Find out more about the people that drive Shojin's growth in our Meet the team series. This week: Sam Tibbins, Associate Director, Origination; a role that involves working collaboratively with developers and brokers to source new loans.
Sam brings invaluable experience from some of biggest financial institutions around, combined with calmness, clarity and ambition.
Q: What is your career background, and what has been the highlight of your career so far?
I began my career in finance shortly after the Global Financial Crisis, a time when the industry was still reeling from the fallout and rebuilding itself with a renewed focus on risk. I trained in risk management at both Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan, gaining valuable insight into how global financial institutions manage exposure across complex portfolios.
It was during my time at JPMorgan in New York that I had my first real exposure to real estate. The prospect of working more closely on underwriting transactions was a game-changer for me—it made me want to move into roles where I could be more responsible for sourcing and closing new transactions.
That transition eventually led me to join the Origination team at Shojin, where I’ve had the opportunity to build a strong foundation in deal sourcing, structuring, and credit underwriting. I’ve been able to implement my early career in risk with the commercial aspects of real estate finance, introducing new layers of risk sensitivity and scenario analysis to how we assess opportunities.
One of the most rewarding parts of my role has been shaping the firm’s new whole loan offering—designing cash flow structures suited to our evolving pipeline and creating bespoke terms for new funding partners.
A highlight of my time at Shojin has been originating and asset managing a mezzanine loan that exited early—allowing us and our investors to realise a clean, positive outcome. It was a textbook case of getting the structure right, actively managing the loan, and making decisions that benefited all stakeholders.
Today, I’m focused on continuing to grow Shojin’s whole loan book and building long-term relationships that help us scale our platform.
Q: Have you received any awards or recognition in your career?
Early in my career, I was proud to receive an employee recognition award at Deutsche Bank after leading a challenging project that required managing a large team of external contractors.
We faced a series of setbacks, but through coordination and persistence, I was able to bring the project back on track.
Since joining Shojin, I’ve been promoted based on my performance—specifically, for taking the initiative in sourcing and closing transactions. I’ve developed a reputation internally as someone who can work the numbers and help shape opportunities into live deals. Whether it’s a complex Excel model or a thorny structuring challenge, I’m often brought in when we need to balance risk with commercial execution.
Q: What are your core values and aspirations for your career?
Integrity, clarity, and momentum are at the core of how I work. I believe the best deals happen when there’s mutual trust, a clear process, and the confidence to strike while the iron is hot.
I thrive in collaborative environments, especially in teams where people push each other to move faster, adapt quickly, and always be thinking one step ahead. It’s something we pride ourselves on at Shojin—staying nimble while growing steadily.
Looking ahead, I want to continue expanding both our investor and borrower network, helping bring in new capital and new projects to the platform.
One day, I’d love to follow in our CEO’s footsteps and build my own fund or platform. I’m passionate about helping people build wealth—especially those who might not traditionally have had the right tools, access, or networks.
Q: When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun?
When I'm not working, I like to unwind with family and friends after a long week. I often spend my time eating out, going to gigs, organising my next trip abroad with my friends, or nervously watching my team Aston Villa play.
Fitness is another area I’m trying to stay on top of—I’ve recently taken up HYROX classes, which have been humbling, to say the least.
Whether it’s a running challenge or just keeping up with training, I enjoy pushing myself and staying active outside of work.
Q: If you could describe Shojin's ethos in three words – what would they be?
Forward-thinking; collaborative; transparent. That's three, I promise!
To learn more about how Shojin help real estate developers deliver more homes, visit the Borrowing section.
To connect with Sam, visit his LinkedIn.
