Rocket's new broker champion 

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The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author.

Katie Sweeney, Rocket Pro's recently appointed executive vice president of strategy and broker advocacy, didn't plan on becoming a voice for mortgage brokers — and she certainly didn't envision herself joining a massive lending institution like Rocket.

But she wears her new role — which places her at the unique intersection of government affairs, product development and industry advocacy — with clarity, conviction and a quiet fire.

"I only take roles that let me help people," Sweeney told me during an in-depth conversation at the Broker Action Coalition's Advocacy in Action conference. "If I can't help 10 people who'll help 10 more, I'm not interested."

Becoming an industry change-agent

Like many mortgage professionals, Sweeney stumbled into the industry, moving from health care to a marketing role at Pacific Union Financial where she dove into consumer direct marketing, lead aggregators and portfolio retention — and her performance earned her a quick promotion.

From there, Sweeney moved into product development, building tools that eventually caught the attention of leadership behind the broker-focused platform ARIVE. She became one of the company's first employees before joining AIME (the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts), where she co-founded the Broker Action Coalition (BAC) alongside Brendan McKay.

Landing at Rocket

It was through her advocacy work that Sweeney first encountered Rocket — but not without skepticism. "There's always been a perception that Rocket wouldn't support eliminating trigger leads," she said. "But I found out they were actually the only direct lender involved in the coalition."

What followed was a months-long relationship-building process. She learned that Rocket was championing policies in favor of consumers and brokers, and that, despite public perception, "we were incredibly aligned in the things we wanted to see happen in D.C."

Her connection with Rocket deepened when former ARIVE colleague Dan Sogorka joined Rocket Pro as general manager. Sogorka, Sweeney recalled, "always included me in conversations. He made sure I understood the why behind the decisions."

That personal and professional respect turned into an opportunity. "They asked me to come do a lot of the same work I'd been doing — but at scale."

Bolstering brokers through advocacy

At Rocket, Sweeney's role is dual-sided: She serves as an advocate for brokers externally, and a translator of broker needs internally.

In her advocacy role, she's a visible force in D.C. and in statehouses, pushing for broker-inclusive policy. Trigger leads and affordable housing are among Sweeney's immediate priorities, but she's also laser-focused on increasing engagement at the state level and forging closer ties between the BAC and established institutions.

Within Rocket, Sweeney works across product, tech and operations to make sure the broker point of view isn't just considered — it's central.

"There's a perspective Rocket hadn't always had access to," she explained. "What actually impacts a broker's business? How do they interpret policy? What resources do they need? That's the lens I bring."

The ultimate goal is building the infrastructure to support and scale the broker channel. "My job is to create leverage for brokers. Period."

Dispelling rumors about recent acquisitions

Some have speculated that Rocket's recent acquisitions, including the high-profile Redfin and Mr. Cooper deals, signal a retreat from broker support. Sweeney rejects that outright.

"Absolutely not true," she said firmly. "I had no interest in going to work for a lender until this opportunity. I wouldn't have joined if there wasn't a deep, long-term commitment to this channel."

While Sweeney can't reveal everything, she hinted at more announcements on the horizon: "All intended to provide more access to resources for brokers — not less."

Supporting tomorrow's leaders

Sweeney is a vocal advocate for women in leadership — and not just in name. "Less than 5% of executive roles in our industry belong to women," she pointed out, "yet over 50% of mortgage purchase decisions are made by women. That's a disconnect."

She's committed to changing that. "Every team I build, I build my girl gang," she said, smiling. "Up-and-coming women with potential who need a platform to shine."

She's equally passionate about bringing younger professionals into the industry. "We don't talk enough about how many different business models exist," she said. "It's not just banks or call centers. There are brokerages, there's remote work, there are flexible hours."

"This is one of the only industries where you can change your family's future without an advanced degree," she continued. "That's powerful. But Gen Z doesn't know that yet. We have to go where they are — even if that means getting on TikTok."

What else should aspiring mortgage professionals know? "You can be really successful in this industry and still have a soul," she said. "I think it's time we start celebrating the leaders who prove that's possible."

Coby Hakalir has been a leader in the mortgage industry for almost three decades. He currently leads the mortgage banking and mortgage tech division for T3 Sixty, one of real estate's most respected management consultancies, and resides in Northern California. (Note: Real Estate News is an editorially independent division of T3 Sixty.)