Janice Ibey

Vice President, Middle Market Lending, LendSpark

Biography:

Janice (Jan) started in business finance as an appraiser, asset manager and capital markets manager for Mercury Savings & Loan.  Stints at companies like Finance America, AMRESCO, Inc., Lehman Brothers led her to co-found new lending entities including Fortes Financial. Jan helped shape LendSpark’s vision of delivering expert financial strategy and attainable middle-market and small business loans. Proficient in raising capital for the lower-middle and middle market, Jan has created a proprietary assessment tool that maps the way for businesses to 2-3X current business value within two years.

Jan has always felt an affinity with lower to middle-market companies because they typically have a proven product or service and competent leadership. When outside economic factors like interest rate hikes or seasonal downturns impact profits, Jan helps keep the business going until the environment improves.

Jan is passionate about kids and is Chairman of the Board for Serna Academy, Orange County’s first sober high school (in formation). She is also on the advisory giving counsel for Olive Crest, an organization dedicated to preventing child abuse, treating and educating at-risk children, and building strong families.

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

Our industry offers so many terrific opportunities for smart, driven women and the good news is that much of the pioneering work has already been done to pave a better path for those just beginning. However, with opportunity comes responsibility, so my advice is to be driven, but do it with humility.  Another important key to my success was to learn to take the focus off self-preservation — don’t we find ourselves there a lot in this industry? —  and force yourself to look for opportunities to improve whatever situation you’re in by adding value where you can.  Ask yourself if you can improve your attitude, your aptitude or how you can improve things for others.  I’m also a huge advocate of the adage, “Never stop learning”.  It’s about accepting our limitations with a positive view by having an insatiable appetite for continually educating yourself, in all aspects of life.  Balance is key, so keep yourself from becoming a “one-note” person.  Keep expanding your horizons by absorbing and learning new things.  That’s when you’ll find the most satisfaction in work, family, friends and your creative soul. And I always look for ways to “lift others as you climb”.

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

We don’t know what we don’t know until we’re humbled by our mistakes or missteps.  Everyone is going to make mistakes, but try to minimize those by finding a successful, giving mentor and absorb everything you can from that person.  Mistakes were always something I feared early on in my career and now I see that I probably was held back by those fears more than if I had boldly stepped out and faced any missteps head-on, if in fact there were any missteps at all.  Don’t hold back out of fear. 

 What kind of role has mentoring and/or sponsorship played in your career?

 I had the benefit of a great mentor and it meant I was able to see more opportunities quicker than, if I had not had that person’s wisdom, insights and connections.  Seek out wise counsel and you’ll be the direct beneficiary.  I also have had great benefit from taking on mentoring roles with those on the rise.  Don’t let age or experience keep you from encouraging those who are just starting their careers.  You’ll find a lot of joy and personal satisfaction from giving back to those who are just beginning their journey or who have recognized they could benefit from having a mentor.  Be careful, though, to guard your reputation by choosing guidance wisely.  It’s extremely difficult to repair your reputation once it’s been tarnished, so don’t rush into a mentoring relationship without first doing your due diligence!

What do you think the industry could do to attract and retain the best and the brightest today?

I don’t think we have trouble attracting the best and brightest to our industry; however, I do think we have a tendency to burn out some of our best and brightest, which is never good for any industry.  We need to figure out ways to stay innovative and creative when it comes to our human capital resources and provide nurturing environments and experiences that will appeal to our next generation of stars.  I also think we often miss the mark by having our focus solely be on achieving goals whether they are career, financial or personal, versus finding out what drives us from a standpoint of purpose and mission.