Mortgage industry entrepreneur Michael Smith, owner of Okmulgee Mortgage Company in Macon, Georgia, joins Inspired By to reveal how a hyper-local brand, cutting-edge tech, and a servant’s heart can disrupt the mortgage broker channel. He retraces a remarkable journey — from VA streamline specialist and community-bank exec, to cross-country weapons-transport driver (and survivor of a 130 mph motorbike crash), to launching a lean, customer-centric brokerage and the turnkey Mortgage Systems USA platform that empowers other professionals to originate loans.

Brock Cassidy, Chief Revenue Officer at Newzip and one of NMP's 40 Under 40, shares the story of his dynamic rise in the mortgage and real estate industries. From his formative years at Rocket Mortgage to innovative work at EasyKnock and now driving growth at Newzip, Cassidy explains how being a relationship-first leader has shaped his career. He dives into the value of trust, the importance of doing your job well, and the long-term power of partnerships. Plus, he talks about co-hosting "REALFridays," a podcast that's quickly become a go-to industry voice.

In this episode, Adam Cohen — CFO and COO of Asset Based Lending and a 40 Under 40 honoree — dives into the principles that have guided his career: human connection, calculated risk, and relentless curiosity. Cohen explains how automation can enhance efficiency but not replace empathy, and how fostering a culture of ownership and dialogue keeps his team forward-thinking. He shares personal stories, from college wake-up calls to reinventing workflows through self-taught macros, all underscoring his belief that innovation begins by asking “why” — and that people are still at the heart of great business.