Emily Krause uses her skills from her time in the U.S. Navy as a surface warfare officer every day in her current role as vice president of frontline risk management at CIT Business Capital, a division of First Citizens Bank. She works across all aspects of the business capital unit, from the front end to the back end, and can adapt to different communication styles and rapidly changing situations with minimal business impact. These skills are a key part of Krause’s success as a risk manager.

As a well-respected leader who makes a large impact across the business, Krause approaches every initiative with the mindset of “I do it because it’s my job.” Yet, without hesitation, she takes on tasks and projects that go above and beyond her call of duty.

Krause has supported the integration of CIT Business Capital into First Citizens Bank’s risk framework and consulted with the First Citizens Bank enterprise risk team to identify best practices this year. As a result, she has instilled confidence across the business on all risk-related requirements and is looked at as an expert in her field.

In addition to making an impact across the business through her professional accomplishments, Krause makes it her mission to support the professional development of others. She also focuses on her own growth and plans to sit for the Certified Lease & Finance Professional exam in November.

As an active member of CIT Business Capital’s mentor program, she helps inspire and coach up-and-coming leaders across the equipment financing business on career development and growth. Krause is also the acting lead for First Citizens Bank’s veterans business resource group, which advocates for internal veterans and military spouses through tailored learning opportunities and mentorship. The group also supports external veterans through recruiting and community outreach.

“Find your voice and, once you find it, use it to ask for what you want,” Krause says. “Use it to ask questions and to grow. Use it to offer help. If you don’t use it, how can you expect others to listen?”

Krause strongly believes in the purpose of the veterans group, as it’s through similar efforts that she found her place in the banking world. She regularly attends job fairs to recruit talent by helping hiring managers translate veteran resumes. In addition, she understands how unclear the post-military career path can be, so she proudly serves as a mentor for veterans within her network who need guidance on those next steps.

Krause’s professional mission is to build trust and acceptance: Trust the process and the people, accept the challenges head on and do it with a smile. Anyone who knows Krause will say that she embodies her mission every day.

“The personal time, effort and energy she spends on bringing others together is honorable and crucial to creating strong team unity and positive morale,” Heather Ellison, senior vice president of business capital originations of CIT, says. “Whether it is providing sound guidance and advice in her primary role or bringing associates together on her own time, Emily is an extremely valued leader whose meaningful contributions are unparalleled.”