Lisa Adams began working in asset-based lending when there were few women in the industry. Initially, ABL was primarily a product for industrial companies and the industry was generally run by men. Adams says it was challenging to fit into such an environment, though she tried to embrace being the only woman in the room — a common occurrence early in her career. She is thankful that the industry has since evolved to include more women, and that more borrowers and private equity funds view ABL as a favorable form of financing that comes with fewer covenants and more flexibility.

At the outset of her career, Adams spent several years at City National Bank as a credit analyst and then at Bank of America in correspondent banking. After these experiences, Adams left to backpack around Europe, feeling certain her banking days were over. However, after she returned to her hometown of Los Angeles and worked for some time in a temporary agency, a recruiter contacted her to see if she’d be interested in becoming a West Coast business development officer focused on healthcare ABL for Fleet Capital. The rest is history.

Since then, Adams has worked across ABL and cash flow lending for multiple national specialty lenders, including Harris Bank (now BMO), Merrill Lynch Capital, Wachovia/Wells Fargo and NewStar Business Credit. In her current role as senior vice president of originations at Gibraltar Business Capital, she leverages the experience and relationships she has built to provide creative financing structures.

Working together with borrowers, equity sponsors, consultants and investment bankers, Adams says each transaction is a learning experience. However, she says the evolution of the ABL industry and the people within it have impacted her career the most, and she hopes she can support the next generation of specialty lenders by sharing her personal experiences.