Lindsay Griffard

Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking

Lindsay Griffard is an executive director in Asset Based Lending (ABL) for JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, where she manages a team that underwrites and manages ABL loans. She joined the ABL team in March 2015 as a credit risk manager and transitioned to senior underwriter before being promoted to executive director in February 2019 and underwriting team leader in November 2020. Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Lindsay worked at GE Capital, where she held various positions, including ABL field exam manager and ABL underwriter/portfolio manager. She received a BS in finance from Quincy University. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and training for endurance events. 

Throughout her career at JPMorgan Chase, Lindsay has overseen some of the most structurally complex ABL transactions, while still serving as a leader, manager and mentor to many ABL analysts and junior team members.  Her colleagues and clients recognize her value-add, often seeking her guidance on structure and strategy. She displays her leadership attributes also through her work with JPM’s Women on the Move initiative and participation in the firm’s Executive Director Sponsorship Program. Through these programs, she helps promote career growth and development opportunities for women and strengthens her professional network. 

What role has mentoring played in your career?

Mentoring has played a huge role in my career. I am fortunate to have a good mix of mentors from previous roles, other institutions, and within JPMorgan Chase. I leverage my mentors in both my professional and personal life, and I pay it forward by mentoring junior professionals. Some mentor relationships happened naturally, while some others were initiated through mentorship programs. Through my experiences with mentorship, I’ve learned that it is ok to initially feel uncomfortable when sharing your wins or challenges with someone outside of your network. Mentors can offer a different perspective that you may not have considered if you only talked to a co-worker, manager, or family member.  

How can commercial finance organizations attract and retain more women?

Organizations looking to attract and retain more women should offer flexibility for all employees regardless of their situation, as well as initiatives focused on empowering and retaining talented women. JPMorgan Chase’s Women on the Move (WOTM) program is a global initiative geared towards helping women further their professional development, establish connections, and enhance their leadership skills. I serve as the Global Communications Lead on the WOTM in Risk and Compliance Americas Steering Committee and as the co-chair of the Event Committee for the Chicago WOTM chapter. My involvement in WOTM has expanded my network around the globe, and I am honored to work alongside women at JPMorgan Chase who are top thought leaders and innovators.

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

My advice is to attend industry events and get your name out there. Early on in my career, I had a colleague who took me under his wing and made sure I was invited to industry events and client outings. I had to get comfortable with sometimes being the only woman at these functions. Building a network beyond your firm is important, as these connections are helpful in many ways and may enable you to meet lifelong friends. I recommend taking up a hobby, a sport or any type of activity that will help you meet people outside your firm and industry.

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

I wish I knew how important it is to take time off and unplug. I am still working on this after years of constantly being plugged into work and having that feeling that I needed to be “on,” which resulted in a lot of unnecessary stress. I now try to limit the times that I check my email during evenings and weekends and the number of notifications I have for it. I also do more upfront preparation for when I am going to be out for vacation, which allows me to relax because I know my co-workers have the information necessary to keep things moving along. I also try to anticipate any items that may pop up. Do I still check my email while I am out of the office? Yes; however, I do my best to only check it once a day and not reply. As I mentioned before, this is still a work in progress, so I often seek vacation destinations without wi-fi. National parks are great for this!