Katy Jordan

Business Development , PNC Business Credit

In her current role, Katy Jordan was a key player in developing the concept of the Channel Finance product into a highly flourishing PNC Business Credit vertical. Jordan is responsible for all new business development for the program.

A ten-year industry veteran, she joined PNC Business Credit as a business development officer in 2019. Most recently, Jordan served as senior underwriter in the Supply Chain Finance division of Wells Fargo Capital Finance, focusing on new business, restructures, and mergers and acquisitions for middle-market to large enterprise customers. She began her career with Castle Pines Capital International, specializing in Channel Finance transactions in Latin America and Western Europe.

Jordan is a member of the Secured Finance Network and the Denver area Association for Corporate Growth.

She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami School of Business and her MBA from the University of Denver. Jordan gives generously of her time and is involved in the Denver community through her participation in the Metro Denver Partners youth mentoring program, among other volunteer activities.

What advice would you offer to women just starting out in the industry?

Do not underestimate the importance of relationships. No matter what role you currently hold or what your career ambitions may be, your success also will depend on the relationships you develop. Be your authentic self when forming connections with colleagues and clients. A former manager once gave me a great piece of advice: to find common ground with someone when forming a new relationship. You may be surprised how easily conversation flows once you have identified a mutual interest. Do not be afraid to reach out to people you are interested in getting to know better with an invitation for coffee, lunch or a quick call. Most people will be flattered that you are curious to learn more about them.      

What role has mentoring played in your career?

Mentoring has played an incredibly important role in my career, both through formal mentoring programs and through informal relationships built over time. Mentors have encouraged me to consider different career opportunities and take on new challenges in each of my roles. The guidance and advice I received from mentors has helped me feel confident and empowered in each of my career transitions. It is also incredibly important to have diversity in your mentoring relationships. My mentors have included men and women, managers and peers, and colleagues and role models outside of my workplace. Each of my career transitions has resulted from mentor sponsorship, advocacy and encouragement of my pursuit of a new opportunity.       

What do you enjoy most about your role? Least?

In addition to working directly with clients, my current role allows me to work across many internal groups within PNC Business Credit and PNC Bank. I enjoy building, developing and expanding relationships both with external clients and internal colleagues. Working across multiple cross-functional groups within the Bank has improved my ability to bring value-add ideas and service to customers, while enabling me to be a respectful and knowledgeable partner to my colleagues. In my current role, I support a newer Bank product, which has given me the opportunity to take on many responsibilities beyond traditional business development activities. Facing new challenges almost every day has given me the confidence to problem solve in situations where I previously would have looked to others for a solution.         

What do you know now that you wish you knew in the beginning of your career?

There is a lot of truth to the statement that a very successful career may not always follow a linear path. I now realize that having experience in a variety of roles better prepares you to be successful in your current and future positions.   

How can commercial finance organizations attract and retain more women?

By recruiting more young women out of college to grow the number of women in entry-level positions. The industry also could do a better job of identifying and addressing common concerns among women in the workplace, such as how to balance career and family and overcoming biases towards certain male-dominated roles.