Didi Moser

Director - Technology, Finance Division, Wells Fargo Capital Finance

40 Under 40 Category: Underwriting

Biography:

Didi Moser is a director with Wells Fargo Capital Finance’s Technology Finance Division.  Didi’s banking career began 20+ years ago as a teller at a local bank, progressing into loan administration at various financial institutions including Fleet/Bank of America, First Niagara Bank, and WFCF’s Retail Finance Division.  Upon completing her Master Degree at Boston University, Didi transitioned into loan portfolio management, overseeing 17 retail accounts. In 2007, Didi joined the Technology Finance underwriting team, working on debt financings ranging from $5MM-$200MM+ for domestic and international software companies.  In her current role, Didi manages the entirety of the underwriting process, including legal structuring, determining appropriate terms commensurate with the transaction risk profile, completing financing memorandums, negotiating legal documents, and facilitating funding mechanics. 

Didi served as a mentor to junior colleagues, and as co-chair of the Boston chapter of Wells Fargo’s Women Connection group.  In her free time, Didi enjoys nature and wildlife photography, traveling, and competing in local bowling leagues.  Didi and her husband, Phil, enjoy playing volleyball, birding, and volunteering to clean-up invasive plants in their community of Waltham, MA.

What is the best professional advice you have been given and how have you implemented it?

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors whose guidance and advice have proven instrumental during my professional career.  One of the most valuable words of advice I have received was in regards to presenting at our internal Credit Committee, a forum during which deal transactions are discussed and evaluated.  During my early underwriting days, Credit Committee felt intimidating; however, a trusted colleague helped me overcome this feeling by providing the following advice: “There’s nothing to be nervous about, no one knows the deal better than you.”  When you’ve spent 24/7 working on a transaction, completing the proper due diligence by digging into every single number, asking the right people all the right questions, and strived to assess risks from every possible angle, there is no reason to be nervous at Credit Committee because who could possibly know the transaction better than you?  I’ve learned to appreciate questions at Credit Committee, as it may present the transaction in a different light and make me think outside the box. I appreciate the diverse perspectives and team effort required to properly structure a deal to minimize risk for our company.  I’ve come to value and find comfort in that it is perfectly acceptable to say, “I don’t have the answer; let me get back to you on that.”  By sticking to the facts and acknowledging when I don’t know the answer without trying to beat around the bush, I’ve learned to anticipate questions and, with time, have gained trust and respect from our credit committee members.

How would you define what a good leader is, and what can you do to reflect those characteristics as you progress in your career?

I believe that a good leader is someone whom people naturally gravitate towards, as that person has the innate ability to draw out the best in the people around him/her.  A truly good leader is someone who can help an individual recognize that what he or she may perceive to be weaknesses are, in fact, areas of opportunities, which, if improved upon, can be his/her biggest strengths.  A good leader will help and support you in achieving your goals (even ones you weren’t aware you had!) to reach your fullest potential.  I believe that a good leader strives to create an even better next generation of leaders and rejoices in their success as his/her own.  I feel blessed to be where I am today, as I have been fortunate to have worked with many great leaders who have pushed me to be more than I’ve ever imagined for myself.  As I progress to positions of greater influence, I hope to utilize my experience to assist and mentor junior team members starting in their careers, encouraging them to bring their unique backgrounds, voices and perspectives to the table, thus enhancing the strength of the team and the broader organization.  I hope to be able to share the lessons I have learned along the way, from the mistakes that I made, such that the next generation are encouraged to step outside of their comfort zones, push themselves, and make their own mistakes so that they too will have their own stories to tell.