Kristy Walsh, 31, said that people have learned not to underestimate her.
From carving out a successful career as a woman in finance to appearing on Top Gear in 2005, she has learned to apply drive and determination to get wherever she needs to be.
Now, she is preparing to share that drive with the people of Ipswich, when she opens her own mortgage brokerage, The Mortgage Capital, on Tuesday.
A self-confessed people person, Kristy started out by training as an accountant before switching to banking.
Having worked her way up to being a Personal Banking Manager, she obtained her Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice.
However, when Kristy began applying for roles, she was shocked to hear that many believed she would not be successful, having recently become a mother.
Five years on, Kristy is delighted at having proved them wrong. “I use that negativity as a strength and a power.”
The Mortgage Capital will aim to support her clients through the process of getting a mortgage, whether it’s for their first home or any other property.
“I really care what my clients are going through,” she said. “I advise mortgages and insurances, and I have another broker joining me soon who will be looking at pensions and investments. We will be doing it all under one roof, and that’s something we can give to the clients.”
Opening The Mortgage Capital on Tuesday, September 12 was a poignant decision for Kristy, for it would have been her younger brother, Josh’s birthday.
“Without him, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Kristy. Josh died in 2016 after a fatal accident, and she said she struggled to regain her fighting spirit after this loss.
“I think of life very differently now,” Kristy explained. “I can’t guarantee tomorrow – so I ask myself, what am I going to do today?”
The Mortgage Capital can be found at Unit 15, Brightwell Barns, Ipswich.
To follow the business on Instagram, search: @themortgagecapital