Jennifer Sheasgreen

President, Triumph Healthcare Finance

Biography:

Jennifer Sheasgreen serves as the president of Triumph Healthcare Finance, a position she has held since 2014. In this role, Jennifer has P&L responsibility for the division, oversees the day-to-day operations and leads the sales team.

Prior to her current role, Jennifer was the managing director of Doral Healthcare Finance, which was acquired by Triumph Bancorp, Inc. in June 2014 and rebranded as Triumph Healthcare Finance. She launched the division as a de-novo for Doral Bank at the start of 2011. Prior to this she held senior positions with Marquette Healthcare Finance and GMAC-RFC Health Capital Group.

Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in executive leadership roles spanning all aspects of commercial finance within the healthcare industry to include credit, underwriting, loan closing, operations and portfolio management, and business development.

Jennifer is a former chair of SFNET’s Women in Commercial Finance Committee and the current chair of the Social Media Subcommittee.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in strategic management from California State University at Sacramento and is certified as a Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association with a concentration in accounting and finance.

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

Take the leap and move forward with the path that makes you feel uncomfortable.  It’s only when you move away from your comfort zone that you will continue to grow and achieve new successes.  It’s important to start establishing your own professional network and connecting with new contacts in your industry.  Differentiate yourself by obtaining relevant industry certifications.  Make sure that you communicate your career ambitions to your employer so that you’re both on the same page and you have internal support and always remember to say thank you to colleagues, business contacts and clients.  Continually strive to learn your field and not just your immediate role, but how each segment of the process works and fits together.   Find a mentor or someone whom you can bounce ideas off of, as it’s helpful when you’re faced with big decisions.  Lastly, work/life integration does exist.  Don’t make the mistake of sacrificing your family for work. 

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

Early on in my career, I wish I knew that, as you mature, you feel more comfortable in your own skin and you learn confidence and assertive communication.  Self-doubts can hold you back in your career.  It’s important to remember to tell your inner self repeatedly, ‘I can do this’.  It’s also important to be your own advocate because no one is going to do it for you.  So, if it’s a promotion or a new skill set you want to learn, make it known and go after what you want. Let your voice be heard.

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

I wouldn’t say I had a traditional mentor or sponsor, but I have had people throughout my career who have influenced my path.  I’ve learned over the years what to do and what not to do by just watching, listening and taking in information and also to ‘trust my gut feeling’.  Logic and emotion play into decision-making and having a balance of the two has allowed me to leverage my experiences and guide my own path.  We have one of our own employees participating in the SFNET’s mentoring program and it’s been great to watch her progress.  I’ve also had the opportunity to serve as a mentor at the Business Journals’ “Mentoring Monday” the last two years.  It’s been extremely rewarding and I think that it’s an exciting time for women because the network of support is everywhere and it’s up to you to take advantage of it. 

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

When hiring we should look beyond the resume and find the people who will complement our culture and have a desire to learn and grow.  Not everyone has that innate desire to achieve personal and career growth and finding a candidate that exudes that enthusiasm is a rare find.  To retain that person, have a clear career path so that, if the desire is to move their career forward, there is no confusion about the steps needed to reach those goals.  Ambiguity in a job leads to frustration, so set clear expectations and provide feedback.  Create flexibility in the work environment so that work and family can be truly integrated and practice what you preach.  If you can do that, you will likely receive loyalty in return.