In this episode of The Specialist, host Rob Barnard sits down with Joel Bailey-Wilson, founder of Meta Mortgages, to explore what it really takes to build a mortgage brokerage from the ground up in today’s mortgage market.

Joel shares the story behind launching Meta Mortgages, from the gap he saw in the market to the realities of starting a business without many of the traditional advantages that have long existed in financial services. Together, they dig into the practical and cultural barriers new founders often face, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, and how determination, adaptability and belief play a critical role in overcoming them.

A key theme of the conversation is the power of personal branding and social media. Joel explains how putting authenticity at the heart of his business, and meeting customers whe ...