Welcome to the team, Ayo Makinde! Ayo recently joined the Stride Capital team as a Leasing Documentation Specialist, bringing over 7 years of experience and an eagerness to learn and help the team succeed. Keep reading to get to know Ayo better. 

Tell us about your previous work experience and education and how it led you to Stride.

My career journey has been driven by a deep focus on credit, risk analysis, and commercial loan operations. I have spent over 7 years in financial services, honing my expertise in corporate finance, risk management, and lending operations. I started my career in credit analysis, analyzing financial statements and structuring deals. After relocating to Canada in 2024, I transitioned into lending operations, serving as a Loan Administration Specialist at National Bank of Canada.

My educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Lagos and a certification as an Expert in Small and Medium Enterprise Finance. I am currently pursuing my Certified Credit Professional (CCP) designation through the Credit Institute of Canada. This blend of credit analysis, lending operations experience, and continuous professional development naturally paved the way for my transition to Stride Capital.

What are you looking forward to about your new role as Leasing Documentation Specialist for Stride?

I am eager to contribute directly to Stride Capital’s operational excellence and continued growth. Having handled high-volume commercial loan processing and documentation auditing in my previous roles, I look forward to bringing that precision to Stride. I am excited to support the sales and credit teams, ensure our documentation processing remains seamless, and build strong, collaborative relationships across the organization.

What opportunities do you see as part of Stride and within this new role? 

This role presents a fantastic opportunity to deepen my specialization in equipment financing and leasing operations within a dynamic, fast-paced environment. I see a great opportunity to leverage my background in commercial loan administration to optimize the documentation workflow. Stride has a reputation for being agile and entrepreneurial, and I am excited to be part of a culture where I can continuously improve processes and grow alongside a supportive and forward-thinking team.

Can you tell us a bit about your experience working in a team environment, managing client relationships, and doing financial analysis?

Throughout my career, balancing these three pillars has been central to my success. On the team front, I have always worked to bridge the gap between relationship managers, risk compliance, and credit operations to resolve documentation discrepancies and ensure deals progress smoothly. 

My client relationship management experience spans from handling high-volume customer interactions at Neo Financial as a Customer Experience Specialist to conducting client interviews and managing delicate commercial portfolio restructuring conversations as a credit analyst. 

When it comes to financial analysis, I have an excellent foundation. I have spent years conducting financial statement analysis and performing detailed cash flow analysis to assess risk for commercial portfolios. I look forward to bringing this well-rounded perspective to the documentation desk at Stride.

What is your life like outside of work?

My life these days is wonderfully busy in the best way. My wife and I recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl who is now 7 months old, and she is our absolute world. Navigating early fatherhood has been an incredibly rewarding adventure that keeps me on my toes during evenings and weekends.

On top of family life, I am focused on professional development and continuous learning. I am currently working through my courses toward completing my Certified Credit Professional (CCP) designation through the Credit Institute of Canada.

When I do find a bit of free time, I love hanging out with friends and staying active to keep my energy up. Moving to Calgary has given me great appreciation for the outdoors, so I enjoy walking and jogging whenever the weather permits. 

Learn more about Ayo and get in touch today.