BDM in the spotlight: Melanie Davis

AFM's woman in Sydney has 17 years in the industry, starting straight after highschool

This week: Melanie Davis, Australian First Mortgage, covering Sydney and beyond.

BDM in the spotlight asks a different BDM the same seven questions – giving you a weekly insight into the lives of some of the top BDM’s in the country.

How often do you see brokers in a week?
Every day

What do brokers want most from you?
Solutions. I need to be able to answer scenarios with the skill of a credit assessor and the flair of a sales executive.   

What is your favourite part of the job? 
I love getting into the nitty gritty of deals and helping to grow a business. Mainly through sound strategies based on the broker’s specific business. I never take a one size fits all approach: Being a BDM is not about flogging a product or talking about specials.

What distinguishes the best brokers you deal with? 
I am privileged to work with some of the best brokers in the country. The one common denominator is they all maintain long-term relationships with their clients, despite each having very diverse client bases. Rather than chasing easy quick sales, they look after their clients’ financial needs - for now and into the future as well.

Describe your ideal weekend:
Quality time with my family. Simple. Uncomplicated. A bottle of good wine doesn’t hurt either, once the kids are in bed.

What’s the strangest lending scenario you’ve ever encountered? 
I don’t find anything strange anymore. To be honest I have so many outside the square scenario’s that I probably don’t know what straight forward looks like anymore. It’s a good thought because you’re always learning new ways to solve problems.  

How do you like your steak done?
Rare, not raw, and cooked by someone other than me.
 
Every Wednesday we’ll feature a different BDM from across Australia. If you’d like to be included, please email the editor.

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