Below is an excerpt adapted from our podcast conversation with 40 Under 40 honoree Brock Cassidy of Newzip. It has been edited for brevity and clarity.

When Brock Cassidy reflects on his journey through the mortgage and real estate tech industry, what stands out isn’t just the breadth of his experience — it’s the deliberate way he’s approached each step. From internal analytics at Rocket Mortgage to leading partnership strategy at Newzip, Cassidy has focused on solving meaningful problems, investing in relationships, and staying sharp in moments of complexity.

As Chief Revenue Officer at Newzip and a recipient of National Mortgage Professional’s 40 Under 40 award, Cassidy is at the intersection of technology, lending, and innovation. His perspective, though shaped by leadership, remains rooted in doing the work.

“You have to be really good at your actual job first,” Cassidy says. “All those next-level opportunities — those come after you prove yourself where you are.”

Learning Fast At Rocket

Cassidy began his career at Rocket Companies during a time of massive expansion. While Rocket was already known for its mortgage dominance, Cassidy worked on something different: Rocket Homes. The challenge was bridging the gap between a centralized mortgage sales force and a decentralized national network of real estate agents.

“That problem had been on their minds for decades,” he explains. “Thousands of loan officers in one place, agents spread across 3,100 counties — it was a real disconnect.”

He spent seven years at Rocket, ultimately becoming Vice President of Strategy. His work spanned real estate tech development, inter-company alignment, and external partnerships. During that time, Rocket also became the number one lender in the U.S. by volume — a crash course in how scale and speed can coexist when supported by vision and infrastructure.

“It was a great place to learn,” he says. “Sales, marketing, tech, product — I had to learn all of it, fast. And that taught me how to be comfortable in complexity.”

Tackling Innovation At EasyKnock

After Rocket, Cassidy joined EasyKnock, a startup focused on financial tools for nontraditional borrowers — people with low credit scores or challenging buy-sell timing issues. He led B2B partnerships, launching innovative products and building new channels.

“A lot of what I did there was helping partners launch something totally new,” Cassidy says. “It meant spinning the wheels with them, really diving into the weeds.”

He admits that not every move in his career has been seamless, but each one has added to his toolset. EasyKnock gave him an intimate understanding of deal-level decision-making and borrower nuance. It also gave him a deeper appreciation for how different teams, with different priorities, can come together to solve big problems.

“That experience taught me to ask better questions and navigate tougher conversations,” he says. “It was technical, but it was also human.”

Scaling Partnerships At Newzip

Now at Newzip, Cassidy serves as Chief Revenue Officer, leading sales and partnerships at a company whose entire model revolves around connectivity. The startup, founded by Adi Pavlovich — former Head of Innovation at Keller Williams — helps lenders create better real estate integration and pull-through.

“Adi and I were friends first,” Cassidy says. “He treats me like a partner. That’s rare.”

In the past two years, Cassidy has helped Newzip establish dozens of partnerships with lenders and loan officers. His role draws on every piece of his prior experience — building scalable systems, navigating regulations, and fostering trust.

“It’s not just about fitting into someone’s workflow,” he explains. “It’s about understanding what they need and building something that improves the entire experience.”

A Long-Term Mindset

Cassidy’s approach to leadership is grounded in long-term thinking, both in how he builds relationships and how he evaluates opportunities. A guiding principle came from a mentor early in his career: the eventuality of things will come out.

“You might have the chance to take advantage of a situation that helps you but doesn’t help anyone else,” he explains. “But eventually, people figure it out. They stop working with you. They tell others not to.”

That mindset has become even more relevant in recent years, as volatility has led to faster industry turnover.

“I’ve worked with people across three or four companies in just the past ten years,” he says. “In a market like this, those relationships carry forward. You can’t afford to burn bridges.”

Versatility And Perspective

Cassidy is known for his ability to toggle between big-picture strategy and technical nuance. He credits much of that to working alongside experts across multiple disciplines — legal, capital markets, marketing, and sales — and staying curious along the way.

“Often, it’s not about being the expert,” he explains. “It’s about knowing who to talk to, where to look, and being comfortable not having all the answers right away.”

At Newzip, Cassidy works closely with Pavlovich and a lean but dynamic team. He’s quick to acknowledge the power of complementary leadership.

“Adi was the head of innovation at the biggest real estate company in the world,” Cassidy says. “There are moments where I just shut up and let him lead. Then on the next call, it’s my turn. That balance works.”

REALFridays, Real Conversations

In addition to his day job, Cassidy co-hosts REALFridays, a live podcast alongside Rick Roque and Jeremy Potter. The show explores real estate and mortgage industry trends, leadership stories, and innovations — with a tone that’s casual but insightful.

“We started by asking, what would we have wanted to hear ten years ago?” he says. “That’s the framework. It’s meant to be unscripted and real.”

The show features a mix of guests — industry CEOs, innovators, and peers — and unscripted episodes where the three co-hosts unpack the week. It’s become a consistent presence on LinkedIn and at industry events, where Cassidy is sometimes surprised by how many people tune in.

“At the New England Mortgage Expo, I heard REALFridays mentioned a few times,” he says. “You don’t always know who’s listening. But when you hear that, you realize you’re having an impact.”

Investing In The Next Generation

Cassidy is also actively involved in industry mentorship. He sits on a Mortgage Bankers Association committee dedicated to engaging younger professionals and is a vocal advocate for broadening participation in events, conferences, and leadership circles.

“There’s this pattern where the same people go to the same events every year,” he says. “We need to change that. We need new energy, new voices.”

He’s also transparent about what it takes to get there.

“Everyone wants to grow, to get promoted, to speak at events. But none of that happens until you’re nailing your job. That’s where it starts.”

Brock Cassidy isn’t just part of the next generation of mortgage leaders — he’s helping shape what that generation looks like. Whether through strategic partnerships, thoughtful content, or advocacy for industry renewal, he’s showing that substance, consistency, and perspective are what truly move the needle.

To hear Cassidy’s full story and his thoughts on leadership, innovation in real estate tech, and mentoring the next generation, listen to the full episode of Inspired By from National Mortgage Professional.