As a new manager in the COVID-19 era, Lee Wisler found it difficult to be separated from his team members but also found it to be rewarding, as it showcased his perseverance and cohesiveness when presented with the unknowns created by the pandemic. Wisler, who is an assistant vice president of the specialty finance group at 1st Source Bank, says that banking is a team sport and that company success is a result of cooperation and shared vision.

Wisler says he performs better when met with a difficult or complex task and that such experiences are always extremely valuable for professional development. By breaking down a complicated task into granular action steps, Wisler doesn’t fixate on the end result but on the necessary steps to reach the desired outcome. He says this strategy has been particularly important while navigating the COVID-19 era. In addition, as a growing leader, he has developed confidence by surrounding himself with capable and experienced professionals who utilize their unique skills to drive results for the team.

In addition to strong team members around him, Wisler has been fortunate enough to experience a variety of roles in his seven years at 1st Source Bank, allowing him to become skilled in oversight of production, personnel, credit quality and reporting. He also recently completed the STRIPES Leadership Program, gaining valuable insight from his peers on the complexities of the industry in the process.

Passionate about his work and the results of his team, Wisler brings that passion to leadership by being true to himself. He has seen how important mental health has become, particularly with the onset of tremendous stressors such as the pandemic, inflation, rapidly-shifting monetary policy and supply/labor constraints. To help address these concerns, Wisler believes mental health should be discussed for the well-being of employees and organizations as a whole. To