Rocket

Homeownership can shape generational wealth. But the cost of getting there matters. 🏠 Join Kelly Buchanan Spillers, VP of Brand & Product Marketing at Rocket, and Papanii Okai, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Rocket, for “AI, Homeownership, and Generational Wealth,” presented by Rocket. In this session, they’ll explore how data and automation can reduce friction in the homebuying process, from streamlining mortgage documents to reaching buyers when they’re ready. The conversation looks at what it takes to build smarter systems in a regulated industry and where those savings can land. Badge Required. 💬 Tap the link 🔗 https://lnkd.in/edHCVuNZ to build your AFROTECH™ Conference 2026 schedule. #AFROTECH #ATC2026

Last week was Digital Inclusion Week, a time to reflect on Detroit's progress. Not long ago, Detroit was one of the least connected cities in the country. Today it’s the most improved city in the nation for digital inclusion, and a national model for how public, private and philanthropic partners can close the digital divide. And we were able to do it through the Rocket Classic's "Changing the Course" Initiative, which funneled all proceeds back into the city to connect, empower and inspire Detroiters. Since 2025 the Rocket Classic has raised more than $10M in community support, with over150,000 people reached with digital access resources. 2026 was the last year of the Rocket Classic, but our work is far from over. That's why we announced a $4.5M legacy gift as the Rocket Classic enters its final year, including $3.5M to bring affordable, high-speed internet to up to 2,400 public housing households (about 6,000 residents) and $1M to establish the Own the Dream Youth Scholarship Fund. “Too many families are still forced to navigate school, work, healthcare and everyday life without internet access,” said Laura Grannemann, Executive Director of the Rocket Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation. “This investment removes that barrier by ensuring more Detroit residents can get online, stay connected and access opportunities.” Over the summer, we worked with Rocket to highlight the impact of this tournament on our hometown and the people we serve. It is a powerful testimony of what we can do when we work together toward a shared goal, but in truth it only illustrates a small portion of how we've been able to change the course for digital inclusion. Thank you to our Executive Director, Laura Grannemann, Autumn Russell, Sr. Program Manager of Digital Equity and Inclusion and Marvin L. Logan Jr., MNA, Director of Education and Employment for leading this important work and to Rocket and CEO Varun Krishna for his commitment to Detroit. We are so grateful to our partners: DigitalC, Detroit Housing Commission, City of Detroit, Wayne State University, Merit Network, Black Tech Saturdays, First Tee - Greater Detroit, and Midnight Golf Program, as well as to the countless Detroit residents and volunteers who helped make this dream a reality. The Rocket Classic might be over, but its impact will continue to inspire, empower and connect. Learn more about our legacy gift and our digital inclusion work: https://lnkd.in/etdR6fua

I asked Papanii Okai what he does. He gave me the executive answer. So I asked again. I’m new to Rocket, and I’ve been spending time with leaders here to hear their stories. Papanii was first. We went for a drive, and I asked him to explain his job to a neighbor who doesn’t work in tech. He smiled and said, “I love building technology to make your life easier.” That stuck with me. So did everything that came after. We talked about what owning the dream means to him, which is achieving something you never thought possible. We talked about how few young Black men he saw in tech leadership growing up, and why being visible matters for the ones coming next. And we talked about the difference between a house and a home, and why that difference is the whole point of what we do at Rocket. Then we pulled up to a billboard in our city, San Francisco. Papanii, forty feet up, over the streets where he grew up. His advice to his younger self: always do the right thing, and never give up on your dreams. A huge thank you to our partners at Twilio for seeing what we see in Papanii, and for building something that honors where he came from as much as where he’s going. Also thank you to Jonathan Mildenhall and Peter Giorgi for the freedom to create, Kirsten Richey for putting this all together better than i could have imagined, and Nate Fong as always for the assist and second camera. Lastly Papanii, thank you for letting me ride along.

Unidos, Somos Más. Together, We Are More. ❤️ Belonging is more than feeling included. It's about creating a community where everyone feels seen, heard and empowered to be themselves. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we're celebrating team members like Yariani Sosa Romero-Anderson, President of Rocket's Mi Gente Team Member Resource Network (TMRN), who are helping build that sense of belonging every day. Through shared experiences, cultural connections and a commitment to lifting others up, Yariani reminds us that we're stronger together. Read her story at the link the comments!

Seattle, you showed up! 🚀 For the first time, we took ISMs Day on the road, bringing hundreds of Rocket and Redfin team members together in Seattle for a day of connection, shared stories and a little friendly LEGO competition. But the day was about more than celebrating our culture. It was about bringing it to life. From hearing our leaders share what the ISMs mean to them to putting innovation and teamwork into action, we saw just how much common ground our teams share. Putting clients first. Finding a better way. Doing the right thing. Different journeys brought us here, but shared principles are helping shape where we go next. One team. One shared culture. And a whole lot ahead of us. ❤️ If you were there, drop your favorite moments or takeaway in the comments! Thank you to everyone who made our first Seattle ISMs Day one to remember!

The one you've all been waiting for.

50 leaders shaping the future of tech, AI and data. And our own Bridget Frey is one of them. 👏 TIME has named Bridget, Rocket’s Chief Data Officer and Redfin’s Chief Technology Officer, to its inaugural Executives of the Year in Tech & Data list. And the scale of what she’s building is pretty incredible. Bridget is helping bring together data across Rocket and Redfin to create a more connected view of the customer across the homeownership journey. That foundation is opening up new possibilities for AI to make experiences more personalized, intuitive and seamless, from searching for a home to financing it. It’s a big vision for an industry ready to be reimagined, and we’re proud to have Bridget helping lead the way. Congratulations on an incredible recognition, Bridget.

Our newest Rocket Academy graduates took on classes, certifications and degree programs while continuing to show up for their teams, their families and themselves. That takes commitment, and we’re proud to celebrate everything they’ve accomplished. Through Rocket Academy, team members have access to hundreds of educational programs designed to help them keep learning, growing and taking their careers where they want them to go. This is what “Always Raising Our Level of Awareness” looks like in action: staying curious, investing in growth and never believing we’re done learning. Congratulations to our newest graduates. You put in the work, earned this moment and showed us what it looks like to keep raising the bar. 🚀

Some homeowners are quietly cutting years off their mortgage with one simple action. Our team looked at the data to see who’s actually doing it, and whether it’s worth the early payoff. Swipe through, then view the whole Rocket Mortgage report featured on Fast Company at the link in the comments!

Ready to build a career that moves as fast as you do? 🚀 Join us on Wednesday, September 9th at 4:00pm EST to see what's possible as a Mortgage Loan Officer at Rocket Mortgage. Register at the link below!