Jessica Manna
Portrait of Jessica Manna.

About · New York, NY

Hi, I’m Jessica.

Home lending marketing executive with 15+ years in the mortgage industry and six-time executive head of marketing, most recently SVP, Growth Marketing at Better. Rebuilds how marketing teams grow and how they work, increasingly with AI.

15+Years in the mortgage industryAgency, lender and fintech
6×Executive head of marketingBetter, GO, Fairway, Planet, PMAC, Residential Finance
$72BVolume, 1,200 branchesFairway · 95 FTEs, $75MM budget
$3BVolume, up from $750MResidential Finance · branches 0 → 180
15Industry awards8 from the housing industry
11Stages since 2021Money20/20, Google, LeadsCon and more

15+ years of home lending marketing.

Six executive head of marketing roles across 15+ years in mortgage: Residential Finance, PMAC Lending Services, Planet Home Lending (through the consultancy Mofiya), Fairway Independent Mortgage, GO Mortgage and Better. At Fairway, the fourth-largest U.S. retail lender, that meant a 95-person marketing organization and a $75MM budget as President, Digital Strategy & Innovation. At Better, most recently as SVP, Growth Marketing, the remit covered growth, brand, strategic partnerships, lifecycle and the marketing team’s AI transformation.

Experience spans every part of the business: consumer direct, distributed retail, wholesale, correspondent, fintech and servicing, from first acquisition through retention and recapture. Before going in-house: direct-response programs and response models for Countrywide, IndyMac and Ditech.

The work sits where growth and operations meet. Fix the measurement, move the money to what works, then rebuild how the team works so people spend their time on judgment. Those rebuilds: data and Workato automation at Fairway, ChatGPT and workflow automation at GO Mortgage, and Claude-based workflows at Better. See the AI work.

Where the work happened.

Six lenders as head of marketing, plus lenders served on the agency side and as a consultant.

Marketing leadership roles

  • BetterSVP, Growth Marketing · 2024–26
  • GO MortgageChief Marketing Officer · 2023–24
  • Fairway Independent MortgagePresident, Digital Strategy & Innovation · 2017–22
  • Planet Home LendingInterim CMO, via Mofiya · 2015–17
  • PMAC Lending ServicesCMO after acquiring Residential Finance · 2014
  • Residential FinanceChief Marketing Officer · 2008–13
  • Veterans United Home LoansChief Customer Officer · 2012–13
  • IntelliDynVP, Business Development · 2004–08

Agency and consulting clients

  • CountrywideBank of America
  • IndyMacDirect response
  • DitechEmail and response modeling
  • NationstarServicing recapture · now Mr. Cooper
  • CrossCountry MortgageCRM and lead nurture

Career timeline.

Every employer since 2004. Purple bars are executive head of marketing roles.

  1. BetterAug 2024 – Oct 2026
  2. GO MortgageApr 2023 – Aug 2024
  3. Fairway Independent MortgageMar 2017 – Oct 2022
  4. Mofiya (consultancy)Sep 2014 – Oct 2017 · Planet Home Lending, CrossCountry, Nationstar
  5. Residential Finance → PMACMar 2008 – Dec 2014 · CMO through PMAC’s 2014 acquisition
  6. Veterans United Home LoansDec 2012 – Mar 2013
  7. IntelliDynJul 2004 – Mar 2008

Executive head of marketingOther roles

Experience across the business.

The channels, customer stages and disciplines covered.

Distribution

Channels

  • Consumer direct
  • Distributed retail
  • Wholesale
  • Correspondent
  • Fintech
  • Servicing

Stage

Customer lifecycle

  • Acquisition
  • Retention
  • Recapture
  • Lifecycle
  • Cross-sell

Discipline

Functions led

  • Growth
  • Lead generation
  • Lead acquisition
  • Branding
  • PR & communications
  • SEO / AEO / GEO
  • Content
  • Direct mail
  • Martech
  • Lifecycle
  • Events & merch
  • Creative & design
  • Analytics
  • Product development
  • Transformation

Licenses and certifications.

15 credentials, color-coded by field. Mortgage comes first.

MortgageMarketingTechnologyLeadership

  • Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP)Mortgage Bankers Association2018
  • Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS 934501Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry2019 · expired
  • School of Loan OriginationMortgage Bankers Association2015

Marketing, technology and leadership

  • Google CMO AcademyColumbia Business School Executive Education2017
  • Email Marketing Certified ProfessionalMarketingSherpa2008
  • Database Marketing CertificateNational Center for Database Marketing2005
  • Claude CoworkAnthropic2026
  • Claude 101Anthropic2026
  • Marketing Automation BadgeWorkato2021
  • Automation Pro I & IIWorkato2021
  • Big Data Foundations: Techniques and ConceptsLinkedIn2018
  • Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Thinking MachinesLinkedIn2018
  • Product Management FoundationsProduct School2026
  • Disruptive StrategyHarvard Business School Online2020

Awards and recognition.

15 awards: 8 from the housing industry and 7 for marketing.

Housing industry

  • 2025 · BetterHousingWire Marketing LeaderFor AI-assisted workflows that cut development and QA time in half
  • 2024 · GO MortgageHousingWire Woman of InfluenceAs Chief Marketing Officer of GO Mortgage
  • 2023 · FairwayHousingWire Tech100Fairway Marketing HUB, a learning platform used by 5,000+ loan officers a day
  • 2022 · FairwayHousingWire Tech100FairwayFirst lead platform: 6,500 funded loans, $1.5B in volume
  • 2021 · FairwayHousingWire Marketing LeaderAmong the most creative and influential marketers in housing
  • 2016 · Mofiya50 Most Connected Mortgage ProfessionalsNational Mortgage Professional Magazine
  • 2015 · Mofiya40 Under 40: Mortgage Professionals to WatchNational Mortgage Professional Magazine
  • 2014 · Mofiya40 Under 40: Mortgage Professionals to WatchNational Mortgage Professional Magazine

Marketing

  • 2012Achievement in Marketing: Integrated Marketing Campaign, honorable mentionColumbus American Marketing Association · Residential Finance
  • 2012Achievement in Marketing: Online Marketing, runner-upColumbus American Marketing Association · Residential Finance
  • 2012Achievement in Marketing: Social MediaColumbus American Marketing Association · Residential Finance
  • 2010Achievement in Marketing: Community RelationsColumbus American Marketing Association · Residential Finance
  • 2009Excellence in Analytics and Modeling, bronzeNational Center for Database Marketing · Residential Finance
  • 2008Top 30 Marketers Under 30Direct Marketing News · Residential Finance
  • 2008Best Automated Email Series, goldMarketingSherpa · IntelliDyn

Continuing education.

46 courses, most of them in mortgage: origination, compliance, secondary markets and mortgage accounting.

28MortgageMBA School of Mortgage Banking I–III, Mortgage Accounting I–IV, TRID, RESPA, Reg Z
11TechnologySalesforce, ClickDimensions, CDP, AI for business
4MarketingFacebook, USPS, Cvent, Duarte VisualStory
3LeadershipSix Sigma Black Belt, coaching, consultative selling

Providers include

See all 46 courses

Mortgage (28)

  • School of Mortgage Banking I, II and III · Mortgage Bankers Association
  • Mortgage Accounting Series I–IV: Accounting, Loan-Level Accounting, Hedging, GAAP Reporting · MBA
  • CE: Lead Provider Regulations & Vendor Oversight · MBA
  • FHA Product Training · MBA
  • CFPB’s New Take on RESPA: Marketing Responsibility · Katten & Temple
  • A Guide to Accurate Advertising: From A to Reg Z · TrainingPro
  • Consumer Protection through Accurate and Ethical Advertising · TrainingPro
  • Understanding the FFIEC Final Guidance on Social Media · TrainingPro
  • Securitization and the Secondary Mortgage Market · TrainingPro
  • Start to Finish: A Closer Look at the Mortgage Loan Cycle · TrainingPro
  • Fast Track to Success: A Primer for New Mortgage Loan Originators · TrainingPro
  • TRID: TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure · MGIC
  • Explaining TRID to Real Estate Agents · MGIC
  • Mortgage Fraud Trends & Schemes · MGIC
  • FHA Guideline Changes · REMN Wholesale
  • Mortgage Champions (Sales Manager & LO) · Dale Vermillion
  • Lead Conversion for Loan Officers · Xinnix
  • LinkedIn for Loan Officers · Xinnix
  • The Complete Loan App · Xinnix
  • Lead Gen Workshop (instructor) · Ignite Coaching
  • Plugged In, Denver · Ignite Coaching
  • Lead Manager User & Admin · Velocify
  • DialIQ User & Admin · Velocify

Technology (11)

  • Salesforce Admin Beginner, CRM Essentials, Communities Cloud and Marketing Cloud · Salesforce
  • CD 101 Email Marketing, CD 201 Web Analytics, CD 301 Deploy & Config · ClickDimensions
  • CDP Workshop · CDP Institute
  • Artificial Intelligence Quick-Start for Managers · Udemy
  • Introduction to AI for Business · Udemy
  • Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Thinking Machines · LinkedIn Learning

Marketing (4)

  • Facebook Advertising · Facebook
  • USPS Mail Best Practices · U.S. Postal Service
  • Survey Best Practices · Cvent
  • Duarte VisualStory Workshop

Leadership (3)

  • Six Sigma Black Belt · The Ohio State University
  • Coach Leadership Program, Phoenix · Ignite Coaching
  • Selling as a Consultant · ProActive Training

Speaking and press.

Panels, main stages and webcasts on growth, lead generation and AI in lending.

  • 2026
    Fintech marketing panel, Adweek NYC

    “Marketing before the pain point,” hosted by Coast, Mint Studios, Adclear and DOJO AI

  • 2026
    LeadsCon Las Vegas

    Speaker

  • 2025
    Money20/20 USA

    Panel on how AI is changing financial decisions, with april and NiCE Cognigy

  • 2025
    Level Agency × Google AI-Powered Performance Marketing Summit

    On stage at Google’s offices

  • 2025
    Engine by Gen (Gen Digital) webcast

    “From Scroll to Stick: Rethinking the Marketing Funnel with AI + Storytelling,” with MALKA and Fintech Nexus

  • 2025
    LeadsCon Las Vegas

    Main stage: new opportunities and challenges in performance marketing

  • 2025
    Five Star Conference

    Lending & Origination Forum, marketing session

  • 2025
    Lead Generation World

    Mortgage lead generation panel

  • 2023
    Digital Mortgage Conference

    “Will LOs or marketing spend deliver more customers in 2024?”

  • 2023
    Affiliate Summit East

    Speaker

  • 2021
    Digital Mortgage Conference

    Panelist (virtual)

In the press

  • HousingWire2025 Marketing Leader profile
  • HousingWire2024 Woman of Influence profile
  • HousingWire2021 Marketing Leader profile
  • AdweekInterview on marketing in the financial arena, Residential Finance era
  • National Mortgage NewsBylined contributor

What colleagues say.

Five of 66 recommendations on LinkedIn, each shown in full.

Jessica is a POWERHOUSE Chief Marketing Officer. She’s relentless and passionate and you want her on your team.
Leah PriceInnovation, United Wholesale Mortgage; Jessica’s peer at Better
Read the full recommendation

Jessica is a POWERHOUSE Chief Marketing Officer. She’s relentless and passionate and you want her on your team. I would NOT want this woman as a competitor. I’m happy to speak to anyone who would like more detail, but the bottom line is this woman is a force of nature and I highly recommend her

She’s the kind of executive who makes the people and teams around her better.
Benjamin StubbsConsumer lending executive; worked with Jessica at Better
Read the full recommendation

I had the pleasure of working closely with Jessica during our time at Better, and she quickly became one of my most trusted business partners.

What sets Jessica apart is her ability to combine strategic leadership with an incredible work ethic and a genuinely collaborative approach. She never approached marketing in a silo. She was constantly focused on the broader business objectives, always willing to roll up her sleeves, challenge assumptions, and work across teams to drive meaningful results.

One of the things I appreciated most about Jessica was her flexibility and lack of ego. She was decisive and willing to push hard toward an outcome, but equally willing to pivot when a better path emerged. Her priority was always getting to the right answer for the business.

Jessica was one of my closest allies at Better, and I valued her judgment, partnership, and commitment immensely. She’s the kind of executive who makes the people and teams around her better.

I would welcome the opportunity to work alongside her again without hesitation and recommend her highly to any organization looking for an exceptional marketing leader.

[Jessica] has been the most intelligent, resourceful, and driven colleague I have had the opportunity to work with in any capacity at any level. Data driven and technology savvy, she continually challenges my tech team and myself to new heights.
Alan RabideauWorked with Jessica at Residential Finance, Fairway and GO Mortgage
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I have worked closely with Jessica for several years. In that time, she has been the most intelligent, resourceful, and driven colleague I have had the opportunity to work with in any capacity at any level. Data driven and technology savvy, she continually challenges my tech team and myself to new heights. Jessica is truly a direct marketing expert, a strong strategic voice within the leadership team, remarkably in tune with the market and our competition, and is the first person I want in my foxhole when things go sideways.

Absolutely one of the most knowledgeable people in regards to Lead Marketing & Lead Management best practices.
Michael PerontoReported to Jessica at Fairway; later partnered with her at Better
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I had the honor and privilege of working with Jessica Manna at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. Having worked with others in the mortgage vertical at Ellie Mae’s Velocify, I can say that she is absolutely one of the most knowledgeable people in regards to Lead Marketing & Lead Management best practices. Her ability to complete projects on time and deliver a superior end product is something that is rare in our space, but Jessica manages to do it with ease.

On top of all her professional skills, Jessica Manna is a great person who really cares about her employees and spends time to get to know them as a person. Any company who ends up with Jessica Manna is very lucky to have such a talented person at their disposal.

Jessica is client driven and sensitive to both the needs of the business as well as the need for compliance.
Manjari Ganti, CRCMCompliance executive; worked with Jessica at Planet Home Lending
Read the full recommendation

Creative, energetic, and enthusiastic are just a few words I would use to describe Jessica. I had the pleasure of working with Jessica at a Planet Home Lending, LLC -- a mortgage lender/servicer. Jessica is laser-focused and extremely organized. Jessica came in and built up the marketing department from a fledgling department to large department to help promote the company in fresh and innovative ways.

Jessica is client driven and sensitive to both the needs of the business as well as the need for compliance. Jessica is responsive and constantly thinking of new ways to promote her clients. Jessica is a great asset to have on any team and will quickly learn that Jessica is as talented as they come.