In the asset-based lending industry, Stephanie Vlamis has made a significant impact by actively participating in a community of young women professionals who are reshaping the industry’s landscape. The group’s connections and collaborations have increased engagement in industry events, fostering an environment that welcomes and supports all individuals. “My hope is to continue inspiring and encouraging other young women to pursue careers in ABL, demonstrating that there is a clearer path for them to thrive and succeed in this field,” Vlamis says.

In 2016, Vlamis started her career at CIBC Bank USA in the commercial banking training program. She gained experience in different lending groups and joined the ABL team as a credit analyst in 2018. She was promoted to relationship manager in 2019 and, at the end of 2022, she was promoted to her current role as managing director and senior account executive.

Vlamis considers one of her biggest career challenges a universal one: moving to fully remote work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was particularly challenging for Vlamis because the timing aligned closely with her promotion from credit analyst to relationship manager. As she was stepping into a new role with significantly more responsibility, she was suddenly unable to meet her clients or collaborate with colleagues in person.

She adjusted by picking up the phone more than she ever had before, calling her senior team members for guidance and advice and calling her clients to build relationships. “I ultimately think this experience was crucial to my development as a relationship manager, as it taught me to work independently and proved how important proactive communication with clients is for developing relationships,” Vlamis says.

Looking ahead, Vlamis plans to continually seek out challenging opportunities that push her to grow and to commit herself to mentoring credit analysts and junior relationship managers, guiding them on their own paths to success.