Shari Williams is celebrating her 30th anniversary in the equipment finance industry this year. Her exposure to the industry commenced as part of an internship she earned while attending Fairfield University as an undergraduate at Fuji Bank’s Credit Division for the Americas. It was during this time that she was exposed to the positive impact of mentorship.
Williams’ mentor at Fuji Bank ultimately encouraged her to explore opportunities in the commercial credit underwriting space, and she went on to join People’s Bank’s commercial credit and lending training program. After completing the program, Williams quickly transitioned into the equipment leasing and finance industry and has been active ever since, working at such companies as Phoenixcor Financial Services, GE Capital, Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing and, more recently, at Nexseer Capital, where she served as both chief risk officer and head of capital markets. She presently serves as the chief risk officer for SLR Equipment Finance, where she just surpassed her one-year anniversary.
Williams serves as a positive example of the fact that women do not have to decide between being career driven and having a family. She raised three children, who are now all in college, earned an MBA and maneuvered through volatile economic shifts, all while rising through the ranks to achieve her current career status as a C-level executive.
Williams graduated Fairfield University with a B.A. in economics and philosophy. She earned her MBA in finance from Fairfield University’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business. She continues to actively support the school in various ways, often promoting her company and the industry through participation in events such as Stags on Wall Street. Furthermore, she is an active member of the Charles F. Dolan finance advisory council and was appointed to Fairfield University’s alumni board of directors.
Outside of SLR and her commitments to the schools from which she graduated, Williams contributes to many committees, including the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s mentorship program and the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s academic outreach committee. She is a former member of ELFA’s Women’s Leadership Council.
Throughout her tenure in the industry, Williams has served in many positions of leadership, specializing in risk and portfolio management and credit underwriting. She has maintained a dedicated focus to promoting interest and growth in the industry and paying it forward on mentorship due to her positive historical personal experiences.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working under Shari’s management for almost a decade,” Amanda Sapienza Leach, vice president of risk at SLR Equipment Finance, says. “Shari fosters an environment of inclusion, transparency, collaboration and communication, which are key attributes you seek in any leader. Shari consistently provides opportunities for personal and professional growth within the department.”
“Shari brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our risk management function here at SLR Equipment Finance, and she has created a culture for our risk team to find a way to get a finance opportunity done and not create hurdles to decline or slow down the processing of finance opportunities, which benefits our customers’ and team members’ experiences,” Tom Casey, CEO of SLR Equipment Finance, says.
“Generally speaking, being an effective risk manager requires striking an appropriate balance among managing your organization’s risk appetite, ensuring portfolio integrity and minimizing losses while not losing sight of the importance of positively contributing to an organization’s enterprise value.”