Women are reshaping the industry but pace at the top is slow

"Diversity is now on the agenda," said Jana Chetraru, director of BTJ Mortgages. "We see more women, younger people, and people from different backgrounds stepping into visible roles. But at the top, change is much, much slower."  

Chetraru, who entered the industry nearly two decades ago, says she has witnessed a shift in the tone and make-up of the industry. But visibility, she argues, is not the same as influence.  

"The door is opening wider," she said, "but we still need more mentoring and support to help diverse talent move up."  

Empathy, not just equity  

Asked how female leadership is reshaping broking, Chetraru pointed to what she sees as a more human approach.  

"[Women] listen. They bring empathy into tough decisions and they create space for others to shine," she said. "That approach makes teams stronger and shows that good leadership is about people, not just positions."  

This view is supported by a 2025 MPA survey, which found that 91% of women in the mortgage industry report a shortage of female leaders they can look up to, a rise from 61% just two years earlier. The same report noted that 95% of women face at least one barrier at work, from informal exclusion to leadership styles that don't reflect their strengths.  

"It's not always the obvious barriers," Chetraru said. "Sometimes it's a client assuming a woman is less experienced, or important conversations happening in networks she's not part of. Even how leadership is judged can favour a certain style, so the real value women bring doesn't always get recognised."  

Changing the pipeline  

Despite the obstacles, Chetraru is optimistic. She sees growing representation at events and in the day-to-day make-up of brokerages.  

"If we look back 10 or 15 years, it was really male dominated. Now we can see a lot of women, I would say half the room in some cases. It's nice to see."  

Cultural shifts, she believes, have made the difference, both in society and at home.  

"Life has changed. Women are equal now. The balance of work and kids is more shared, and you see more women in senior roles on TV and in the news. That influences other women. It shows you can do it, you don’t need to be afraid."  

She also credits women's drive and resilience: "Women can work even with three kids on their laps and make it happen."  

Beyond the headcount  

To accelerate the change, Chetraru wants firms to look beyond the numbers.  

"Culture matters," she said. "Inclusion should be part of hiring, not just about checking boxes. And in metrics, it shouldn't be just about how many people come in, but how they grow and move up."  

That shift, from simply opening the door to actively supporting careers, may define the next stage of broking's diversity journey. Sustained progress will depend on how well the industry turns visibility into real advancement.