Amy Weum begins each day with purpose and determination. Since her promotion in 2019 to regional vice president at CoBank Farm Credit Leasing, she has overseen a Midwestern leasing sales team while helping farmers feed the world. As a leader in traditionally male-dominated fields, Weum has become an inspiration for aspiring female leaders.

“Equipment finance and agricultural banking have customarily been male-driven industries, and, even today, I often find myself as the only woman in the room,” Weum says. “However, I view this as my superpower. The courage to voice diverse perspectives can significantly enhance business performance and, in the field of agriculture, can profoundly influence our ability to feed a growing population.”

Weum’s mission extends beyond her professional duties. She is committed to inspiring women to invest in themselves. “Continual learning fosters innovative thinking, which will propel our industry forward,” she says. Her commitment to empowering women is a testament to her leadership and vision for a more inclusive industry.

Weum’s journey into leasing began unexpectedly at a college career fair. At the time, a software company (now Solifi) was seeking programmers exclusively, but Weum, armed with dual degrees in finance and German, requested an interview anyway. She pitched her unique skillset as an asset to an international leasing software company. Her tenacity paid off, and she landed the job.

At Solifi, Weum gained valuable industry knowledge, contributing to software implementations and generating new revenue streams through customized reporting. This expertise led her to AgriBank, where she built an operations team and transitioned a legacy lease accounting platform to a more efficient, cost-saving hosted service.

In 2006, CoBank recruited Weum for its Farm Credit Leasing division, recognizing her blend of leasing and agricultural expertise. She quickly made her mark, building the bank’s trade credit leasing channel from the ground up to $300 million in annual originations. Her innovative strategies earned her a spot as a speaker at the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA) annual convention, where she presented on strategies and tools for customer retention.

In 2023, Weum celebrated her 25th year in the industry by becoming the first Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) at CoBank. “I’m committed to giving back to the industry that has shaped my incredibly rewarding career by fostering a legacy of continuous learning and personal excellence,” she says. “As the first CLFP at CoBank, my hope is to inspire my female colleagues to pursue ongoing learning and growth.”

To support this vision, Weum created FCL Academy, an educational program tailored to Farm Credit Leasing’s business practices. The curriculum serves as a valuable resource for onboarding new employees and promoting continuous learning within the company.

Mentorship remains central to Weum’s leadership, both at CoBank and through her active involvement in ELFA. She is completing her second year on the ELFA Equity Committee and serves as a liaison to the ELFA Bank Business Council Steering Committee, continuing her efforts to foster a more inclusive and forward-looking industry.

“For over two decades, Amy has been an indelible contributor to the equipment finance and agricultural industries,” Sean Svoboda, national sales manager at CoBank Farm Credit Leasing, says. “She sits on various committees, leads by example, and is always willing to help others out as a mentor. Amy continues to do this within Farm Credit Leasing by leading an initiative called FCL Academy focused on education, with a goal of increasing employee industry knowledge and engagement.” •