“Early in my career, I wish I had known that leadership is not about proving you have all the answers — it’s about asking the right questions, building trust and empowering others. That belief shapes how I lead today.”
Kelli McLean’s trajectory in specialty finance is defined by her talent for translating complex business hurdles into collaborative, customer-centric milestones. Starting her career as a co-op student in consulting and deals at PwC Canada and later working in corporate finance, McLean eventually transitioned into specialty finance, driven by a desire to combine relationship building with hands-on problem-solving for growing businesses. Over the last eight years, she has scaled alongside FundThrough, working across revenue, sales, client success and go-to-market strategy to now oversee the entire customer life cycle as senior director of revenue.
For McLean, leadership is about people and clarity. This approach was on full display when she successfully rebuilt FundThrough’s revenue organization following a period of team disruption. Rather than chasing short-term metrics, McLean realigned sales, client success, operations and risk management under a single, unified vision. She introduced a structured performance framework, integrated live data visibility to replace manual spreadsheets and deliberately turned away bad-fit opportunities to protect portfolio health. This cross-functional overhaul not only drove sustainable growth but also cemented a culture where risk and revenue operate in sync.
McLean is a passionate advocate for mentorship, encouraging women entering the industry to confidently claim their seat at the table even before they feel entirely ready. She views the rapid evolution of specialty finance as a significant opportunity for leaders who bring fresh perspectives and empathetic communication. By prioritizing trust, investing in her team and keeping the customer at the center of every decision, McLean continues to shape a more inclusive and dynamic future for specialty finance.
