Inside SFNet’s Leadership Courses with Ann Butera 

In today’s secured finance environment, technical expertise alone is no longer enough to prepare professionals for leadership roles. Across the industry, many firms face the same challenge: strong individual contributors are promoted into management positions without the leadership training necessary to succeed. 

Recognizing this growing gap, the Secured Finance Network (SFNet) has developed a leadership development program specifically designed for professionals in secured finance. Led by leadership development expert Ann Butera, president, The Whole Person Project, Inc., the program equips emerging leaders with practical tools, frameworks, and peer support that many companies—especially mid-size and smaller firms—no longer have the resources to provide internally. 

“Too often, strong individual contributors are promoted into management without the leadership tools they need to succeed.” - Ann Butera 

The Leadership Training Gap 

For decades, large financial institutions invested heavily in formal leadership development. Mandatory training programs helped prepare new managers for the realities of leading teams, navigating change, and making strategic decisions. But over time, many of these programs were scaled back or eliminated. 

The result is a common scenario across the industry: top-performing lenders, underwriters, field examiners, and portfolio managers are promoted into leadership roles with little preparation for managing people. 

“Leadership is not instinctive. It’s a skill set that can and should be learned.” 

A Curriculum Built for Secured Finance 

Unlike generic leadership courses, SFNet’s curriculum was designed specifically for the secured finance industry. The development process began with interviews with several senior professionals across asset-based lending and factoring to identify the real-world leadership challenges facing professionals today. 

The program focuses on practical, behavior-based approaches that participants can immediately apply in their day-to-day roles. 

The Value Beyond the Classroom 

While the curriculum provides critical leadership tools, participants consistently say the greatest value comes from the connections they build. 

Through live sessions and interactive discussions, the program creates a peer cohort where professionals from different firms can share challenges, compare perspectives, and learn from one another. 

These relationships often become long-term professional networks—trusted peers that participants can call on when navigating difficult decisions or new leadership responsibilities. 

ABOUT ANN BUTERA 

Ann Butera is the founder of The Whole Person Project and a leadership development consultant specializing in financial services. 
 
Her career spans retail, corporate banking, and entrepreneurship. She previously worked at Chase in the credit card division supporting both the cardholder and merchant sides of the business. 
 
Her experience navigating organizational change and leadership development led her to launch The Whole Person Project, where she works with organizations to develop stronger leaders and more effective teams. 
 
Through SFNet’s leadership program, Ann brings decades of experience helping professionals develop practical leadership frameworks tailored to the realities of secured finance.