Marline Alexander

Senior Collateral Manager/ First Vice President, BHI

Biography:

Prior to joining BHI, Marline held vice president positions in a number of major financial institutions including GMAC and HSBC where she managed loan portfolios for both middle-market and large corporations. Her varied positions over the last 20 years in the financial and banking sectors underscore her in-depth experience and versatility. She holds a master’s degree in accounting from Pace University and  bachelor’s degree in finance from Baruch College. Marline is actively involved in professional organizations including the Financial Women’s Association for which she serves as a mentor at Baruch College, and she is also co-chair of the Wall Street Exchange Program, a professional development and leadership program targeting rising college seniors. In addition to her mentoring role at Baruch College, Marline participates on career panels where she shares her industry experiences and provides professional guidance to the next generation.  She also serves as vice president of the Executive Board of the Commercial Finance League, an industry organization focused on networking and the advancement of industry specific educational programs. She was recognized in 2018 by Crain’s New York Business Magazine as a “Notable Woman in Finance” and was featured in ‘She Spends’ issue 40, a magazine targeting millennials. Marline is recognized by her colleagues as a consummate professional and a hard worker dedicated to excellence and with a strong desire to give back to others.

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

My advice to women just starting out in the industry would be the same key pointers I have embraced over my 20-plus years in the industry.

Be curious. Conduct diligent research in areas in which you are not proficient and don’t be afraid to ask for clarity. Don’t just ask for answers. I am a strong advocate that one must first attempt to find the answer and then seek clarity. A lot of knowledge is gained from research.

Choose your friends very carefully and wisely. Be selective and surround yourself with individuals who are talented, kind, and smarter than you are. Your chosen friends should not be gossipers, caustic, complacent, constant complainers, and negative. Great friends will enable you to ascend to higher heights professionally and personally.

Set high standards and do not settle in order to realize and maximize your full potentials.

Do not compare yourself to others. There will always be someone smarter, prettier, and a faster achiever than you are. Your goal should be to seek self-improvement and self-enrichment. Constantly ask yourself what can you do to become a better human being and follow through with the appropriate actions. Self-improvement and self-enrichment can be achieved in different ways for different individuals.

For example, I am enriched when I pay it forward by volunteering to mentor others. Mentoring has been rewarding to me in numerous ways. I treasure the opportunity to be the propagator of knowledge and expertise to my mentees who are all millennials. To see my mentees thrive professionally gives me great joy and pride. I am also inspired to see my mentees giving back and having positive influences on others. Mentoring to me is empowering, enriching, and inspiring with positive impacts on both the mentor and mentee.

Do not rely on others to make you happy. Engage in activities that bring you joy. You are the source of your ultimate happiness. If you delegate this responsibility to others, the probability of achieving full happiness is slim to none. Take charge of your happiness thoughtfully and selflessly. Pay particular attention to your instincts. Listen to your inner voice. Remember, if something does not feel right, chances are it isn’t. Do not second guess yourself.

How can commercial finance organizations offer meaningful professional development and career advancement?

Involvement in commercial finance organizations like the Secured Finance Network (SFNET) and Commercial Finance League (CFL), to name a few, can result in meaningful professional development and career advancement in many ways.

Commercial finance organizations provide a forum for like-minded professionals at varying stages in their respective careers to meet, resulting in numerous benefits including lead generation and ultimately increased business, which can result in career advancement.

Commercial financial organizations afford members and non-members alike the opportunity to expand one’s network and make relevant connections, which can help open doors, figuratively speaking. Connections cemented can be both professional and personal. One is also afforded the ability to source advice from like-minded professionals. Not only are you able to get advice, which can enhance your professional development, you might also be in a position to give great advice at networking events.

Involvement with a commercial finance organization can also help increase one’s confidence and raise one’s profile by being visible and getting noticed at networking events.