Krista Livingston, EMBA

Senior Vice President, Director, White Oak Commercial Finance, LLC

Krista Livingston is senior vice president, director at White Oak Commercial Finance, LLC. Krista has ten years of experience in asset-based lending specializing in operations management. Throughout Krista’s career she has focused on continuous process improvement through improved communication and utilizing technology to enhance efficiencies. Before White Oak, Krista was vice president, operations manager with Veritas Financial Partners LLC in Boca Raton, FL. Krista holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Central Florida and an Executive Master of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University. Krista is a recent Ovarian Cancer Survivor and looks forward to bringing awareness to women about early detection and support for those who are battling the disease. Krista resides in Lake Worth, FL with her husband of six years, three children, and two dogs. 

How do you define a good leader?

I have always thought a good leader is one who is willing to get in the trenches alongside those they lead. It is important for those around you to see you are not afraid of getting your hands dirty and experiencing the ups and downs of tasks or projects. Leading by example can help you gain the respect of your colleagues, which is essential to leadership.  

What advice do you normally give to the junior talent you mentor?

Early on in my career I received very good advice from a mentor of mine. He said, “you are the product of your own competence.” Still to this day, it is a piece of wisdom that I carry around with me and pass along to junior talent. For those who are eager to excel in any industry, you must show your willingness and ability to work hard to exceed the expectations of your superiors. In short, have a “can do” attitude, and you will go far.

What advice would you give on how to self-advocate?

Over the past year, I have learned a lot about self-advocating. While I mostly learned about self-advocating due to my medical condition, I believe the same principals apply. I have learned that to get what you want or what you need, you must speak up. Communicating with decision makers around you with clear intentions is crucial. Your superiors cannot read your mind, so if there is a promotion that you think you are qualified for or something that is causing an issue within the workplace, you need to communicate with your superiors, or nothing will change. 

With many working remotely or hybrid-style the past few years, what are some work-life balance strategies you’ve stuck with?

I believe my strategies have changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Early on I was basically living at work. A year ago, while I was pregnant with my son, I developed an extremely rare type of Ovarian Cancer, which naturally helped me put my life into perspective. By choice, I needed to come back to work to mentally distract myself from the treatment and surgeries I was having. Now that my treatment and surgeries are over, I make it a point to disconnect from work to be present for my family when everyone comes home from work or school. When I am with my family in the evenings or on the weekend, unless there is an emergency, work can wait until the morning or when I have some free time. I know it sounds cliché, but I now Work to Live, rather than Live to Work. Your families are the most important part of your life, enjoy every minute you can with them!

When interviewing newcomers to the industry, what do you say to pique their interest on why they should accept a position in this industry?

Since the moment I started in commercial lending, I was hooked! I find the commercial lending industry to be so fascinating. For those who are looking to enter this industry, I tell them that every day can present new and interesting challenges and learning opportunities. I think one of the most interesting things about commercial lending is that we can not only become an expert in our industry, but also in other industries as well. If you are surrounded by people who have been trailblazers in this industry, there are infinite opportunities to absorb knowledge, and then pass it on to the next generation.