With more than three decades of experience in the banking and specialty finance industry, Jan Naifeh has assumed many different roles over the course of her career. Starting at SunTrust Bank (now Truist Bank) immediately after her graduation from college, Naifeh spent 28 years of her career in various positions at the bank. In 2018, Naifeh joined FTI Consulting, where she serves as a senior managing director in the turnaround and restructuring practice.

“After 28 years as a banker, I moved over to financial advisory to try something new and it’s been a fantastic career move for me,” Naifeh says.

Naifeh says that specialty finance is a “very cyclical business,” which can present challenges at times. In turn, she has had to broaden her skill set for both “healthy” and “stressed” situations to help achieve positive outcomes for clients.

Since joining the advisory side at FTI Consulting, Naifeh has had the opportunity to directly advise asset-based lenders and their clients in various restructuring engagements, including the restructurings of Envision Healthcare, Extraction Oil & Gas and American Addiction Centers. Additionally, Naifeh continues to be an active participant in guiding steering and creditor committees, regularly serving as an expert on credit matters.

Naifeh says she is grateful to the people who assisted her early in her career and now attempts to do the same with the young professionals she works with while continuing to provide her clients with the best quality service possible.

Naifeh has learned during her career that it is important to be open to new opportunities and challenges, allowing her to curate an amazing career for herself. She also emphasizes the importance of building a network early in your career, listening closely to the needs of clients, being kind to others and paying it forward.