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With female advancement in corporate Canada slowing, the rate of progress in the mortgage sector shows signs of bucking that trend – a testament to the dedication and innovation of a special group of professionals.
They are recognized as CMP’s Women of Influence 2025, one of the mortgage industry’s most respected and prestigious awards for female professionals. CMP annually lists the Top 50 performers shaping and influencing the sector nationwide. It highlights the special women advancing the profession. Each year, CMP solicits nominations, and a panel of industry leaders and past winners helps select the final list. The Top 50 Women of Influence 2025 continue to break new ground in an industry where leadership roles have long been male dominated. From mentorship to innovation, these pioneers are shaping the future.
Judge and Canadian Private Lenders Association co-founder and CEO, Samantha Gale, highlights what defines this cohort. “I was particularly impressed by the remarkable diversity and depth of expertise among the Top 50,” she says. “Their ability to consistently deliver outstanding results in a range of market conditions stood out, as did their evident commitment to client service and professional development.”
Fellow panellist Leah Zlatkin, COO of Mortgage Outlet, shares what caught her eye: “What I find most fascinating about the women who were selected is that they’re not only great mortgage brokers, but they’re also contributing to the overall mortgage brokering environment, which is not necessarily something that you see across the board.”
CMP’s awardees reflect the breadth of female leadership across Canada’s mortgage sector. More than half hold senior management or executive roles, and a third are principal brokers, broker-owners, or front-line mortgage professionals, highlighting the growing impact of women in the industry.
Ontario accounts for 58 percent of the Top 50, reflecting its central role in the country’s mortgage leadership. As of March 31, 2025, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario regulated or registered over 16,000 mortgage professionals and 1,178 brokerages. British Columbia and Alberta, combined, account for another 30 percent of awardees, reflecting key markets where women are driving the industry forward.
1. Ontario’s consistent dominance
Ontario is the clear leader every year, peaking at 62 percent in 2024 and holding above 50 percent in all three years.
This dominance reflects Ontario’s status as Canada’s most populous province and economic centre, likely offering more opportunities and visibility for influential women.
2. British Columbia as the secondary hub
British Columbia consistently ranks second, peaking at 24 percent in 2024 before dropping to 16 percent in 2025.
This suggests a strong, though fluctuating, base of influential women in British Columbia.
3. Alberta’s volatility
Alberta’s representation drops sharply from 14 percent in 2023 to 6 percent in 2024, then rebounds to 14 percent in 2025.
This volatility could be due to cyclical factors.
4. Quebec’s low but stable representation
Quebec remains steady at 4 percent each year, indicating persistent underrepresentation relative to its population and economic size.
5. Marginalization of smaller provinces
Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan each have minimal or inconsistent representation.
This points to ongoing challenges for women in these provinces to gain national recognition.
Conclusions
Ontario’s dominance is persistent and likely reflects structural advantages in population, economy, and organizational headquarters.
British Columbia and Alberta provide the next largest pools of influential women, but their shares are more variable.
Quebec’s low share is notable and may warrant further exploration into barriers or selection biases.
Smaller provinces are largely absent or inconsistently represented, highlighting a need for broader recognition and support for women leaders outside major urban centres.
The Women of Influence 2025 have made their mark at a time when progress on gender equity has slowed across Canada’s corporate world. The country’s share of women managers is also behind nearly half of all OECD countries, according to the March 2024 Barely Breaking Ground report by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Business Data Lab.
A 2025 Morningstar DBRS report, focused on financial institutions, real estate, and diversified industries, found that women held just 6 percent of C-suite jobs nationwide in 2023, down from 7 percent in 2020 and unchanged over the past decade. At financial institutions, women made up 13 percent of CEOs and 33 percent of CFOs. Board gains, where women now hold 41 percent of seats, haven’t carried through to the top ranks.
A LinkedIn report also found that progress toward gender parity in leadership has stalled in recent years. Only 30.6 percent of leadership positions are held by women, representing a marginal 0.2 percent increase since 2022. What’s more, it noted that the leadership gap widens with age. Women in older generations face greater disparities in accessing top roles, as the drop in representation from the workforce to top roles is 46 percent for baby boomers but only 34 percent for Gen Z.
These national trends contrast with the advances made by this year’s influential Top 50. In financial and business services, including mortgages, women now hold more than half of specialized middle management roles, according to the Canadian Chamber report. Yet pay gaps remain, with women earning 85 cents for every dollar earned by men. Senior leadership remains male-dominated, with women holding just 30 percent of senior management positions nationwide.
In this environment, the female leaders featured on CMP’s list are helping to move the needle forward and create greater opportunities for others.
Gale says progress will involve initiatives that equip women with the skills, resources, and confidence to aspire to senior roles. “Building a strong network of allies and mentors is essential,” she adds. “Structured mentorship programs and opportunities for women to leverage industry connections can be powerful catalysts for career advancement.”
She also emphasizes that supporting mental well-being, normalizing flexible working arrangements, and creating forums for women to share knowledge and successes are critical to sustaining momentum.
This year’s awardees reflect a diverse depth of experience. Twenty-two percent have been in the mortgage industry for under a decade, while 38 percent bring more than 25 years of experience to their roles.
Industry leader Gale notes that the 2025 cohort of outstanding female mortgage brokers and professionals exemplifies the qualities needed to advance lasting change. “I looked for a strong blend of technical acumen, strategic thinking, and adaptability,” she says. “Given the rapid pace of change in today’s mortgage landscape, candidates demonstrating innovative problem-solving, proactive risk management, and a commitment to continuous learning ranked highly. Additionally, leadership in fostering inclusive work environments and supporting peers was a key differentiator.”
Respected authority Zlatkin underscores that mentorship is central to success in mortgage broking. “Mentorship has always been an important factor in mortgage brokering,” she says. “The best way to learn the trade is to watch somebody else do it and to shadow them. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it were not for my mentors. And I feel the same deep desire to make sure that other people can also succeed by mentoring others.”
CMP’s Top Women of Influence 2025 are making a difference by:
mentoring and coaching: helping women in their teams grow, build confidence, and take on leadership roles
networking to promote inclusion: leading women’s groups, summits, and diversity committees; assembling conferences, panels, and workshops that support women and underrepresented groups
hiring and promoting with diversity in mind: taking steps to hire, promote, and give visibility to women and people from underrepresented groups; helping to build leadership teams and boards that better reflect the communities they serve
financial empowerment and education: delivering free seminars, creating podcasts, or hosting community events focused on financial literacy, wealth building, and homeownership, specifically for women and underserved groups
advocacy for cultural inclusion: amplifying the voices of women of colour, immigrant women, and other underrepresented groups, ensuring that diversity extends beyond gender to encompass ethnicity, background, and lived experiences
support for work-life balance: championing flexible working conditions, accommodations for working parents, and cultural shifts that prioritize balance without compromising career progression
male allyship and inclusive cultures: engaging men as allies to advance gender equality and build cultures where equity is a shared responsibility
Innovation and growth take many forms, but at the seat of progress is leadership that challenges the status quo.
For Gale, the most impactful actions have paired visible leadership with sustained, grassroots programs. “Standout initiatives such as CMP’s Top 50 Women of Influence annual recognition, the Women of Influence awards, dedicated Women in Mortgage panels at industry events, and cross-firm networking forums have provided valuable exposure and practical support, empowering more women to advance within the Canadian mortgage brokering industry,” she says.
Renée Huse, owner of the Spire Mortgage Team, is known for her results-driven leadership and unwavering commitment to uplifting those around her. As a driving force behind Calgary’s Spire Mortgage Team – a division of Mortgage Architects – she transformed the company from a startup into a top-performing brokerage. Under her guidance, the firm achieved $100 million in annual funded volume within just five years and continues to set its sights on reaching the $200 million milestone.
Along the way, she earned the trust of clients, who have left over 300 five-star reviews praising her responsiveness and knack for finding great rates. In addition, she has built a balanced and collaborative team with an approximately 50/50 male-to-female split and key female support in underwriting and fulfillment.
Her leadership philosophy focuses on leaning into each person’s strengths and enabling everyone to have a voice and collaborate to make both Spire and the industry a better place to work.
“One thing we do well is focus on the highest and best use of people’s skills and time,” she says. “When you take the time to understand who people are, what makes them tick, what makes them happy, and what their priorities are, you can start building a team that feels included, empowered in who they are and how they want to show up at work.”
Huse’s influence transcends business performance, reflecting her role as an educator, innovator, and advocate:
delivered impactful presentations at major industry events, including the National Mortgage Conference in Montreal (2024) and the BTBB 2025 Virtual Summit, and was the keynote speaker at the Indi Mortgage Conference in Cancun, with her signature presentation, “From $0 to $100M in Five Years”
hosted several value-packed events free of charge to her referral partners, including a four-hour real estate and AI seminar
launched Inspired Agent Series podcast, a platform that highlights real estate agents and investors with diverse stories, experiences, and strategies
coached 32 agents from coast to coast for five weeks on how to get help, get faster, and take back control of their busy lives
The constant small changes in the mortgage industry keep Huse motivated, whether it’s helping a client or hearing about a lender changing its policy on maternity leave income to better support women. “If you focus on that and find those micro wins, it’s easy to get fired up about doing it again the next day,” she says.
Huse believes the industry is heading in the right direction to be more inclusive, a goal that can be achieved by celebrating holistic success, encompassing well-being and happiness. Over the past year, she has seen how many brokers are simply waiting for someone to give them permission and empowerment to focus on both.
“The opportunity lies in continuing to highlight and celebrate those who are succeeding in all areas of life,” she adds. “Often, it’s women who are leading the way in that regard, and their achievements should be recognized and celebrated.”
Her advice to aspiring female leaders is, “Don’t buy into the idea that you can’t have it all. With the right support, whether it’s a great team, smart systems, or the power of AI, you can build a fulfilling career and a rich personal life at the same time.”
At IG Wealth Management, Alana Riley has reshaped the distribution model to seamlessly integrate mortgages and debt solutions within the financial plans for the over one million Canadians that the firm serves.
As head of mortgage, insurance, and banking, she led the negotiations that secured a partnership with nesto, making her company its first B2B client and introducing a new, tech-driven approach to the mortgage process.
Riley also launched IG’s first digital platform to connect directly with clients, simplify mortgage applications, and increase efficiency while reducing uncertainty in the process. She led the creation of a streamlined, end-to-end mortgage experience and introduced seminars to help families handle the challenges of multi-generational home buying.
An initiative that highlights her contribution to supporting women’s advancement is her Women of Wealth strategy, which offers tailored financial services and seminars that help women take control of their financial futures through education, practical advice, and customized solutions. “My role as a mortgage executive is to lead by example, provide support and resources, transparent paths for future opportunities, mentorship, and sponsorship,” she says.
Her influence also reflects her commitment to inclusive leadership, industry education, and community service:
promoted over 65 percent women to leadership (AVP+) in mortgage, insurance, and banking
president and CEO of IG Trust Company, leading trustee services, compliance, and strategy
served as senior volunteer leader: Gordie Howe CARES, Children First Canada, and Dalhousie Alumni Association
Riley remarks that the greatest opportunity for the mortgage industry to become more inclusive is coming from shifting demographics, where women are transforming the financial advice landscape. “By 2028, Canadian women are expected to control $4 trillion in assets,” she explains. “Higher education levels, increased workforce participation, entrepreneurship, and longer life expectancy have driven the surge. This has allowed not only more women to succeed in finance but also the industry to better serve women as a growing client segment.”
Her advice for the next generation of female leaders looking to make an impact is to lead with purpose. “It’s about helping people achieve their dreams and build homes and security while enhancing financial literacy and working towards their financial goals. Stay rooted in this mission,” she says.
“The industry also needs your authenticity. Own your voice, find your allies, and build your circle. The next generation will have the greatest opportunity the industry has ever experienced.”
Panellist Gale says the most significant progress on gender equity in the Canadian mortgage brokering industry has been in increasing visibility, leadership, and open dialogue.
She points out that more women are now recognized as top producers, thought leaders, and executives in national rankings, as well as leaders of branch offices and major networks. “However, structural change is happening more slowly,” she adds. “Transforming diversity commitments into lasting, measurable outcomes remains a challenge, and not all organizations prioritize work-life balance, flexible parental leave, or diverse leadership styles at senior levels. Overcoming these barriers will require a sustained, industry-wide commitment.”
Tara Somerset has helped reshape mortgage servicing in Canada. From her base in Alberta, she leads teams that manage more than $27 billion in assets and approximately 100,000 loans.
As senior vice president of servicing and B2B partnerships at Intellifi, a Nesto Group subsidiary, she oversees 225 professionals working across one of the country’s largest mortgage servicing and BPO operations.
Over the past year, Somerset brought servicing teams together following nesto’s acquisition of CMLS and Intellifi. She grew BPO and SaaS partnerships, secured new lenders and government mandates, and upheld DBRS’s top servicing standards. “I focus on creating structures and visibility, not just training. Programs like Female Leaders of Tomorrow and Roadmap to Success help women access opportunities that were once less transparent,” she says.
Somerset combines operational leadership with a focus on building an inclusive, high-performing sector:
developed the Roadmap to Success program
led the Performance Objective Workbook (POW) to align team goals and accountability
improved Canada Greener Homes Loan underwriting and servicing for better borrower experience
At Nesto Group, she transformed the BPO division into a leadership training ground, creating programs to build skills and advance careers. She strengthened governance, improved workflows with digital tools, and enhanced client service. She also promotes inclusion by involving male allies and senior leaders, believing leadership means redefining norms to match existing talent. “The biggest opportunity is to rethink how we define leadership potential. Too often, we value confidence over competence and visibility over contribution,” she says.
“That bias means men are seen as ready, while women must prove themselves. Inclusion is removing that double standard – giving women equal access to opportunities without extra hurdles. It’s also shifting from mentorship to sponsorship, focusing on advocacy and shared accountability.”
Somerset is hopeful the industry can get there by challenging old habits and embedding inclusion into how companies promote, evaluate, and lead. “The playing field isn’t always level, but your voice can still carry,” she says. “Most importantly, bring other women with you, not because they need your help to succeed but because we all thrive when leadership reflects the diversity of the world we live in.”
As president of The BridgGroup of Companies, Dr. Natasha Bridgmohan has guided the business through a period of strong growth, expanding to include services across mortgages, investing, real estate, aid (including pharmaceuticals and philanthropy), lending, legal, and entertainment sectors.
What sets her apart is her commitment to giving back. She champions diversity, inclusion, and women’s leadership, founding the Elite Women Empowerment Summit to celebrate women’s achievements. She also leads free community seminars on financial literacy and wealth-building, empowering others with practical knowledge. “Don’t wait for permission. The table wasn’t built for you, so bring your own chair, or better yet, build your own boardroom,” she says.
Bridgmohan believes women should invest in financial literacy, understand their value, and own it without apology. Equally important is building a strong circle of mentors. She also stresses the importance of building community. For her, leadership means using each win to create opportunities for others. True legacy, she says, comes from lifting others as you rise.
“My visibility through global media, financial education, and philanthropic initiatives helps to challenge outdated narratives and raise the bar for what’s possible for women in this industry,” she adds.
Her influence reflects a mix of entrepreneurial drive, community focus, and a deep commitment to inclusion. Through her YouTube show, Financial Room with Natasha Bridgmohan, she shares straightforward strategies on wealth building and financial literacy to make expert advice more accessible.
Bridgmohan argues that the industry has long been modelled after a rigid, masculine idea – one that values competition over collaboration and inclusion. “True inclusion happens when we stop expecting women to lead like men to be taken seriously,” she says.
CMP’s Top 50 Women of Influence are delivering a new take on influence in the industry. While national data shows that progress on equity has slowed, this year’s awardees are pushing forward with modern leadership. They are leading collective efforts by:
building businesses that reflect their values
mentoring future leaders
making meaningful change
expanding opportunity
shifting old expectations
To compile the 2025 Top 50 Women of Influence list, CMP encouraged mortgage professionals to nominate outstanding female leaders from across the industry. Nominators were asked to provide details of their nominee’s achievements and initiatives over the past 12 months, including specific examples of their professional accomplishments and contributions to the industry as a whole.
The final list was selected by a judging panel made up of industry leaders and previous Women of Influence, including:
Carla Giles, Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association
Daniela DeTommaso, FCT
Heather Bowie, Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association
Leah Zlatkin, Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association – Ontario
Samantha Gale, Canadian Association of Private Lenders
To avoid any potential conflicts of interest, the CMP team voided self-voting and votes for a judge’s own organization.