How long have you been working in asset finance/fleet solutions for?
I’ve worked with the McMillian Shakespeare Group for 10 years, including 7 years at Interleasing. Previously, I worked in banking in NZ and account management in London.
What does your role entail and what excites you about it?
Most of my portfolio is based in Queensland, with many clients in the NFP sector. I love building strong relationships with my clients, across varied types of meetings or just over a coffee!
My NFP clients are quite time-poor and wear many hats, so they trust us to help. It feels great supporting companies that do good for the community within my role.
What are some of the challenges that you help solve for clients?
It's all about collaboration with our clients. I've learnt no day is the same - you think the day is going in one direction and then it goes in another!
We meet our clients and ask questions to understand what’s going on and the challenges they face. We work to find products that suit them, qualifying them in the process – with the goal of finding a solution that works for their fleet's needs.
What are the opportunities for Interleasing?
Being part of our parent company McMillian Shakespeare, we hear about how our colleagues are working with their clients on services like novated leasing for employees. It’s interesting to see where we could collectively drive value for our clients as a group.
We also try and stay ahead of trends. A couple of years ago, some of our clients weren’t ready when we first started discussing the move to hybrids and EVs. But now they’re ready, and we’re excited to partner with them on their journey.
What future trends do fleet managers need to be aware of?
Every business is moving towards a greener footprint. It’s important to understand the EV industry before you begin a green fleet transition. There are so many new EV brands coming to the market, and EV infrastructure is constantly changing. It’s a big education piece.
What makes Interleasing different?
Our team is quite special, we’re hardworking and invested in our clients and their best interests. I’ve learned as well that you never know who the end user is – it all needs to be a personable experience for them. Our smaller size is what makes us special.
What’s your proudest achievement while at Interleasing?
My proudest achievement would be being nominated as a Hero Finalist in Queensland when I was fairly new to Fleet Management and more recently being promoted in the Relationship Manager role.
What was your first job?
I first started with a telecommunications company, fresh out of school. It was a great first entry job to learn about customer service, working with a team and keeping up with development as mobile phones were being introduced. I started with topping up customer’s phones manually, dealing with many types of credit cards, to eventually running entire projects.
What inspires you?
My family is a big why. My partner was a teacher’s aide and worked with children with disabilities and has recently been promoted to a youth worker role. I’ve never met anyone as passionate about her job as her. Constantly inspiring me to grow and continuing to learn to be a better person in my role and at home too.
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Meet the Experts: Valerie Di Giovanni, Senior Relationship Officer
