Leslye Campos

Vice President of Operations, ENGS Commercial Capital

Biography:

With more than 25 years of managerial experience, 20 of it within the factoring space, Leslye Campos is the vice president of operations with Engs Commercial Capital. Campos has a passion for client service, process development, and employee mentoring. She has spent her career in positions that have allowed her to manage, grow, and develop risk management procedures, client relationships, and associate training.

Prior to joining Engs, Leslye spent 15 years with LSQ Funding Group where she most recently served as the assistant vice president of Operations. Throughout her career, Leslye served in several critical roles such as senior account manager, purchasing manager, and accounts receivable manager. She created efficiency by streamlining the purchasing department’s process and procedures and she increased risk management coverage by developing the Accounts Receivable Specialist roles. Leslye mentored and managed the collections, data entry, document review, and verification teams which allowed for professional growth for those associates. Before LSQ, Leslye worked for 15 years as the office manager of Aircraft Industries, Inc., a FAA repair station. While there, she factored Aircraft Industries’ receivables and gained valuable insight into the needs of a factoring client. Campos brings that unique perspective into the way she interacts with clients and associates alike.

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

My advice to women starting out in the industry is to be confident. Although the finance industry has been male-dominated for decades, it is a great time for change. There are many antiquated ideas and methodologies that have shaped the industry throughout the years that are no longer relevant in today’s world.

Never compromise your integrity, values or morals to climb the corporate ladder. Stay confident in yourself no matter what the outcome may be. Build a great network in both the business world and your personal life; you will appreciate it if you are juggling work, family, school and other activities.

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

Reflecting on the beginning of my career, I realize that I compromised family time for work when I didn’t need to. Being committed and passionate about your job or career does not mean that the rest of the world stops being as important. There will always be late nights and lunch hours to make up missed work, to meet deadlines on a project or analyze data. There won’t be time to make up for missed soccer games, chorus recitals and spelling bees.

Manage with compassion. Early on in my career, I felt that intellectual intelligence was the ultimate key. I thought that if I could excel in that area I would “have it made”. I quickly learned that having emotional intelligence is the key to being successful. Most of us depend on a team to help us get our job done. We are only as good as our team and those around us helping us achieve our goals. Accomplishing goals with respect and appreciation from others is more re- warding than knowing how to get there, but getting there all alone. Always encourage, empower and recognize those around you and remember that you didn’t get there by yourself.

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

I would not be where I am today without my mentors and their guidance, confidence and trust in me. Early on in my life I had the opportunity to work with my father and my two brothers in our family business. These three men played a big role in my life and are responsible for who I am today.

During my career, I have been able to build relationships with many remark- able people. I have learned something from everyone I come across, sometimes good, sometimes not so good. No matter how we see things, we are constantly learning from one another.

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

Being relatable will attract the best and brightest in the industry. The strict dress codes, cold work environment and old ways of doing business are no longer relevant to new generations.

Women in the workplace need to be heard and treated as equal to their male counterparts. The idea that a woman cannot bring the same to the table as a man can is obsolete and absurd. We need to take advantage of a generation full of professional women who are eager to make a change, have innovative ideas and want to leave their mark in the world.