How Passion Powers Purpose: Advice from Tamara King for Women in Housing

HousingWire

Brena Nath and Tamara King come together live at MBA Secondary for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, longevity, and the emotional side of career building. Tamara offers a simple but powerful piece of advice for women in mortgage: pursue what brings you joy — and don’t be afraid if that changes over time.  The episode also touches on what makes mPower events so unique and effective: the “aha moments” that come from shared experience, open dialogue, and vulnerability. Whether you're new to the industry or well into your career, this Ten Minute Talk offers something for everyone looking to grow with purpose.

Transcript

00:00We are in the middle of the energy and the excitement at the Mortgage Bankers Association

00:11Secondary Conference here in New York City. This is an important installment of I feel like some

00:16of the conversations we have throughout the year. I'm Brenna Nath at Housing Ware. I'm excited to

00:20be sitting here with Tamara King. She's the Vice President of Strategic Industry Engagement, which

00:25is I'm sure so important at conferences like this one. So first off, welcome. Thank you. I'm so happy

00:31to be here. So tell me a little bit about the energy. What are you feeling so far? Oh my gosh,

00:37we're only on day one, but we started yesterday really, and I've had some great meetings with

00:42members, members who only see each other on Zoom or seeing each other in person, sometimes for the

00:47first time. And it's so different when you're meeting somebody in person than virtually. So

00:53it's a great energy here. That type of connection is exactly what we also strive to get at the

00:59gathering, like something that you can't get in a square. I do love the Brady Bunch squares. On

01:03occasion, there's a time that allows us to be multiple places, but there's nothing like you're

01:07saying when you come together in person and talk about the things happening in the industry and the

01:12things that are happening on a deep level in our careers, which is the second part of that

01:15conversation we're trying to have at the gathering that Empower is doing on the road through lunches like

01:20this one at secondary, but also then bringing it to conferences like the gathering. You're one of

01:26our panelists on our upcoming session at the gathering, which is featuring a great lineup of

01:31women. I'm excited for you to be included on it. And I wanted to zero in on one topic idea that

01:38Laura Hopkins, who is the moderator of the panel is asking, which is what advice would you give to

01:44this next generation of female leaders? That's something unique that I think this panel is talking

01:48about not only where you guys have come in some lessons and stories we can take from that, but also

01:52how you guys are bringing this next generation forward. So what advice would you give to the next

01:56generation? I've received a lot of great advice. One of the things that I've been told that I really

02:02think holds true is find something that you love. Yes, everybody wants a higher title, you want more

02:09money, all of that is true. But if you find and you're doing something that you love, it shows up in your

02:16work. I really encourage people to find whatever that is. And it may be something different. Like,

02:22you know, in your 20s, you may want to do something different than you do in your 30s or your 40s.

02:27But to keep that excitement and that passion will always fuel you to do your best in your job.

02:33That's such a great call out because I was listening to an audio book on the way here. And

02:37they're just talking about like, it is so important that yes, your work is your work and you have a life.

02:41But when you're there for 40 hours a week, the importance of having passion, the importance of liking

02:45the people you work with, the importance of enjoying that. If you don't, that's a big chunk of your day

02:50that you don't have. It is. And so it is so important to like what you said, to have most of your day

02:57spent on what you love. And that could be helping people, helping the industry, whatever it is, find those

03:03things that bring you joy, because that will fuel you. During those tough times, that will actually

03:09get you through it. And that's one part of your lived experience, which I think is so great for

03:13that session, because each one of the panelists are going to come in and share, this is how I've

03:17found love and passion my job. And then take away, you know, tidbits for someone sitting in the

03:22audience like me who still grow, you know, in the middle of her career trying to figure out, okay,

03:25how do I take this next step? So that's the example of how conversations can be so powerful,

03:31so valuable. From your experience, what are the other takeaways that you'd want people to have

03:35from this session and why we should keep bringing these leaders together to, you know, have the

03:40discussions? Sure. I have been to many Empower sessions, the lunches, the conferences, they've

03:46all been great. They've all been different. And each time, I find an aha moment. I take something away

03:53each time. It's different. Sometimes it's in my professional life to help there. Oftentimes,

03:59it's also in my personal life. So I find that these moments of being around other women who have

04:06similar experiences or sometimes different experiences, but I can apply what they've

04:12learned or what they did and use it in my life. I always come out with something. So I'm inspired

04:19every time I'm in one of these rooms. That aha moment. I love that takeaway. And that's what I hope

04:24everyone gets from the gathering is finding that aha moment through your session and other

04:29discussions, maybe not the roundtables as they're talking to their peers who are sitting among them.

04:32So thanks so much, Tamara. I've enjoyed this conversation and can't wait to see you again

04:36in a few weeks. Thank you. Looking forward to it.

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Transcript

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