A long-time running joke in the ARM industry is that compliance departments only know how to say “no.” Syntheia Nagel is out to dispel that myth. Nagel has clearly succeeded at that as the chief compliance officer at Cedar Financial, which has established itself as a digital collections innovator. Read on to learn more about Syntheia, why roses feature so prominently in the picture she submitted, and why she doesn’t have any guilty pleasures.
Name: Syntheia Nagel
Job Title: Chief Compliance Officer
Company: Cedar Financial
Length of time at current company: 8 years
Length of time in industry: 8 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
I joined the industry after speaking with [Cedar Financial CEO] Amir Erez. I was impressed and inspired by his vision for his growing company and joined the team.
When or how are you most productive?
I am productive the first hours of the workday, before the meetings start.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
I admire so many industry professionals, for their generosity and expertise. Stefanie Jackman, Leslie Bender, Joann Needleman, David Kaminski, Manny Newburger, Tim Collins … and many more
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
My rose garden is banging!
What do you like most about this industry?
I like being in this industry because I make a difference every day.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
If I could have one wish, it would be for our regulators to realize the value of our industry and act accordingly.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
If I weren’t in this industry, I would probably have continued to be a human resources professional.
Describe a typical work day
Every day is an adventure, the fun never ends.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Ha, ha, nope, all of my pleasure is guilt free. 😊
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received was from my mentor Martha Jean McHaney. She told me this “As a professional, if you want to keep your seat at the table, your first answer should never be ‘no’. You should always strive to find a way to deliver.”
What are you currently reading?
One of my favorites is “Leadership and Self Deception” by the Arbinger Institute another favorite is “Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high” by Kerry Patterson and other authors. But honestly, right now, I am reading my book for my new (to me) sewing / embroidery machine.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I care about people, and when I meet you at an industry function, I am going to ask you what you do for fun.