In this episode of The Building Bigger Lives Podcast, Kathryn and Michael discuss the distinction between membership and sponsorship in leadership development, based on a HousingWire session Kathryn attended. They define mentorship as providing guidance and advice through a formal or informal relationship, while sponsorship involves actively advocating for someone's advancement or opportunities, particularly in decision-making settings where the sponsor is not present. Kathryn explains that while mentorship is commonly discussed, sponsorship offers a more impactful way for women to support each other in leadership roles. She provides practical examples of sponsorship in the mortgage industry context, including referring clients to specialists and advocating for team members to take on projects. The conversation emphasizes that effective sponsorship requires building trust and being willing to put one's reputation on the line, while also encouraging listeners to proactively create advocates for themselves by understanding their unique value proposition and seeking feedback from respected colleagues.

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In today's episode of The Building Bigger Lives Podcast, Michael and Kathryn discuss the newly coined term "otrovert," introduced by psychiatrist Dr. Rami Kaminski, which describes individuals who are independent thinkers and excel at one-on-one connections but feel disconnected from groups and resist groupthink. They explore how otroverts differ from introverts and extroverts, noting that while introverts gain energy from alone time and extroverts from group settings, otroverts are defined by their lack of need to belong to groups rather than by how they're drained or energized by people. The conversation also connects these personality types to the DISC assessment, with otroverts potentially aligning with high S (people-oriented but one-on-one focused) and high C (task-focused and preferring alone time) styles, while ambiverts might correspond to high D (able to toggle between tasks and people). Michael and Kathryn provide practical advice for managing and working with otroverts, emphasizing the importance of recognizing their unique contributions as independent thinkers and allowing them space to avoid group activities while still feeling valued as part of the team.

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In this episode of The Building Bigger Lives Podcast, Michael Regan and Kathryn Pedersen discuss their reflections on the HousingWire Gathering in Austin, Texas. They highlight key takeaways from various speakers, including Jason Mitchell from the top independent real estate group, who emphasized the importance of bringing value to agents to retain talent. Kathryn and Michael also discuss insights from Scott Turner, Secretary of HUD, who addressed regulatory costs impacting home purchases, and Ron Leonard, CEO of CCM, who stressed the strategic importance of managing a balance sheet. They note the industry's aging agent demographic, with 71% of agents selling zero homes last year, and discuss how AI and technology are creating efficiencies rather than replacing human roles. The event's focus on networking and relationship-building was praised, with the next gathering scheduled for April in Frisco, Texas.

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In this episode of the Building Bigger Lives Podcast, Michael Regan and Kathryn Pedersen discuss Michael Hyatt's book "Free to Focus." They explore key concepts from the book, including the importance of stopping to evaluate priorities, protecting energy rather than just time, and using a productivity compass to focus on tasks in the "desire zone." The discussion covers Hyatt's five levels of delegation and the Eisenhower priority matrix as practical tools for leaders to improve focus and productivity. Kathryn shares how implementing these concepts helped her organize her work week and make better use of her energy. The hosts emphasize the book's relevance for reevaluating priorities in the current environment and encourage listeners to consider reducing distractions by managing notifications on their devices.

Michael shares his experience with the book, which he discovered in 2019 after being impressed by Hyatt's previous work on "Living Forward." He found the book valuable for its tactical tools and practical implementation strategies, which he could share with clients. The discussion highlights Michael's positive impression of the book and his plans to incorporate it into his client work and roundtables.

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In this episode of the Building Bigger Lives Podcast, Michael and Kathryn preview the upcoming HousingWire Gathering 2026 event in Austin, Texas, scheduled for April 27-30. They discuss their positive experiences from previous years, highlighting the event's unique format where HousingWire journalists focus on drawing out stories from guests rather than typical sales-focused presentations. Key speakers mentioned included Ron from Cross Country Mortgage, who is expected to share insights on recent M&A activity, and Nakia Wright from NAR. The hosts emphasize the event's balanced representation of real estate and lending industry leaders, noting how it provides valuable perspective on long-term strategic thinking rather than quarterly performance. They also discuss the benefits of in-person networking and learning from both CEO-level speakers and high-performing industry professionals.

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In this episode of the Building Bigger Lives Podcast, Michael Regan and Kathryn Peterson discuss the distinction between loan officers and mortgage advisors in the housing industry. They explore how titles impact customer perception and the importance of asking thoughtful questions to build trust and provide value beyond transactional services, particularly focusing on the titles "mortgage advisor" and "loan officer." They highlight how these titles impact consumer perception and search behavior, especially in the context of AI-driven queries. The conversation begins by exploring the origins and implications of these titles, with Kathryn sharing her experience working in both banking and independent mortgage settings. The discussion aims to help listeners consider how they position themselves when interacting with consumers, particularly in the context of mid-year planning and script development.

The conversation highlights how mortgage advisors focus on long-term relationships, ongoing support, and understanding clients' goals and concerns, differentiating themselves from traditional loan officers who operate more as order-takers. The hosts emphasize that mortgage advisors help clients navigate complex decisions while maintaining professional relationships that can evolve into personal connections, positioning themselves as trusted advisors rather than transaction facilitators.

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In this episode, Kathryn Pedersen and Michael Regan discuss client touch points and post-closing experiences in the mortgage industry. Kathryn shares how she received a request from an insurance agent about the systems she uses for client follow-up, which inspired this podcast episode. They explore the importance of maintaining personal connections with clients beyond the initial loan process, including regular check-ins at key milestones like the first payment, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-closing. The conversation covers strategies for setting up these touch points early in the client relationship and asking meaningful questions during initial consultations to identify future follow-up topics. Kathryn emphasizes starting small by implementing one or two specific touchpoints at a time rather than overwhelming oneself with multiple new systems, and stresses that these proactive approaches help build long-term client relationships while maintaining a personal touch even during busy periods.

Building Bigger Lives Podcast

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In this episode, Kathryn and Michael discuss four key leadership roles that leaders can play: advisor, trainer, manager, and coach. They explain the differences between these roles, using examples like seeking advice versus training on specific topics like P&L management. The discussion highlights how leaders often default to certain roles based on their natural tendencies and ego, but emphasizes the importance of being able to adapt and use all four approaches appropriately. Kathryn notes that leaders should be clear about which role they are playing and consider asking team members what they need in specific situations. Michael stresses that while all four roles have strengths, leaders should avoid getting stuck in one approach and should balance different leadership styles to build trust and develop their team's capabilities, by effectively connecting with those they lead.

Building Bigger Lives Podcast

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Contact Coach Michael Regan-

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Contact Kathryn Pedersen-

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