Erica Axani has a strong desire to keep growing, learning and listening. She understands that the learning journey never ends, and she strives to continuously acquire knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of the world around her. She takes great pride in her work, particularly as chief risk officer at Next Edge Capital in the firm’s private debt group, where she feels fortunate to work with inspiring entrepreneurs and a talented team.

For the past 26 years, Axani has been actively involved in the asset-based lending field. She started her journey in clerical positions and gradually worked her way up the ladder in a publicly traded factoring and ABL organization. She has also developed a passion for lender finance, using her past experience lending to lenders in her current role to expand Next Edge Capital’s portfolio.

“The creativity and ability to look at lending differently is key to lending in this space, whether to a lender in ABL, automotive, home rentals or merchant cash advance,” Axani says. “I take immense pride in being a key player in establishing our organization as a top lender in the alternative lending market.”

Starting from junior positions, Axani has always had a keen interest in learning and understanding her job and how it fits into the larger context of an organization. This drive has led her to take on various roles, wear multiple hats and gain valuable experience. She has always been committed to expanding her horizons and taking on new roles, which has aided in her professional development over the years.

As she works on diverse projects, Axani often comes across new and unfamiliar concepts that challenge her. Though it can be tough to work around these unknowns, Axani has learned to lean on her colleagues and partners. She is determined to expand her knowledge base and actively seeks out resources to help her do so. Axani is a key leader within Next Edge Capital and generously, passionately and patiently shares her knowledge with other members of the team.