Bridgett Robinson

Diversity and inclusion mortgage loan originator and outreach coordinator, Neighborhood Finance Corp.

Age: 37

Boyfriend: Derrick Hodges 

Children: Cameron Robinson 

Reasons she is a Forty: She is a champion for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa's “I Am Enough” program. She is currently a project manager for Grand View University's Horizon Scholars Program. She successfully launched the J2H program raising the percentage of Black homeownership.

What are your goals in your role at your company? I've been intentional in getting in front of my community. I've put myself in spaces that others wouldn't think of. Diverse and underprivileged communities have been burned by financial institutions before. I'm not here to be No. 1, I'm just here to understand and help make changes. 

What are your goals for your community involvement? My duties as a board member for Skate DSM have also been high on my priority list. It's been there for a long time because before I was working with the skate community, I thought I knew a lot. Wrong. It's such a beautiful, unique and humbling experience.  

What's your biggest passion, and why? My biggest passion is connecting people. People or organizations that have similar missions can really become a force when working together. We can't accomplish great things by working separately on the same thing. It benefits no one to copy another because that only creates confusion. 

What is it that drives you? Seeing others like myself succeed. Going from level 1 to 100 because they put in the work, asked questions and were true about who they really are. It's OK to have setbacks, we all do, but it's OK to ask for help as well.

What are your future aspirations? I'm really interested in learning more and getting more involved in the rental space. How can we better support our renters to prepare them for homeownership? Do they want to be renting? If they do, why? What can we do to make the long-term renter feel supported as well and not pushed into homeownership? 

Three hobbies: Listening to music, reading and trying new restaurants.

Fun fact: She has dressed up in mascot fashion as Arthur, Hello Kitty and Kung Fu Panda. 

One word to describe you: Tantamount.

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? My wish for the Central Iowa business community would be to invest in more businesses of color. Not just the ones that are shiny and new but the ones that get overlooked because they don't fit the mold. Invest and don't try and change something that is working. 

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? Take time for self-care. Being a leader is a thrilling and rewarding role, but also stressful. If you don't take time to pause and create calm, you will burn out quickly. Saying no is OK; not everything you thought was going to fit is going to fit.  

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? One issue that I want to see Central Iowa leaders address is more collaboration to help our youths. Mental health is real and we need to do more to support them from the start. Not when it's too late. Children are taking their own lives and the lives of others because no one is there to listen or get them the proper help that they may need. More people need to pay attention to what is going on with our youths and what we can do to be of more support besides money.

Anything else you haven't addressed that people must know about you? I love Halloween and scary movies! When I had more time, I would make Halloween costumes for my family and myself. Each Halloween has to have a theme at our house. One year it was jack-o’-lanterns, another year it was skeletons, and last year it was a “Little Shop of Horrors” vibe.