“Positivity, inclusivity and unwavering ethical standards, combined with an incredible work ethic, form the blueprint for Jon’s success. ‘Better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today’ and ‘nothing too big, nothing too small’ are his guiding tenets. Tom Sbordone, Managing Director, Equipment Finance, BMO”

With a career that spans nearly a dozen diverse roles and more than a half-dozen cities, Jon Biorkman’s experience in the equipment finance industry has been dynamic. As a holistic business leader, Biorkman takes ownership of organizational success through the alignment of financial, operational and strategic business planning. He also creates clarity around set vision, fosters collaboration across divisions and mobilizes teams through complex execution.

THE JOB IS STILL EXCITING
Through his extensive tenure, Biorkman is still excited about his career and the industry. “I’m not an engineer, so when I see the types of equipment that people can create, develop and invent — from technology and manufacturing to logistics and transportation — it’s something I can marvel at on a daily basis,” Biorkman says.

Additionally, Biorkman admires the diverse range of companies requiring equipment finance. “You get to work with companies of all shapes and sizes, across almost every geography, every industry and help them grow — help them with projects and really be the fabric of capital investment for them,” Biorkman says.

EMBARKING ON A DIVERSE CAREER
Biorkman has become increasingly open-minded and formed a global mindset thanks to experience he gained from his travels and several years of leading global teams, which granted him the ability to find commonality across diverse cultural, regional and business settings.

Prior to working at BMO, Biorkman was president of healthcare financial services at GE, where he governed all aspects of global business, including commercial, risk management, capital markets, operations and asset management across more than 20 countries. Biorkman also served in several senior roles across corporate finance businesses for GE, with responsibilities including cash-flow lending, ABL and capital equipment finance.

Within BMO, Biorkman brought the U.S. and Canadian equipment finance businesses together to establish a North American platform. He has continued to strengthen the business profile through performance transparency, knowledge sharing and strategic clarity, while also driving employee participation and engagement.

THE PEOPLE MATTER MOST
Through his exceptional track record at Morgan Stanley, GE and BMO, Biorkman is most grateful for his mentors and long-lasting industry relationships. Today, he focuses on ‘paying it forward’ and invests in team members throughout the organization. To do this, he spends ample time with BMO’s emerging leaders to support them and help them reach their potential.

As Biorkman’s career has been highlighted by global experience, he has introduced ideas to a diverse range of people and mutually benefitted from their knowledge. For example, certain mainstream ideas in the U.S. could be largely unknown in another jurisdiction and vice versa; learning about these differences and using them to expand the company has brought Biorkman much success as a leader. Biorkman is continuously curious and excited to learn, which he attributes to his ability to quickly get up the learning curve and establish relationships. His effective leadership, communication and curiosity have made him an approachable leader who sets clear agendas and enables talented teams while also establishing work environments in which diversity of thought and open discussion are
catalysts for progress.

GROWING BOLDLY IN BUSINESS AND IN LIFE
Biorkman’s goals and achievements are tied to BMO’s core purpose, which is to boldly grow the good in business and in life. Biorkman highlights the company’s quarterly volunteer events, in which employees can make a difference in the communities where they work and live. These events are widely discussed and anticipated by BMO employees, and Biorkman takes great pride in seeing his team committed and excited to give back.

The culture at BMO, Biorkman says, not only fosters the yearning to make a difference but also supports collaboration and teamwork. “We like doing things as a team,” Biorkman says. “If we win, we win as a team, and if we lose, at least we get to do it together.”

When it comes to leaving a legacy in the industry, Biorkman has a simple goal: to always do the right thing. He also connects this to BMO’s culture of living out collaboration with a continuous improvement mindset while fostering engagement. Everything Biorkman and the BMO team do is centered on setting up their clients, employees and business for short- and long-term success. Biorkman
hopes his contributions to the organization do just that. •