Her Story
About Amber
Amber German is a Senior Customer Service Specialist in Equipment Finance at First Citizens Bank & Trust, based in Jacksonville, Florida. Her journey into finance began in 2021 with a simple yet powerful declaration during her first interview: "I am not here to work. I am here to learn." Starting as a teller at a local credit union, she immersed herself in every aspect of the industry — progressing through roles in account management, business banking, and branch operations — before transitioning into the back-office world of equipment finance in 2024. Her dedication to mastery culminated in earning her Certified Lease and Finance Professional (CLFP) designation in June 2026, a milestone she counts among her proudest professional achievements. In her current role, Amber specializes in industrial equipment finance, working across sectors that include construction equipment, heavy trucks, specialty vehicles, and medical equipment. She is widely recognized not only for her technical expertise but for her exceptional ability to build and develop those around her — earning both a Building Talent Award and a Letterman Award for her contributions to team training, procedure development, and knowledge-sharing. A self-described outside-the-box thinker — affectionately nicknamed "The Mad Hatter" by her colleagues — Amber approaches complex challenges with creativity and composure, having led efforts to clear multi-month backlogs and bring offshore teams up to full operational speed. She is also an active member of Toastmasters and Rock the Street Wall Street, through which she volunteers as a mentor to high school young women, guiding them in personal finance and budgeting. Rooted in the values her parents instilled in her — her father, a former Navy Chief, who taught her that anything worth doing is worth doing right, and her mother, who encouraged her to never be afraid to ask questions — Amber carries those lessons into every facet of her professional life. She leads with dependability, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine commitment to empowering others, whether through formal mentorship, team coaching, or simply modeling what it looks like to keep learning at every stage of a career. Her advice to the next generation of women entering the industry reflects her own lived experience: be confident in what you know, be honest about what you don't, and never allow anyone or anything to diminish your place at the table.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amber
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents and the values they instilled in me. My father, a former Navy Chief, taught me that anything worth doing is worth doing right, and that commitment to excellence has guided everything I do. My mother taught me to never be afraid to ask questions, which has been one of the most powerful tools in my career. Beyond my upbringing, I credit my own desire to continuously strive to be the best at whatever I take on.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to never be afraid to ask a question — regardless of someone's title or position. My mother instilled this in me early on, and it has proven invaluable throughout my career. Asking thoughtful, applicable questions has allowed me to build genuine connections with upper leadership, expand my knowledge, and open doors I may not have otherwise had access to. It is one of the most effective and underestimated networking tools available.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Do not let anyone intimidate you. Walk into every room confident in what you know, and be honest about what you don't — because people respect that far more than pretending. The willingness to say "I don't know, but I want to learn" is not a weakness; it is a strength. Own your seat at the table, keep learning, and never allow a title or position to make you feel like you don't belong.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Time management is one of the most demanding challenges in this field — there is always more to do than hours in the day. However, I believe that challenges are simply opportunities in disguise, and each one is a chance to prove your value. I approach problem-solving by thinking outside the box and finding logic within the chaos — it's actually how I earned the nickname "The Mad Hatter." The ability to rise to complex challenges creatively is what sets professionals apart in this industry.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Dependability and continuous learning are the values I hold closest. Being someone that others can count on — whether it's a colleague, a client, or a team — is something I take great pride in. Equally important to me is the relentless pursuit of knowledge. From my very first interview, my mindset has been: "I am not here to work. I am here to learn." That philosophy has driven every step of my career and continues to shape who I am both professionally and personally.
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