Sarah Duggan – Executive Director, Wholesale Banking / Seniors Housing Healthcare Lending, Synovus

This week, the Everybody Leads podcast welcomes Sarah Duggan, the Executive Director of Wholesale Banking / Seniors Housing Healthcare Lending at Synovus Bank. Sarah graduated as an accounting major from the University of Alabama. She worked at Ernst and Whinney, South Trust Bank, and GMAC Commercial Mortgage before joining Synovus to help start the Seniors Housing and Healthcare Lending Group. Synovus is one of the country’s most respected financial institutions, and its senior housing and healthcare lending team brings over thirty years of experience in providing various services, including construction, value add, acquisition, and mini-perm loans to owners and operators in the senior housing and skilled nursing industry. Sarah’s leadership has influenced her team through pillars of strong industry reputation, certainty of execution, and creativity.Listen as Sarah discusses her leadership journey, passion for her industry, and team-building philosophy. She also delves into best business practices for succession planning, recruiting talent, minimizing mistakes, and timing decisions. Sarah also highlights the importance of trusting your team and delegating responsibilities that can help them develop their leadership skills. Other Topics Discussed Include: Sarah’s Leadership Journey and How She Developed a Passion for the Senior Housing and Healthcare Lending IndustryDeveloping Leadership Skills Through MentorshipThe Importance of Succession Planning and Empowering Your TeamHow to Recruit and Hire Good Talent Who You Can TrustThe Power of Preparation and Avoiding the Word “Never”What Motivates Sarah to Keep Going and Finish Strong Before Her Upcoming RetirementLeadership Resources That Helped Sarah Develop Her Leadership Skills and TalentsManaging a Team During the Pandemic by Creatively Solving ProblemsLessons Learned and Advice to Young Professionals Launching Their CareersPeople During Sarah’s Leadership Journey Who Had an Influence and Impact Without a Big TitleAdditional Resources: Charity: This episode is in support of Sarah Duggan’s designated charity, STAIR of Birmingham. We have made a donation to STAIR of Birmingham as a thank you to Sarah for joining Everybody Leads. To learn more about STAIR of Birmingham, please visit https://www.stairbirmingham.org/Additional ReadingNine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley GoodallSynovus BankWebsite: https://www.synovus.com/Contact Sarah Duggan: Website: https://www.synovus.com/corporate/finance/specialty-financing/senior-housing-and-healthcare-lending/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-duggan-a0458516/ Thank you for listening, and please join us again to hear from more exceptional leaders.Click for more: https://everybodyleads.orghttps://www.bakerdonelson.comProducer: Jason PlankIntern: Claudia Bonney Amamoo