Have you ever seen a DEI campaign that made you physically cringe? That’s a common side effect to reading canned messaging from a company pandering to a certain demographic, whether its minorities or women or LGBTQ+ people. How does a mortgage company avoid such cringe-worthy pandering when trying to reach minority homebuyers? NAF Co-founder and CEO, Patty Arvielo, and her SVP of Growth and Expansion, Mosi Gatling, are here to explain the difference and teach listeners about authentic representation.

Finally, Gated Communities proudly welcomes one of the most respected figures in the mortgage industry, the man who brought DEI to the forefront, and runs the largest minority-focused mortgage association in the United States: Tony Thompson, founder and CEO of NAMMBA, also known as the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America. Thompson shares his story, the origins of NAMMBA, and why inclusion is the key ingredient for companies to achieve more profitability with diversity. Why do some companies see increased profits when diversifying the c-suite while others don’t? Inclusion, Thompson said; they’re not bringing the I in DEI.

Broker owner and CEO of Blue Dolphin Capital, Sam Harris III, candidly explains his thoughts on why the mortgage industry continues to fail Black and other under-resourced borrowers as well as aspiring mortgage professionals, despite the amount of DEI initiatives being implemented by companies and associations nationwide. It’s because people aren’t being intentional with their initiatives, Harris said. When a company needs to cut costs to improve on margin, executives ruthlessly slash expenses wherever necessary. But when a company fails to reach DEI goals, they pat their own backs for trying and nothing changes.