Q&A: Sue Hayter, broker and mentor, Quality Financial Group

A good business mentor must have the experience and skills to successfully guide the mentee by sharing their knowledge and expertise, therefore empowering them to fulfil their dreams of being self-employed, self-sufficient business owners or wherever their path may lead them in the world of employment.

My key leadership and mentoring values are based on a foundation of honesty, integrity and trust, which are supported by habits of excellence and nurtured by a mutual respect for each other.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve had to do as a mentor – and what did you learn from that experience?

The Australian finance industry is highly regulated, and when I first started mentoring I found it difficult to mentor brokers according to my business model and style. Therefore, I authored my Quality Financial Group mentoring program, which was approved by the MFAA (2014) and FBAA (2016).

I learnt from this experience that having a robust program with proven processes, procedures and a roadmap to remain ASIC compliant successfully resulted in:

• Empowering brokers to work autonomously
• Produces excellent customer service outcome
• Customers are not disadvantaged

Who inspires you in business, and why?  

Throughout my life I have drawn inspiration, globally, from motivational people.

As an ex 100m and 200m athletics sprinter and hockey player, I have always followed top athletes because I knew that many hours of practice and sacrifice translated into the success of reaching my goal. I have implemented these principles into my business practices.

A few examples of people who have inspired me over the years:

• Eliud Kipchoge - Kenyan athlete who was born with no privileges and had to work incredibly hard to obtain success. He is the world record holder in the marathon and was the 5000m world champion.
• Nikki Hudson - the Australian former women’s field hockey player and captain of the Hockeyroos.
• Dylan Martin Alcott - OAM and Australian wheelchair basketballer and tennis player, radio host and motivational speaker.
• Margaret Thatcher - the “Iron Lady” who was the first woman to become prime minister of Britain.
• Florence Griffith-Joyner - the world’s fastest female sprinter and 100m world record holder
• Usain Bolt – 100m and 200m world champion.

Currently I’m very inspired by Dr Bronwyn King AO – Australian radiation oncologist and anti-tobacco trailblazer campaigner who is educating the world about being ethically correct.

What advice would you give to other female business leaders looking to succeed in the finance industry?

Believe in yourself. Have a good attitude. Work very hard. Never give up. You can make it!

Practice ethical standards. Be brave and speak up if you see that something is not right.

Always turn difficult situations into positivity. I live in Melbourne and have been in the COVID-19 lockdown for six months. I embraced the opportunity to write a book (to be released in January 2021) called The Ultimate Secrets How to Love Your Life, which explains how I view the world and how I got to where I am today.

It is my wish that you will also be able to say to yourself, “I love my life”.

You can find out Sue Hayter’s top tips for succeeding in the mortgage broking space and learn more about how she works with her mentees to drive success at this week’s New Broker Academy 2020.

The New Broker Academy 2020, run in partnership with principal partner HashChing, aims to equip new and prospective brokers with the tools, knowledge and skills to succeed in their broking career.

This year, the event will take place online on the mornings of 12-13 November.

The last remaining spaces for the free event can be secured here.

[Related: Top tips from the broker industry winners of the Women in Finance Awards 2020]