Marketing Meets Mortgages: How Lindsay LaBonte Masters Client Relationships in Today’s World

Lending Leadership

Welcome back to Lending Leadership: The Creative Brief.

Today, we’re especially excited to introduce you to someone who literally grew up dreaming of being a loan officer. We’re talking about Lindsay LaBonte—who, from childhood, was inspired by her father’s dedication to helping families achieve the American dream of homeownership. Lindsay joins us to share her unique journey into the mortgage business, including taking over her family’s legacy branch, becoming a branch manager, and how she built a purpose-driven team—all while balancing life as a wife and mother.

In this episode, we dive into Lindsay’s early exposure to the industry, her resilience through market downturns, and the personal evolution she’s gone through as both a leader and a mom. We discuss her decision to join HMA Mortgage, how she navigated the complexities of change with her team, and her hands-on strategies for building a supportive, high-performing branch. Lindsay also opens up about the realities of being a successful female leader in lending and the power of asking for help. Finally, we touch on her holistic approach to marketing, why genuine connection matters more than ever, and how she’s adapted to a more digital world while never losing sight of the people at the center of her work.

Key takeaways:

1. Growing up in the Business Creates a Unique Perspective: Lindsay’s early immersion into the mortgage industry—shadowing her father, interning as a teenager, and witnessing the realities of entrepreneurship—provided her with a rare foundation of both technical know-how and a passion for serving her community.
2. Surviving and Learning Through Market Downturns: Experiencing the 2008 housing crash from the inside out gave Lindsay an invaluable sense of caution and resilience. She learned the importance of strategy, adaptability, and conservative planning—skills that have impacted her leadership approach and decision-making ever since.
3. Building Team Culture Through Self-Awareness and Support: Lindsay reveals how her growth as a leader accelerated after becoming a mother, learning to ask for help and intentionally surrounding herself with team members whose strengths complemented her own. She emphasizes leveraging tools like strength assessments, coaching, and a willingness to let go of perfectionism in order to create a thriving, supportive environment.
4. Choosing the Right Company is About Values, Not Perks: Lindsay’s thoughtful, thorough process in transitioning her branch to HMA Mortgage highlights the importance of company culture, core values, and authentic relationships. For Lindsay, it was never about the flashiest signing bonus—but about ownership, people, and alignment.
5. Real Marketing is about Genuine Connection: In today’s digital-first world, Lindsay focuses on transcending transactional relationships by using technology as a tool to enhance personal connection. Her approach blends modern marketing techniques with old-school relationship-building, ensuring past clients and referral partners feel valued far beyond the closing table.

If you’re a loan officer—or any leader—seeking inspiration on intentional growth, female leadership, or how to weather industry highs and lows with grace, this is the episode for you. As always, DM us for resources like the “Acts of Freedom” worksheet, or reach out to Lindsay directly for support, especially if you’re navigating change, building your team, or balancing motherhood and a mortgage career.

Join us next time as we continue diving deep into leadership, lending, and the stories that fuel our industry. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe—your journey to intentional lending leadership starts here!

Rach & Rinn