Nicole Montrone

Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, ENGS Commercial Capital

Biography:

Nicole Montrone is vice president of Strategic Initiatives for ENGS Commercial Capital.  ECC provides working capital financing for small to mid-sized companies across the US and Canada.  Its equipment finance options, insurance and payroll products ensure that it can provide our clients a complete solution. Personally, she enjoys spending time with her two daughters and husband and exploring her new home state of Alabama. 

As a firm believer in the benefits of factoring and receivable finance, she has been responsible for assisting hundreds of customers find the funding they need.  Nicole began her secured finance career in 2001, after spending many years as an accounts receivable manager for a large pharmaceutical company.  Over the years, she transitioned from an operational account manager role to marketing, and eventually on to sales, finally settling in her current role.   As VP of strategic initiatives, she is responsible for developing strategic relationships with key partners across the commercial finance space.  She is also be responsible for developing marketing collateral and managing the flow of response from these channels. 

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

Believe.  When I was very young, my father told me that “Can’t never did do nothing, but can always did.”  (He’s a southern man…)  I am a firm believer that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, as long as it’s what you really want.  Don’t let perceptions hold you back.  Trade on your capabilities; know your worth and don’t be afraid to let others see it too.  Just because you can’t check all the boxes for a desired position/raise/role, doesn’t mean you aren’t the right person for the job.  Sometimes that is easier said than done, but I would rather be the “can” in my father’s analogy getting it done.

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

It’s ok not to be the smartest person in the room.  It doesn’t matter if you are in a room of your peers or a room of prospects, humility is important.  I once listened to my CEO tell the prospect, “I think I understand your business, but tell me again how it works, this time like I’m your three-year-old son.”  The head of my company was willing to admit he was not the expert when it came to our prospect’s line of business.  That made a huge impression on me at the time.  Asking a question or clarifying your understanding doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love to learn.  There are so many new and changing commercial finance products in the marketplace.  Getting to know each of these products, the lingo, the structure keeps me on my toes.  It’s exciting to see where we are going in the near future and to try to get ahead of the curve. 

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

Invest in your people.  Make training available to them, as well as meaningful mentorships.  If you are a senior person, be open and approachable when a younger employee seeks your guidance.  Take them along with you and let them experience your role, not just hear about it.  Some of my most cherished memories starting out in commercial finance came in the training conferences and trade shows I attended and from great leaders who took me under their wing and coached my growth.  It’s one thing to read about it; it’s another to get in the trenches and see it for yourself.