills are crucial to success for women leaders?

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Ying Wang, VP, Product Design

“For me, it’s strategic thinking and resilience. Strategic thinking means seeing the big picture — understanding all the players in the market, looking several steps ahead and being able to project where the world is headed so you can guide your team and products toward that future. Resilience means not taking disagreement personally and not giving up easily. It’s about learning from different perspectives and continuing to move forward with purpose.”

Natascha DeVries, VP, Account Management, Flood

“I believe the most crucial skill is to know yourself and be comfortable with you, as you are. You know your strong suits, and you know your weaknesses and you know your boundaries. You are authentic, can see the big picture, have clear communication skills, you advocate for others and are able to rebound when necessary.”

Manda Tyson, AVP, Panel Engagement

“I believe the skills that contribute to a successful women leader include being authentic, assertive, compelling, vulnerable, influential, strategic, compassionate and resilient.  But true leadership lies in the ability to discern when each quality is needed and when to apply them with intention.”

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What advice would you give to women who are just entering the mortgage field?
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Mary Damas, VP, Recruiting and Employee Engagement

“Be open to endless potential. Seek out opportunities.  Ask questions, step into new spaces and learn from teams across the business—those experiences will shape your path and strengthen the impact you can make.”

Brittany Winland, AVP, Event and Default Marketing

“Start learning all you can! Build relationships with your partners who are experts in the space and ask them lots of questions, and even ask the same questions to different experts, for all perspectives and points of view. Not everyone communicates or explains in the same way, so you never know when something you’ve heard before may resonate when you hear it in a new way.”

What is the best advice a fellow woman leader has given you?  

Wang: “‘Be confident in rooms full of senior male executives — you’re there because your voice brings value.’ This advice reminded me to trust my expertise, speak with clarity and never shrink myself. If I have a seat at the table, I’ve earned it — and I should show up fully and confidently.”

Joy Farrell, VP, IT Audit and Compliance

“Don’t be afraid to make yourself heard. Don’t wait to be asked for your opinion, or for someone to ask you for your input.”

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Lindsey Hughes, VP, Servicing Valuation

“Make sure you always give all that you’ve got. You may not always win or succeed but at least you will know that you did everything you could.”

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What role do you think mentorship — either formal or informal —  plays in helping women advance their careers?

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Jennifer Bross, AVP, Client Relations, Default Title

“Mentoring is crucial in career development because it helps people navigate their paths, make informed decisions and work through challenges. From my experience at ServiceLink, having mentors who were willing to share insight, offer honest feedback and talk through real situations helped me build confidence and clarity in my role. Having someone to learn from and lean on makes growth feel more manageable and sets people up for long-term success.”

Winland: “Mentorship helps women advance their careers by having a champion who not only shares their experiences with you but also is an advocate for you when you’re not in the room.”

How do diverse leadership perspectives strengthen innovation and decision-making?

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Natalie Bowman, VP, Valuation

“Diverse leadership perspectives allow for knowledge and growth. Hearing and understanding all perspectives will provide you with additional thoughts and ideas; is there a better way, how to adjust your approach based on your audience, etc.”

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‍Damas: “Our perspectives are shaped by the sum of our personal and professional experiences, and that diversity of insight is a powerful catalyst for better outcomes. Innovation rarely happens in isolation — it emerges when we create space for people to share ideas openly, examine and challenge assumptions with respect, and work together to reach thoughtful, well-informed decisions about the best path forward.”

What can organizations do to build more inclusive workplaces?

Tyson: “Organizations really need to look at this simply and create a space where everyone would walk away at the end of the day feeling valued and heard. When a person feels respected and acknowledged for what they contribute, they are more engaged, committed and dedicated to the company’s success.”

Bross: “I think it really comes down to being intentional and consistent. Organizations need to create open lines of communication where people feel comfortable speaking up and being heard. That also means being thoughtful about how and who they hire, offering ongoing training and putting inclusive policies in place. When organizations take the time to celebrate those differences and back it up with action, people feel valued and empowered to bring their best to work.”

Farrell: “Resist pre-conceived ideas of who can be a dynamic leader. Watch for signs of innovative thinking and the drive to make a difference regardless of gender or other attributes.”

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