Erika Garcia

Director of Factoring, TBS Factoring Service, LLC

40 Under 40 Category: Operations

Erika Garcia is the factoring director for TBS Factoring Service, an Oklahoma City-based financial company that services the transportation industry. She oversees the largest department at TBS and is responsible for ensuring the factoring process is smooth and efficient.

Erika has been with TBS for over a decade. She started as a collections agent and worked her way up. Her sharp skill with factoring, her natural leadership qualities, and her dedication to TBS has led her down a path full of growth.

As factoring director, Erika has made incredible improvements and tackled huge projects. In 2018, she was tasked with transitioning the factoring department from paper to paperless. Within five months, the factoring team was completely digital. In 2020, Erika was an integral part of the transition to work-from-home during the pandemic, ensuring all the needs of the factoring department were met. Erika not only cares about her employees, but her community as well. She is an active bilingual member in the Latin community, works with the Spanish Down syndrome community, and volunteers at church and her daughter’s Catholic school.

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

I’ve had several mentors in my life, and one of the most consistent messages I’ve gotten has been: “Live your life, not someone else’s.” We should always stay true to ourselves and our values. You will have role models that will help you, but you should continue to define what makes you unique. In the process of trying to completely mimic a role model or a leader you admire, you will get lost and frustrated because that is not who you are. Don’t be afraid to be different. Ignore the pressure to conform to the values and beliefs of other people in our lives because they are successful. Take opportunities to explore your own interests, dreams, goals, and ambitions. I did so by shifting my career interests from the medical field to the finance sector. I felt there was something missing in what I was going to be doing my entire life and I wanted to help others in a different capacity. I joined TBS in 2011 and I’ve been given the opportunity to grow while never compromising who I am. I take advice from my mentors and the leadership team, but continue to put my own personal touch in what I do. My leaders encourage me to continue being myself. Being myself gives me the opportunity to connect with others on a different level and be genuine. I encourage others to do the same.  

What is your definition of success?

To me, success is achieving goals that matter to you and make you happy. The goals can be personal and/or professional, which (to me) go hand-in-hand. All areas in my life are pieces that form my puzzle of feeling successful. Personally, I feel successful if I am making a positive impact on others, whether in my professional or personal life. I want to see others be successful and happy with what they do. Another way I find success is by learning new skills and embracing failure. I constantly remind myself that my success is not the same as others and I take time to celebrate my smaller accomplishments too.

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

First, believe in yourself. Understand that you are unique in so many ways and embrace it. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself; we (as leaders) want that from our team. You need to know who your audience is and find ways to connect with them. Speak up and be clear on the message you want to convey to your audience because no one is a mind-reader. For example, if you want to propose a new idea at work, do your homework and come prepared to answer questions and receive feedback. You want to have a roadmap for others to review and explain the why, which is very important. Finding co-workers that can help you push your idea to production can be a great advantage. Remember, a project or initiative that you have in mind may not always be approved the first time around. If you are truly passionate about a specific project or initiative, then take the feedback and try again. In my career, I have not been afraid to advocate for myself and I’m thankful to work for a great company that supports us. As leaders, if we are not able to advocate for ourselves, then we can’t be the voice of others.