Dhuane Stephens, Head of Loan Sales for the Americas, Societe Generale, won Excellence in Syndicated Loans at Markets Media Group’s 2025 U.S. Women in Finance Awards.

What was your reaction to winning the award? 

I was of course delighted. I’ve worked with so many talented women in the syndicated loan market over the years, and to be recognized for my contributions is both humbling and gratifying. I’m grateful to my managers and colleagues who supported my candidacy for this award.

Can you share a bit about how you started your education and career? 

I sometimes refer to my career as “accidental”.  I was hired for my first job at a US bank via campus recruiting my senior year in college and went through a corporate finance training program. The syndicated loan market was really just beginning, and to be on the forefront of development of this asset class was incredibly lucky. I started on the buy-side, investing in syndicated loans on behalf of a small European bank. After several years, I decided I was up for a new challenge, and I made a strategic move to the sell-side of syndicated loans, where I’ve been ever since. I’ve found it to be dynamic and rewarding. It’s mentally stimulating, and client focused. There are some clients that I’ve covered for well over 20 years. 

Was there a mentor, colleague, or experience that inspired your approach to leadership?   

I’ve had many mentors, sponsors, and role models over the years, both male and female. I feel extremely fortunate to work with colleagues who are smart, committed, driven, and team-oriented. There has been one manager in particular who I especially admired. This manager was hard working and intense, but she always showed a “soft” caring side as well. She managed up as well as down, and she was extremely supportive of the professionals on her team. I’ve modeled my own behavior as a leader to align with how she led. 

What accomplishment in your career are you most proud of?   

I’m most proud of how I’ve been able to balance my career with my family life. I’m grateful for having a husband who has supported me in a demanding job, and with whom I have a truly equal partnership.    We’ve together raised our two sons to be young adults who are bright, caring, and open-minded. I believe that my sons are also proud of me, and they’ve witnessed firsthand that women can have both career and families when they have a strong support network.

Have you mentored women in finance, and what lessons or guidance do you find yourself giving most often?  

I’ve mentored many women over the years. Advice I always give is as follows:

1)  Be a sponge. Take in as much as you can and learn as much as you can.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for advice.

2) Be open-minded about opportunities. Raise your hand for challenges. Every project is an opportunity to learn and expand your knowledge base. 

3) Network strategically and constantly. The person in your first-year analyst class could be your colleague at a different firm in 10 years, or perhaps even become your manager or direct report. I’m still in touch with people from my analyst class from 30 years ago. It’s amazing how much many of them have accomplished!  Likewise, you should network internally with other teams and business areas.  Perhaps you’ll make a career pivot, and your network will help in making that happen. You never know where you may wind up.