Loan Market narrows gender gap in WA – Mortgage Professional America

Report on Diversity and Sustainable Development Goals in the Broking Industry

Advancing SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

An analysis of industry perspectives reveals a significant focus on enhancing gender equality and reducing inequalities within the financial broking sector. Key stakeholders emphasize that equitable representation is not merely a principle but a strategic imperative that introduces a diversity of voices, experiences, and perspectives, ultimately benefiting client outcomes.

• Acknowledging Disparities: There is an acknowledgment of historical advantages within the industry and a recognition that professional journeys have not been uniform, particularly for women.
• Actionable Strategies: A call to action has been made to actively listen, learn, and build upon existing frameworks to cultivate a genuinely inclusive industry for all professionals, directly addressing the targets of SDG 10.
• Community and Empowerment: Initiatives such as the “Leading Ladies” community serve as a critical mechanism for achieving SDG 5. This platform fosters an environment where women in the industry can exchange ideas, achieve collective growth, and build strong professional support networks.

Promoting SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The broking industry’s success is fundamentally linked to human capital and relationships. Aligning the industry’s demographic composition with the diversity of the communities it serves is identified as a key driver for sustainable economic growth and the provision of decent work.

1. Enhanced Client Service: A diverse network of brokers is better positioned to understand and meet the needs of a wider and more varied range of clients, fostering inclusive economic participation.
2. Collaborative Growth: The reported willingness of female brokers to provide mutual support, such as responding to inquiries and offering guidance, exemplifies a collaborative culture that promotes productive employment and professional development for all.
3. Inclusive Business Models: By mirroring community diversity, the industry strengthens its business model, ensuring long-term viability and contributing to the broader goal of sustained and inclusive economic growth as outlined in SDG 8.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Specific Targets Identified

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
     
     The article directly addresses this target by focusing on the representation and collective growth of women in the broking industry, which is a part of economic life. The creation of the “Leading Ladies” community is a mechanism to foster an environment where women can “exchange ideas and achieve collective growth,” thereby promoting their full and effective participation. The statement about the need to “listen, learn, and build upon what’s working to ensure our industry is inclusive for all” further supports the goal of equal opportunities.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.
     
     The article’s core theme is creating an inclusive work environment for women in the broking profession. The acknowledgement that “the journey hasn’t always been the same for women” points to inequalities in work conditions and opportunities. The effort to make the industry “inclusive for all” and the support provided by networks like “Leading Ladies” are steps toward achieving decent work for women in this sector.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
     
     This target is relevant as the article explicitly discusses reducing gender-based inequality within a specific industry. The speaker acknowledges their “advantages” and the different “journey” for women, highlighting an existing inequality. The call for the network to “mirror the diversity of our communities” and be “inclusive for all” is a direct appeal for the economic inclusion of women, aiming to reduce the disparity in representation and opportunity.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Implied Indicator (related to 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions): Proportion of female brokers in the industry.
     
     While the article does not provide specific numbers, it implies this as a key metric for progress. The hyperlink text mentions a “push to boost female broker numbers,” directly indicating that the quantity and proportion of women in the profession are being tracked as a measure of success for inclusivity initiatives.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Implied Indicator: Existence and effectiveness of support networks for women.
     
     The article highlights the “Leading Ladies community” as a valuable resource that fosters “an environment where women in the industry can exchange ideas and achieve collective growth.” The “genuine willingness for female brokers to pick up the phone or reply to an email” serves as a qualitative indicator of a supportive and decent work environment, which can be measured through surveys or network participation rates.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Implied Indicator: Diversity and representation within the broker network compared to community demographics.
     
     The statement, “When our network mirrors the diversity of our communities, we are in a much stronger position,” implies a clear indicator for measuring inclusion. Progress would be measured by analyzing the demographic makeup of the broker network (specifically gender, in this context) and comparing it to the diversity of the wider community it serves.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mpamag.com