Her Story
About Amber
Amber Baker is a seasoned lending operations professional with more than a decade of experience in automotive finance, loan origination, lease funding, and compliance management. Since entering the finance industry in 2012, she has built an impressive career through determination, expertise, and consistent performance, progressing from a temporary funding department role to her current position as Senior Lease Processor at Stellantis Financial Services US. Throughout her career, she has developed extensive knowledge in contract processing, funding operations, fraud prevention, underwriting support, and regulatory compliance, earning a reputation as a trusted subject matter expert and resource for both colleagues and dealership partners.
In her current role, Amber oversees complex lease funding transactions, reviews contracts for accuracy and compliance, validates state tax calculations, and resolves escalated funding issues. She works closely with underwriting, compliance, fraud prevention, servicing, and dealer relationship teams to ensure efficient and accurate processing while maintaining strict regulatory standards. Known for her problem-solving abilities and collaborative approach, she is frequently sought out for guidance on process improvements, productivity enhancements, and training initiatives that help new team members succeed. Her commitment to operational excellence has made her a valuable contributor to organizational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Amber's professional journey is also a testament to perseverance and self-belief. Beginning her career as a single parent seeking greater opportunities, she advanced through positions with leading financial institutions including Capital One, Santander US, and Ironhorse Funding LLC before joining Stellantis Financial Services. Passionate about helping others grow, she believes in sharing knowledge, mentoring colleagues, and creating opportunities for people to recognize their own potential. As she pursues leadership and operations management opportunities, Amber remains focused on fostering professional development, improving processes, and delivering exceptional results within the financial services industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amber
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to enjoying what I do. What I do is process leases and loans, which means I'm helping people get cars, and people need their cars. I'm the type of person who had to grow up on my own and figure things out on my own, so if I have the knowledge to help someone else, I'm going to help them. When a dealer calls me, it's not just a simple, generic phone call. If I can help them get other things done and get the process through, find ways around obstacles, I'm figuring out ways to make the process easier. I enjoy trying to figure it out and solve problems. They call me in the offices now and ask what we can do to change the process, to make deals get out quicker, to make productivity smoother, to make training easier for new funders. That's what I enjoy doing. I enjoy the challenge and want to see others succeed and grow.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to believe in myself. Even though I don't have the educational background, I work with people who have bachelor's degrees and higher, and I get paid more than them. So believe in yourself, and you can conquer anything.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
As a single parent, I feel like they should never look at their circumstances. It's what you want. If you want it, you go for it. Don't let your situation hold you back from pursuing what you really want.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges I find are talking to men all day at dealerships. They're very demanding when they call in, and they will control the whole situation. If you don't know your job, then you will not be able to handle any dealership calls, the demand, or the productivity of the job. The most challenging part is taking inbound calls from dealerships and getting those deals processed while working on your load as well. It's a male-dominated field. When it comes to lease processing or processing loan contracts from the auto industry finance, you talk to finance managers and dealer sales. You barely talk to the sales team on the floor. You talk to the men that are in the office. You rarely talk to women. You rarely see finance managers as women.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are integrity, caring about other people, and genuinely caring. Making those connections and listening are crucial to me. I also really value wanting to see other people grow. I get excited about that. I love being able to help someone understand something, and I enjoy seeing people succeed and grow. That brings me real joy.
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