“While the work can feel transactional, long-term success is built on relationships and reputation. Roles change, companies evolve and market conditions shift, but your commitment to being responsive, reliable and genuine should remain constant.”
Lisa DeSantis Adams’ career in asset-based lending and healthcare specialty finance is defined by her collaborative spirit, autonomy and an unwavering belief in the power of professional relationships. Entering the industry at a time when very few women had broken through the field, she embraced the challenge with a pioneering energy. Early in her career, she took on the role of West Coast business development officer (BDO) for Harris Bank ABL — a firm that had no prior asset-based lending presence in the region — and successfully established its reputation in a completely new territory. This initial venture as a remote BDO fostered a deep sense of responsibility and independence that continues to characterize her professional approach today.
Currently serving as managing director of originations at Legacy Corporate Lending, Adams thrives on finding creative solutions where others see limitations. She specializes in helping borrowers in unique or difficult situations by looking past traditional parameters to uncover real value. For Adams, the most rewarding aspect of specialty finance is securing capital for businesses when other institutions cannot, achieving this not by taking reckless risks but by identifying the underlying value to support the credit securely.
Rather than viewing herself as an isolated player, Adams considers her success deeply connected to her industry network. She maintains that bringing a deal from conception to completion requires aligning multiple contributors into a strong, trustworthy team. Beyond driving successful transactions, these deep, genuine connections make the business highly collaborative and personally rewarding. Witnessing the industry evolve with greater female representation and workplace flexibility, Adams continues to champion trust, responsiveness and reputation as the absolute foundations of lasting success.
