Life at Lendi profile: Dorian Loupis - Lendi’s first employee on the roller-coaster ride so far
By Dorian Loupis, Executive Home Loan Specialist,| 3 min read
Where did you work before joining Lendi?
Straight out of High School, I started an Apprenticeship in Cooking, and 4 years later I was a qualified chef. I had a lucrative career in this industry and worked as a chef for 14 years in bistros, cafes and even fine dining restaurants.
I was working so hard I never got to see my daughter so I finally made the choice to switch career. By the time I found another career my second daughter was born. Thankfully I found a job in sales where I was lucky to meet Sebastian and David (Lendi’s founders). They interviewed me for a job in the global company that they worked for at the time as National Sales Managers. Eventually they left that company to start what would later become Lendi.
I was later made redundant in November 2012, when the company I worked for cut 10% of their staff globally. The day after that I received a call from Sebastian asking if I had been let off. When I said “yes”, he yelled, "Woo hoo!" which, at the time, I didn't think was very nice... lol... He then explained why he was happy. He was hoping that I would help them start a company like no other in the industry.
Now, keep in mind I had never worked in the mortgage industry before, I knew nothing about home loans except for the mortgage I had gotten through a large well known brokerage. I’d had to take time off of work to apply for that mortgage so I already knew the process was clunky.
So I met with Sebastian and David to see what their idea was and how they were going to "change the industry".
Why did you decide to join Lendi?
My whole life I’ve always wanted to help people, from school, to becoming a chef, to sales... I enjoy knowing I have given someone something that they could've gotten anywhere else, but they preferred to get it from me. That’s a great customer experience!
We started small, with just myself and three of the founders sitting in a small room, tethering my mobile to one of their laptops for internet. Together we built customer journeys, fostered relationships with lenders and knowledge of the industry so we knew what was right for the right person.
For me, knowing Sebastian and David prior was handy - but knowing WHO they were was what made it right. What I mean by this is that I believed in them and what they wanted to do. I believed that we were building this brand for the right reasons. We were disrupting the industry for the right reasons.
How has Lendi changed in your time here?
Where do I start...??? Wow!
Well, it’s mind-blowing and humbling to have been here from the beginning and watch the dream unfold as the founders said it would. Some of the staff may have changed, but the values and the beliefs are the same - that’s why I’m still here. I believe in what they want to do and what they ARE doing.
I have been offered other jobs that were closer to my home or had a higher salary - but nothing competes. You can't take away from the belief and relief you get from coming to a job where you actually know you are adding value and helping people on a daily basis. On top of this I actually have a better work/life balance with time to see my daughters grow up.
What are the top 3 things about working at Lendi
The Culture:
We work hard, but we play hard. Once a year we have Lendi Olympics, we have a pool table, a ping-pong table, drinks on Fridays, arcade machines. They understand that we need some chill-time on top of getting work done.
The People:
My colleagues are what make this place what it is. From every part of the Company - the Associates, the CS Team, the Managers and the other Brokers I work with. If we didn't have such a wide range of people from all walks of life, it wouldn't work. The group of people we have makes it all worth it.
The Founders:
Lendi’s founders are always around to help or answer questions. They actually take the time to say hi to everyone and run a monthly All Hands seminar to keep us updated on what is happening in the industry and the company. If we ever have a question, they are always willing to answer it.
What Lendi customer story that stands out for you the most?
One of my favourite customer stories was a lady who was a Mortgage Broker herself. She wasn't able to refinance her home with the mortgage company she worked for so started looking for alternative options. She came across us and got in contact, I was lucky enough to chat with her and we discussed her overall expectations and preferences out of the loan, short-term and long-term.
We worked out what she wanted and I was able to reduce her loan term by 3 years AND help put some extra money back into her pocket each month. She was so pleased with myself and the Lendi team that she got her ex-husband to get in touch to re-do his loan (so I helped him too).
How has your life changed since joining Lendi?
It has been a roller-coaster ride so far. There have been highs, there have been lows, however I wouldn't change it for anything. The things I have learnt from the founders and my peers are priceless.
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Here at Lendi, we're always looking for smart, driven individuals who share our passion for innovation and continuous learning. If you'd like to join one of Australia's fastest growing companies, check out our job openings.
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