Her Story
About Tracy
Tracy Kelly serves as Vice President Lender in the financial industry, where she has spent 26 years focusing on commercial lending with a particular passion for supporting construction, engineering, and architectural firms throughout the Chicagoland area. Her educational path began with an associate degree in hospitality management, followed by an undergraduate degree in business management and a master's degree in finance, which equipped her to understand both the stories behind business owners and the financial data they provide. Kelly attributes her success to surrounding herself with mentors and successful individuals while maintaining a commitment to lifelong learning and growth. She values making an economic and life-changing impact through sharing information and giving back, both professionally and personally through authentic relationships. As a woman in the historically male-dominated construction lending space, she embraces the challenge of building trust on job sites and sees opportunity in relating to the growing number of women entering the field. Kelly advises aspiring professionals to take a chance by removing fear and encourages young women to listen intently to others' passions and why they do what they do, noting that commercial lenders are givers who provide access to capital and resources. She is also an active member of 40 Plus Double Dutch, where she participates in community events and sisterhood activities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tracy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to surrounding myself with other successful individuals that know more than me, especially my mentors. I am always an advocate learner, thirsty for knowledge and understanding, and I don't believe I'm ever an expert but always growing in what I do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to take a chance. Remove the fear and take a chance.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid. If you enjoy learning who people are, their passions, and their why, this is definitely an industry for you. As a commercial lender, you have to be able to listen to others and truly be intrigued by who they are and why they're doing what they're doing. We are givers who believe in helping, whether with access to capital or providing resources.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is being welcomed into the male-dominated construction industry as a female lender, building trust on job sites where I don't look like the average lender. The opportunity is that women are breaking into the industry, allowing me to relate immediately, bridge the gap, and provide resources and information not openly shared with them.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work, being able to make an impact by sharing information that creates economic and life-changing effects in the business community or with youth, and giving back. In my personal life, it's about sharing who I am and what I know with others through authentic relationships.
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