Leading Through Faith and Adversity ft. Gene Thompson

A warm hello once again to our lovely readers and listeners of The MikedUp Show! As Season 4 chugs along, we’ve been blessed and privileged to have spoken to a diverse array of mortgage leaders and visionaries who have carved a path to success through determination, humility, a love of service, and plain old grit.

Mortgage leaders often talk about grit, but few embody it quite like Gene Thompson, Majority Owner of InterLinc Mortgage. In this episode of The MikedUp Show, we had the opportunity to sit down with a leader whose personal and professional journey has been shaped not just by his understanding of business cycles, but by deep faith, intentional culture-building, and a relentless focus on people.

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LEADING THROUGH FAITH & ADVERSITY

In every conversation we’ve had with top-tier mortgage leaders, there’s always a moment when they reveal the “why” behind the decisions that shaped their organizations. For Gene Thompson, that “why” is undeniably spiritual. Throughout our interview, Gene described his faith not as a separate dimension of life, but as the guiding framework that has directed every major decision, including the most surprising one of his career: purchasing the majority stake of InterLinc Mortgage in early 2023.

I SSUE 59 He explained this decision with characteristic clarity. “The only reason that I pushed all in is because I had been praying about that decision, and I felt led that was the right decision by the Holy Spirit—100%,” he told us. It was a moment that revealed far more than strategy. It revealed the conviction that leadership is never solely about timing or metrics. It is about purpose. Gene doesn’t separate business from belief. Instead, he sees leadership through the lens of stewardship and responsibility. Decisions must be weighed not just in dollars or competitive positioning, but in values. When he says, “We have an opportunity to lead by example,” he frames culture, people, and outcomes as interconnected pieces of a larger mission. For him (and many other leaders), leadership isn’t just a role to play, it’s a calling

11:02 - 11:27 -- "The last 3 ½ years, for those have us who have been in the business 20+ years, has been extremely difficult. I would venture it's more difficult than 2008, 2009, and 2010. And I've heard that emulated by others that have been around a while as well. But I try to continue to remind people to maintain perspective."

OVERCOMING HARD TIMES WITH STRONG CULTURE

As our conversation unfolded, one foundational belief surfaced repeatedly: Gene’s conviction that markets do not create people - people create markets. When he told us, “I believe that people make markets, markets don’t make people,” it wasn’t a motivational line. It was a leadership doctrine, forged over decades of guiding teams through both booms and brutal contractions. Culture is something that employees must feel, not something they should be told about. It is reinforced through empathy, accountability, and trust.

Gene’s approach to culture is not theoretical. It is deeply practical, built on daily disciplines, intentional communication, and the kind of transparency that provides psychological safety during uncertain times. He returns often to the idea that growth does not happen on mountaintops. “The mountaintop teaches you humbleness and the valleys teach you humility,” he said, a sentiment that speaks directly to lender leadership, where cycles shape careers. This mentality became one of the cultural pillars that allowed InterLinc to grow even when the market contracted. Instead of shrinking to match the headlines, the company expanded its capacity to serve.

11:37 - 11:58 -- "You've got to remember that there are consequences to everything - good times and bad times. And we've all been extremely blessed in this business and these tough times are really a way to redefine the next 4-5 years, in my opinion. It all kind of wraps itself together."

TURNING VALLEYS INTO SPRINGBOARDS FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Throughout our conversation, Gene returned to the idea that down markets are not setbacks, they are launchpads. He referenced the idea that “down markets are where visionaries’ visions get executed so they can become realities in the up markets,” and it became one of the most energizing themes of the entire discussion.

His decision to acquire the majority stake of InterLinc during the 2022–2023 downturn exemplifies this belief. While others saw danger, he saw preparation. While others retreated into safety, he leaned into vision and stewardship. In his words, “These tough times are really ways to redefine the next four to five years.” This philosophy is as much about mindset as it is about strategy. Originators and leaders alike should resist the temptation to accept the market narrative as their personal narrative. Tough markets do not determine your success - your mindset does.

14:49 - 15:20 -- "July of '22 is when everything went to hell in a handbasket from a rate perspective. Things got extremely difficult very quickly. And then I turn around 6 months later and push all in (on InterLinc). And the only reason, the only reason I pushed all in is because I had been praying about that decision and I felt that was the right decision led by the Holy Spirit. 100%."

MODERN LEADERSHIP & BRANDING IN A HYBRID WORLD

As the conversation shifted toward communication, content, and leadership visibility, Gene shared one of the most fascinating parts of InterLinc’s culture evolution: the creation of their podcast and internal media brand, “Sweatpants & Neckties.” Born during the isolation of COVID, when employees were dispersed and uncertainty dominated, their livestream became a connective lifeline. It evolved into a monthly recorded internal communication tool and eventually into an outward-facing podcast series. Gene explained that this move wasn’t driven by marketing trends, but by necessity.

When the ground shifted beneath the industry in 2020, email wasn’t enough. People needed connection. They needed leadership presence. They needed clarity. They needed to hear real voices delivering real guidance in real time. In an industry increasingly shaped by digital media, communication isn’t just a cultural asset, but a business advantage. And in a hybrid world where teams span cities, states, and time zones, intentional and thoughtful communication isn’t just optional - it’s essential.

Full episode

To hear more lively discussions and special guest insights in the realm of mortgages and real estate, check out TheMikedUp Show with Mike Kelleher and Michael Zau, every Thursday at 2pmET!

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