Nick Gibbens, vice president of business development at Wintrust Specialty Finance, believes a thriving workplace culture starts with treating people with respect and empowering them to grow their skill sets. Ultimately, those efforts serve a shared goal: giving customers the best possible experience.

“I try to let others know how much I appreciate their support,” Gibbens says. “Working remotely is challenging without daily personal contact, so making the effort to reach out and acknowledge their help is important.”

Gibbens is directly supported by three relationship support managers who handle much of the day-to-day work of serving clients. He delegates authority so they can make decisions independently, encourages them to build close relationships with their peers and makes a point of acknowledging their efforts and celebrating their success.