Numbers and mathematics have always come easily to Lena S. Bourgeois, the senior vice president of vertical markets with Equifax. Gifted with a photographic memory and the ability to quickly process data, when initially deciding on her academic trajectory, she gravitated toward business, as the field was broad enough to present her with numerous opportunities and prospects for professional growth. Ms. Bourgeois leaned toward accounting, finance, and statistics during her undergraduate education at the renowned Jönköping International Business School in Sweden, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in international business and marketing.
In follow-up, Ms. Bourgeois attended McGill University in Canada, where she obtained a master’s degree in international business in 1997. Her academic efforts culminated at Jönköping International Business School, where she graduated with a Master of Arts in international business and marketing in 1998. As she completed her college education, Ms. Bourgeois researched potential employers and found Claritas, a business unit focused on data analytics and geographic information services that utilized data and informational systems to offer consumer profiling services. In 1998, she started with the company as an account executive and found that she immensely enjoyed synthesizing the vast databases of numbers with marketing considerations and the psychological aspects of consumer profiling. Ms. Bourgeois knew very quickly that she wanted to stay in the field.
Continuing to excel at Claritas, Ms. Bourgeois became the director of sales for the company in 2004, a role she held for three years. From 2007 to 2011, she worked as the vice president of regional sales for The Nielsen Company, a massive audience insights and market measurement firm, later rising to become the vice president of business development in 2011. Following her departure, she accepted the role as vice president of decision support solutions at Equifax, where she has thrived for more than a decade. After just a few years at the company, Ms. Bourgeois became vice president of the consumer market group in 2014 and later accepted the position of vice president of Enterprise Alliances Automotive with Equifax. In 2020, she was the national sales leader, after which she became senior vice president and general manager of automotive and insurance services until 2024.
Today, as Equifax’s senior vice president of vertical markets, Ms. Bourgeois supports various verticals and serves as the commercial leader for the business, overseeing teams covering multiple industries, including automotive, insurance, telecommunications, utilities, energy, travel, and hospitality. She is responsible for setting the vision and strategy for Equifax’s business in those markets. In addition, Ms. Bourgeois works to build a capable and effective team by recruiting and nurturing talented individuals to succeed with the company.
As a leader in her field, Ms. Bourgeois refuses to take her subordinates for granted. For more than 20 years, she has witnessed the growth and success of numerous extraordinary and talented individuals, an experience she has found extremely fulfilling. She firmly believes that, to get the best from people, one must truly understand them, recognizing their motivations, talents, strengths, and aspirations. Ms. Bourgeois works to create a clear picture of who her employees are and identify the roles that will allow them to flourish. She believes that many organizations force people into roles that are not a good fit, leading to subpar performance and missed opportunities for growth. Throughout her career, she has made creating a productive and comfortable environment for her employees her primary goal.
Outside of her work at Equifax, Ms. Bourgeois is passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations. Since 2019, she has been a member of the leadership committee for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. As a former board member of the local YMCA for nearly a decade, she supports multiple local charities that assist women and immigrants. As a highly successful woman and immigrant herself, Ms. Bourgeois is devoted to promoting women in leadership roles and serves as a mentor for burgeoning professionals. Born in Turkey and raised in Sweden, she has lived in five countries and is fluent in five languages. She maintains an international focus and continues to work with organizations worldwide.
Ultimately, Ms. Bourgeois’s priority is to help consumers live their best financial lives by providing them with equal opportunities for economic well-being. She aims to ensure everyone can access the financial tools required to achieve great outcomes. In her personal time, Ms. Bourgeois relishes moments with her children and friends, and she enjoys golfing and traveling.