Pictured: Jennifer Palmer (left) and Sarah Walsh of JPalmer Collective. 

Launched in 2019, SFNet’s Guest Lecture Program aims to educate and inspire young, diverse talent in the secured finance industry by introducing students to asset-based lending (ABL), factoring, and other secured lending disciplines. 

In support of this lecture series, the Secured Finance Foundation ("SFFound" or "Foundation") connects industry leaders to undergraduate and graduate finance students. Each Guest Lecture is led by individuals from SFNet’s network of Foundation and Board members, committee leaders, or its local and community-driven chapter network, providing students with a high-level look at secured finance as an industry and a career path. 

Each Guest Lecture includes access to SFNet’s database of current internships offered by our network of 270 member companies, a scholarship program to support internship acquisition and networking opportunities both at the local level and at the national level. 

Here, we sat with Jennifer Palmer, CEO, JPalmer Collective, and Sarah Walsh, credit analyst, JPalmer Collective, to discuss how SFNet’s Guest Lecture Program brought them together.  

Jennifer Palmer has been an active member of SFNet for years, having served as president in 2022-23 and as an Executive Committee, Management Committee, Women in Secured Finance Committee member and Board Member.  Palmer’s first lecture opportunity came in 2020at the request of a friend at Mercy College, where Jennifer now proudly serves as a board member. When SFNet launched its Guest Lecture program, Palmer immediately agreed to participate and has since had the pleasure of lecturing at her alma mater, Marist University, every few years. JPalmer Collective recently made a donation to the school. 

Returning to Campus 

“Returning to campus always brings back great memories of my student days, but it’s equally rewarding to experience it from the other side of the desk,” Palmer, who graduated from Marist’s honors program with a triple major in art, fashion and art history, said. “I’m consistently impressed by how intelligent, articulate, and mature today’s students are—it’s inspiring to see how much they’ve evolved. Much like SFNet’s Mentoring Program, where mentors also learn through the process, I find that each teaching experience offers me new insights and lessons of my own.”   

Marist University, Palmer explains, incorporates secured finance concepts within its broader finance curriculum rather than offering a standalone course.  The school has a strong finance program, and students can also participate in an investment club where they actively invest their own money in the market, gaining real-world experience alongside their coursework.  

Palmer lectures through Marist University’s Finance Department, and her sessions typically draw around 50 students—mostly upperclassmen and a mix of ages and backgrounds. Each lecture lasts about 45 minutes, followed by another 45 minutes dedicated to questions and discussion.  

“The students bring incredible energy and curiosity to the room,” Palmer added. “They ask thoughtful, often challenging questions that make the conversation dynamic and fun. I sometimes joke that they must be earning extra credit for their enthusiasm—especially since my lectures usually take place on Friday afternoons!”  

Palmer says students are always eager to hear about her personal journey—especially how she founded JPalmer Collective. At the start of the lecture, many are focused on careers in investment banking or private equity. But by the end, Palmer says, they're often more open-minded and excited to learn about the wide range of opportunities within finance that can still offer a high quality of life.  

“Students are also very curious about why clients choose to work with us for financing rather than pursuing more traditional routes. That opens the door for me to explain the role and value of secured finance, which is often a new concept for them. It’s rewarding to see that ‘aha’ moment when they realize how dynamic and impactful this side of finance can be.” 

From College Lecture to “You’re Hired” 

Sarah Walsh began her college journey at Marist University as a criminal justice major and quickly realized it was not the right fit for her after being enrolled in a required biology course. “Science was not something I ever particularly liked. I decided to switch to an undecided major, which allowed me the opportunity to explore a wide range of academic disciplines, attend various student organization meetings, and discover what truly interested me,” Walsh explained. 

Through this process, she found herself drawn to Marist’s Business Club, which led her to declare a major in business administration during the second semester of her freshman year. Her involvement grew quickly, and by sophomore year, she had joined the club’s Executive Board and eventually took on the role of vice president.  

“As I continued to immerse myself in the business major, I developed a strong personal interest in finance and began to do my own self-education through reading books and articles and listening to educational podcasts,” Walsh said. “It wasn’t until junior year that I officially chose finance as my concentration within the business administration major. From there, I became co-president of Marist’s Investment Club, and upon graduation I was selected to receive the Greystone Award, which recognizes the outstanding senior in finance.” 

Palmer met Walsh when she conducted Marist’s first SFNet Guest Lecture in 2023.  Prior to Palmer’s Guest Lecture, Walsh said she had not been exposed to asset-based lending, either in her coursework or finance-related extracurricular activities.  

“The Guest Lecture presentation was the first real introduction to the secured finance space,” Walsh said. “I found it interesting how asset-based lending offers flexibility that can be tailored to meet each client’s unique needs. What stood out to me was how deeply ABL professionals must understand a client’s industry, business model, and operational challenges to structure effective financing solutions. I also knew early on that I wanted to be in a client-facing role, and ABL presented the perfect opportunity to combine analytical work with meaningful client engagement.” 

Given the limited female representation in the finance industry, Walsh also saw the Guest Lecture as a valuable opportunity to learn from a successful woman in finance.  

“Jenn’s insights into lending and her journey as a founder of the JPalmer Collective (JPC), which was launched on International Women’s Day in 2023, were incredibly inspiring,” Walsh said. 

“Her presentation gave me a tangible example of how women can thrive in finance, and I knew I wanted to stay connected with her. Her mission to expand access to capital, with an intent focus on women-founded businesses, deeply resonated with me. I remained in contact with her throughout my senior year and post-graduation, eager to continue learning about JPC and she has since become an incredible mentor and role model, and I am immensely grateful to have the opportunity to work for her and help grow the vision for JPC.”  

Palmer was impressed with Walsh’s maturity, strong communication skills and intellectual curiosity.  

“She was exceptionally articulate and consistently asked thoughtful, insightful questions — both during class discussions and afterward — showing genuine curiosity and engagement,” Palmer said.  

“After the lecture, I shared my contact information and encouraged students to reach out with any questions. I was pleasantly surprised when several of them followed up, and I had a few great phone conversations as a result. Sarah stood out because she reached out more than once — she already had a job at the time, but expressed how strongly she connected with our mission and wanted to stay in touch long term. She would reach out after JPC’s anniversary or when a deal was announced, which really showed her professionalism and genuine interest in maintaining the connection,” Palmer added. “I really appreciated that she was thoughtful and intentional about building a genuine, lasting relationship with our company.” 

Walsh, who joined JPalmer Collective as a credit analyst in September 2025 and is building strong relationships with clients and contributing to the continued growth of JPalmer Collective and its meaningful impact in the industry, encourages students to stay curious and open-minded.  

“The finance industry is extremely broad, and there are many sectors that you may not have even learned about yet that can provide meaningful and rewarding career paths,” she said.  “Most importantly, do your research, attend guest speaker events, ask inquisitive questions, and engage with professionals in the field. Network and stay connected with speakers who resonate with you because these relationships can open unexpected doors and even lead to finding a valuable mentor in the industry. Sometimes the role that ends up being the perfect fit is not the one you initially had in mind. Networking and talking with people can help you discover a part of the industry that is aligned to help you achieve your career goals.” 

“I am focused on deepening my understanding of lending practices and the strategic role collateral plays in providing flexible financing solutions. It is rewarding to be part of a team that is not only focused on financial success, but also on empowering businesses, especially women-led ventures, to scale and thrive," Walsh said. 

SFNet's 2025 Guest Lecture Programs. For more information about SFNet's Guest Lecture Program or if you are interested in participating, please contact Denise Castagna at dcastagna@sfnet.com. 

Bentley University
CUNY Future in Finance
Georgia Tech
Kennesaw State University
Lehman College
Marist University
Rutgers University-Newark
Queens University
Rice University
Rutgers University
Ryder University
St. John’s University
University of Texas at Austin
University of Illinois
Wayne State University

Virtual Guest Lectures
University of Oklahoma
Indiana University Bloomington – Kelley School of Business
University of Colorado Boulder
UCLA