Kelli Lattanzio

Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking

Kelli is an executive director and senior originator for Asset Based Lending (ABL) at JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, where she executes ABL originations for middle-market companies. She joined the ABL group in 2014 as a credit risk manager overseeing daily portfolio management of ABL facilities and was promoted to her current position in 2015. Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Kelli worked as an ABL underwriter/portfolio manager at US Bank and as an investment analyst at GE Capital. Kelli obtained a BS in finance from the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. In her free time, Kelli enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and wine.

Since starting her current role, Kelli has been one of the top-five new business originators for middle-market clients. Kelli has financed over 90 client transactions and maintains an extensive loan portfolio. Kelli ensures her clients’ expectations are consistently exceeded through her close partnerships with ABL team members and colleagues across the firm. Kelli also mentors the team’s more junior originators and has volunteered for numerous special projects to help streamline processes and enhance the client experience.

What advice would you offer to women just starting out in the industry?

Two major pieces of advice I would consider:

• Be confident and do not be intimidated.  When I first started in the industry, I will never forget the many times when I was not only the youngest person, but also the only woman in the room. If you listen, participate and add value, then they will quickly forget your age and think of you just as they do the rest of the room.
• Work/life balance is critical.  Do what you need to do to make it work for you and your family.  When my first child was born, I constantly felt guilt when I rushed out of the office to be home by 6 p.m., but I wanted to ensure I had at least an hour with my child every evening.  Ultimately, everyone has different life demands, and you cannot worry about what others are thinking.  As long as you get your job done and prove to be a dependable team member, no one should care what time you leave the office.

What do you know now that you wish you knew in the beginning of your career? 

Your career is not something that develops overnight.  You need to start in the less glamourous role and learn the foundation of the business.  For me, that meant being an ABL field examiner when I had no idea what an ABL loan was. You then need to find opportunities to keep building upon that foundation.  It can take painstakingly long, but if you continue socializing your career goals while exceeding expectations, then professional growth will naturally occur.  Also, growing my industry network has been more important than I ever thought it would be, as it has helped me create opportunities, solve problems and progress my career.  

What role has mentoring played in your career?

Great mentors have been vital to my career, and the best relationships have been those that formed naturally throughout my career.  When I was an analyst, I became close to a female colleague of mine who has provided me with support and guidance throughout my career.  She has not only been a great teacher but also has encouraged me to keep taking the next step.  She’s been my biggest advocate and am grateful for her friendship.  As I’ve grown, I regularly reflect on our relationship, and I do whatever I can to pass on that mentorship to younger women in our business.

What do you enjoy most about your role? Least?

I thoroughly enjoy helping business owners. I believe the nature of our work enables us to support middle-market business leaders in meaningful ways and truly help them grow their business.  We play an integral part in our clients’ business operations, and it is so great to routinely feel that connection when meeting with a client.

I do not enjoy losing deals.

What do you think work will look like in the post-pandemic world? 

The pandemic has transformed the traditional work environment that we have all grown accustomed to.  Evolving technology has enabled us to perform our jobs remotely. I imagine a flexible hybrid model will likely be widespread, as in-person collaboration and client discussions still remain important.  I believe this model is much friendlier to the needs of working mothers.