GENERAL SESSION: mPower Session (Closed to Media)

Marcia M. Davies

mPower Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Mortgage Bankers Association

Marcia M. Davies is MBA’s Chief Operating Officer, responsible for ensuring cross-organizational alignment and facilitating the implementation of strategic initiatives, as well as maintaining oversight of key organizational priorities. She provides leadership, guidance and overall management to the Public Affairs, Marketing, Conferences, Membership, Education, Information Technology and Office Services divisions. She also provides management oversight to, and is a Board member of, MBA’s Opens Doors Foundation. Previously, Marcia worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner and in various roles at Freddie Mac for 21 years. She is the founder of mPower — MBA Promoting Opportunities for Women to Extend their Reach — MBA’s networking platform for women in the real estate finance industry. She is a member of the NAWRB Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (NDILC), three-time recipient of Women with Vision award, and was honored by HousingWire as one of its 2015 Women of Influence.

Maria Shriver

Award Winning Journalist, Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur, Former First Lady of California

Maria Shriver is an icon in the realms of journalism, advocacy, media, and publishing with a distinguished career spanning over 40 years. As an Emmy, Gracie, and Peabody award-winning journalist, seven-time New York Times best-selling author, and NBC News Special Anchor, Shriver also founded Shriver Media. As co-founder of the mission-driven brain health and wellness brand, MOSH, founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, and Strategic Advisor for Women’s Health at Cleveland Clinic, Shriver has played a pivotal role in advancing some of the most critical conversations and research concerning women’s health today. Shriver’s work with the Alzheimer’s Association has changed the narrative around Alzheimer’s to include how women are affected by the disease. In 2023, Shriver partnered with First Lady Jill Biden to establish the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research that aims to transform how the federal government approaches and funds women’s health research. She was also instrumental in the formation of the new Women’s Health Research and Innovation Center at Cleveland Clinic, whose mission is to become the leading center for women’s health in the United States. Furthermore, her life-long work on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities has earned her the Best Buddies Spirit of Leadership Award. In all aspects of her life and career, Shriver continues to empower and uplift, encouraging millions to embrace their potential to make a difference in the world.