1. What does your role consist of and what roles/experience have you had in the past?

My role is head of marketing at Mint Bridging. My primary duties include creating marketing strategies to promote Mint products through multi-channel campaigns – for both acquisition and retention targets – and to improve our client relationships.

I’ve 15+ years of global marketing expertise – working with clients in China, Europe, Canada, North America and Latin-America. The industries I’ve worked in are diverse – from international trade and operations to economic development and affairs within the food sector, public administration, marketing and communication agencies, and shopping and leisure centres. I’ve a BS in political science and sociology, alongside a major in public administration and studies in international relations.

Amparo Burgos, head of marketing at Mint Bridging

2. Did you always want to work in finance?

My background has been anything but finance, but there’s a common foundation when it comes to marketing and communications: understanding and brand building is core, alongside internal communications, regardless of industry. As my industry expertise is so vast and varied, where I excel is on how to develop and market a brand in any sector. With this in mind, I’ve found my short time at Mint to be incredibly enlightening. The bridging industry is quite separate from traditional finance and institutions, yet keeps an eye open on how the markets affect properties. This is an intertwined industry with many moving parts, so I not only need to address the core bridging market and trends, but also the bigger economic picture that affects the property sector. I’ve rolled my sleeves up and I’m liking what I see so far with the potential for Mint to grow as a major force. It’s a very different challenge for me, so at this early stage at Mint I’m very happy to be working in the finance arena.

3. What impact is Brexit likely to have on the bridging market?

Every company experienced the initial panic in June, but Brexit hasn’t dramatically changed our business flow, enquiries-to-conversions nor our stance on internal company policies. More importantly, Mint is prepared for new macroeconomic agitation, and we have intentionally flexible marketing strategies that can adapt rapidly to different scenarios – if faced with new Brexit uncertainty. 

4. What is the one thing you would change about the bridging industry?

From a newcomer with fresh eyes, the only area I’d change about the bridging industry is more mainstream coverage. Bridging used to be associated with a back-alley kind of business, but over the past five years, it’s become so much more common and widely accepted. Nevertheless, the mainstream media has not evolved in accepting this and still write the same inner-circle mortgage and property stories. Bridging has come on leaps and bounds in demand, so it’s a case of mainstream media now also accepting this and widening its coverage. It needs to change, not the bridging industry.

•   Mint appoints new head of marketing
•   Mint Bridging on the hunt for a new underwriter
•   Mint Bridging appoints legal head

5. What makes a lender stand out from the crowd?

At Mint, we stand out because we have family funds and a dedicated in-house team of lawyers and underwriters. This gives us an extra edge on competitors as clients and brokers know they’re speaking to the purse-string holders in our company, gain rapid responses and are hand-held throughout the term. Nobody knows better than us in the bridging market.

6. What exciting projects does Mint have this year?

Alongside accelerated growth and on a rapid recruitment process (more to come on these announcements soon), we’re working on integrating a new software technology to assess patterns of clients and brokers. This will provide us with new analytical trends that we can use to address business dynamics to increase deal volumes. It’s an exciting time for us as we’re re-aligning our brand messaging and core USPs by using this software as a factual aid. Our internal communications is also strengthening from this and will help us in scaling quickly. We’ve always stated that our aim is never to be a global multinational business, as this will conflict with our hands-on brand image and personalised approach. Since Brexit, we are receiving more international client enquiries, and this is an area we’re already strengthening.

7. What are the biggest challenges for the bridging market this year?

I believe technology is the biggest challenge as the industry has a fantastic foundation yet there’s little software to accommodate the analytical demands. The finance industry prides itself on having the best technology to meet market demands and changes with heavy emphasis on customisation, yet personalised bridging software has failed in jumping on to this fast-growing industry. The irony is that bridging has evolved so fast, yet the technology and mainstream media have not, two areas that claim to be at the forefront of change.

8. Explain the most attractive deal you have seen at Mint

I’ve not seen a particular deal that’s grabbed my attention; it’s more of the overall style and flows that Mint Bridging uses which I find particularly interesting. Each time a deal comes in, the whole company is involved. I find that a breath of fresh air as: a) there’s no red tape involved, so the team works together, and b) there’s a unique rhythm they adopt in assessing the quality and potential of a deal. From working with huge, global corporations and a typical staccato method of supply-chain, seeing Mint in action as a unified, collaborative team is a true eye-opener.

9. What is your favourite part about the bridging industry?

The potential of mainstream growth is the most exciting element to me. The industry is still relatively new (compared to other finance sectors), so I’m particularly intrigued to build Mint’s brand to fit within the overall scene and our niche style. I excel when I’m knee deep in a relatively untapped marketplace; creating a market fit and growth strategy. This is my favourite part of the role as the potential is incredible and there are no limits as to what I can do within Mint for the company’s success.

10. Who is your idol and why?

I have been playing tennis since I was eight years old, competing in Spain and the USA. Nadal is without (any doubt) my favourite, one of the best tennis players in history, who embodies the values I believe: hard work, determination to improve day after day, tenacity and the passion for the profession!