Olivia Hudson of Sallyport Commercial Finance Achieves SFNet's Secured Finance Certified Professional (SFCP) Designation

SFNet Secured Finance Certified Professional (SFCP) program, offered to employees of SFNet members, features a robust curriculum of live online courses. Certification criteria are designed to reinforce industry excellence, elevate professional standing, and propel careers forward.  
 
The program is set to become the gold standard in asset-based lending and factoring, offering a prestigious career milestone. Targeted at emerging and mid-career professionals, the program requires mastery of core subjects, evidenced by passing a comprehensive exam. Certified individuals earn an SFCP credential, showcasing their ongoing dedication to professional integrity and industry best practices. 
 
Here, we spotlight one of our first SFCPs, Olivia Hudson, portfolio manager at Sallyport Commercial Finance, LLC. 

Congrats on being one of the first in our industry to achieve the SFCP designation! What motivated you to complete the SFCP program?  

I have always been focused on furthering education, continuous learning, and developing both professionally and personally.  SFNet is a highly respected organization within our industry, which makes the SFCP designation especially valuable. Earning this designation was a way for me to demonstrate my skillset, affirm my proficiency in the industry, and reinforce my commitment to excellence in the field.
 

Can you provide our readers with some background on your career and your current role in the industry? 

I began my career in factoring at Sallyport Commercial Finance straight out of college. Over the past nine years, I’ve steadily progressed through various roles—starting as a credit controller, then advancing to account executive, senior account executive, and now portfolio manager. In my current role, I oversee our entire portfolio across the U.S. and Canada, vetting new deals, managing and monitoring the risk within the existing portfolio, and working closely with our teams to ensure consistent client success and portfolio performance. One of the aspects I enjoy most is learning about the wide range of industries our clients operate in and serving as an advocate for them, while also ensuring we protect Sallyport’s interests and maintain a healthy, balanced portfolio. 

Can you walk our readers through the classes you have taken to achieve the SFCP designation?  

To achieve the SFCP designation, candidates are required to complete four in-depth courses related to the industry, along with one soft skills course. I selected courses that aligned with my current role, while also challenging me and expanding my knowledge—one example being Workouts & Bankruptcy, which offered valuable insights into distressed situations. For my soft skill course, I chose Critical Leadership Strategies. As a portfolio manager, it's essential not only to ensure the portfolio is operating effectively, but also to support the growth and development of the team. This course helped reinforce the importance of adapting leadership approaches to match each individual’s personality, strengths, and professional goals. 

How do you think achieving the SFCP designation will help your professional development?  

I believe the SFCP designation has already contributed to my professional development through the process of completing the courses and exams. It’s a strong recognition of my knowledge and expertise in the industry, and I’m confident it will be respected and acknowledged by my peers and industry colleagues. I plan to apply what I’ve learned to better support my team, make more informed decisions, and continue growing as a leader. This designation also positions me well for future opportunities and ongoing advancement in my career. 

We know people reading are wondering about the exam. Can you share your experience with that? 

What makes the SFCP designation unique is the flexibility it offers through a selection of courses at each level, allowing individuals to curate their own learning experience. You can choose to focus on topics that align closely with your current role, explore areas outside your department to broaden your industry knowledge, or take a mix of both. This ability to customize the curriculum makes the program highly personalized, ensuring that each participant gains the most relevant and valuable insights for their own professional development. Once you have completed the courses, you will then take an exam for each course that you chose. The exams challenge your knowledge on the courses, including the case studies that are discussed, which allows you to apply the concepts being taught to real-world scenarios. This practical approach reinforces learning and helps you better understand how to navigate similar situations in your day-to-day role. 

SFCPs are expected to remain active in the industry and to complete at least 18 units of continuing education ("CEUs") for each 2-year reporting period. SFNet conferences, webinars, professional development courses and our Mentoring Program offer qualifying CEUs. Now that you are an official SFCP, what additional classes will you look to take during the next two years?  

As I continue to grow in my career, attending conferences and expanding my professional network has been incredibly valuable. I plan to keep building on that and by taking upper-level courses to further my education, along with specialized courses on key industry topics to stay current and deepen my expertise. 

If there is anything else you would like to include, please do!

I am proud to be one of the first to achieve the SFCP designation. I think it really sets an industry standard for professional development, credibility, and continued learning within the secured finance space. It not only recognizes the expertise and commitment of those who earn it but also encourages a higher level of excellence across the industry. I believe the designation will become a benchmark for professionals looking to advance their careers and demonstrate their dedication to the field.