Life at OPENLANE: Q&A with Pam McPhail, Product Owner at AFC
Pam McPhail’s OPENLANE and AFC journey first began in 2006. Since then, she’s excelled in multiple roles — from being a Risk Manager to a Product Owner. Read her story, advice for success, and more below.
What has your journey at OPENLANE looked like?
My journey at OPENLANE began in the AFC business unit in 2006. After a few years, I left the company for a brief time and came back in 2011 and have been here ever since! My career at AFC started as a Relationship Associate in Birmingham, Alabama. Since then, I’ve served AFC in multiple roles including Regional Operations Specialist, Risk Manager, Process Improvement Manager, and I’m currently a Product Owner on the Business Technology team.
What is something you are most proud of during your time with OPENLANE?
I’m really proud of how much AFC has evolved through the years, embracing technology, rethinking how and why we do what we do, and always staying aligned with our values. Personally, I’ve grown alongside our company and it’s been really fun!
What do you like the most about working here?
Two words: the people! I have met some of the most important people in my life during my years here. I definitely feel like I have a work family in addition to my home family.
What’s a piece of advice for newcomers to the company?
Be willing to push yourself outside of your comfort zone – you are more capable than you think you are and you can accomplish far more than you think you can. The support you need is there — you just need to be willing to bet on yourself.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever heard?
You never get a second chance to make a first impression — always be confident in yourself and in how you present yourself because your initial impression on someone will define how they perceive you.
Which one of your skills assisted you the most with your success at OPENLANE?
Adaptability! So many things that happen in life, both professionally and personally, are outside of our control; being able to adapt to those curveballs and handling them with a positive attitude and grace is the only way to succeed.
