Recognizing Excellence: Women in Secured Finance Profiles

Empowering Progress and Shaping the Future

It is an honor to welcome you to our annual issue of The Secured Lender in which we recognize and celebrate more than 40 remarkable women in the secured finance industry. On the following pages, you will find the inspiring journeys of these trailblazers who have forged their paths with unwavering determination, resilience, and vision, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of secured finance.

In an industry that has long been dominated by male voices, these women emerge as powerful catalysts for change, breaking barriers and illuminating the way toward a more inclusive future. Their stories are not only those of individual success, they are testaments to our collective progress as an industry, highlighting the crucial role that women and diverse perspectives play in leadership, driving growth, and excellence in secured finance.

What sets these women apart is not just their impressive achievements, but also their commitment to lifting others as they climb. As we celebrate their accomplishments, we also honor the effects of their influence, inspiring others to pursue their ambitions in this field.

We are thrilled to announce that this spirit of female empowerment and progress will be further amplified at SFNet’s Women in Secured Finance (WISF) Conference in New York City on June 11-12, 2025. This event will bring together executives across our industry as we explore new horizons for women in secured finance along the themes of driving growth, innovation, and impact via a series of speakers, panels of industry leaders, and interactive roundtable sessions.

Other featured highlights in this issue include an insightful conversation with Laura Kemper Glass, former chair of SFNet’s Women in Secured Finance Committee and former member of the SFNet Executive Committee, who is retiring at the end of March after a successful 30-year career at Bank of America Business Credit. On page 78, in conversation with Kathleen Currey of Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs, Laura reflects on her career and the legacy she is leaving behind as she embarks on a new chapter in her life.

On page 72, Aliah Lalani of Hilco Diligence Services, delves into gender dynamics, and the hurdles women continue to face in male-dominated sectors. She speaks with PNC’s Eileen Kowalski, Newpoint Advisors’ Carin Sorvik, Hilco’s Ervisa Ismailaj, and KPMG’s Andrea Beirne, to discover how these leaders have thrived and their perspectives on the progress— and remaining gaps—in achieving gender parity.

In The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Insights from SFNet Members, on page 68, Michele Ocejo interviews three inspiring SFNet members who prove that empathy, active listening, and relationship-building aren’t just soft skills—they’re powerful strategies for business success, driving profitability, retention, and meaningful lasting connections.

Be sure to turn to the infographic on page 66, where we annually update statistics on women in the workforce. The latest report from Leanin.org and McKinsey & Co. showed that corporate commitments to increase the number of women in the leadership pipeline
are slipping amid mounting pressures on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The report indicates that employers are scaling back programs intended to level the playing field for women to advance and succeed in their careers. At the current rate of progress, it will take nearly 50 years for women yo reach parity in corporate America, LeanIn and McKinsey estimate.

I look forward to connecting with many of you at the 2025 WISF Conference in June where we will dive into these topics and others. Please visit www.sfnet.com for details and registration or reach out to Michele Ocejo at mocejo@sfnet.com.

To start reading the profiles, please click here.