Why did you decide to attend the Washington Summit on behalf of the VBA Emerging Bank Leaders?

Eboni: I decided to attend the Summit to widen my perspective. At first, I was hesitant because “I’m only in marketing.” However, every banker has a voice and can contribute to advancing the legislative priorities for our industry. Attending the Summit would give me the opportunity to connect with bankers from all over the U.S. and learn from them in addition to benefiting from the program itself.

Jennifer: I’ve had great opportunities during my career, particularly since joining my bank, to learn how banks are run, how the banking system works, and what that really means for our customers and communities.  When the chance came to attend the Washington Summit, I was thrilled to expand my understanding of how decisions made in Congress directly impact my community at home.  It was an amazing experience to share personal stories of our customers with lawmakers and hopefully help them connect to the importance of the legislation in front of them.

Kate: I decided to attend the Washington Summit to expand my knowledge and understanding of national policy to the banking industry, and how we as Emerging Bank Leaders can play a vital role in bettering our industry, not only today but for future generations to come.

Kevin: I didn’t know that I wanted to go to the Summit until it was offered, but now that I have been, I want to be a part of it annually.  Having the opportunity to meet bankers from across not only the Commonwealth but across the country is something that I thought I could greatly benefit from by learning different experiences.

Tyler: I decided to attend the Washington Summit to better understand how politics can affect the ability of our banking system to remain healthy from a business perspective while remaining impactful on our communities. I am a member of a business unit focused on ensuring all individuals have access to credit and fair banking services. By attending the Summit, I knew that I would be able to witness the representation of each constituent in the responses provided by our policymakers – a core value of our democracy.

You were all first-time Washington Summit attendees. What was your favorite moment from the experience?

Eboni: My favorite moment was visiting the Cannon House Office Building to meet with members of Congress. I was excited to witness my fellow Virginia bankers share stories about how rules and regulations affect our customers. Showing up as a united front felt powerful and impactful!

Jennifer: There were so many incredible moments, it’s hard to pick just one! Two come to mind. First, our meeting with Senator Mark Warner. His candor, insight, and the time he spent with our group felt very special. Following that meeting, our group walked together to Capitol Hill for a group photo; in that moment, I realized just how large our group was and how much it meant to come together to advocate for our communities.

Kate: It’s hard to pick just one favorite moment from this experience; networking with other Emerging Bank Leader attendees, both from Virginia and other states, along with meeting with our Virginia Congressional delegation.  

Kevin: For me, it was listening to all of the different speakers on Tuesday morning.  To be in a room with Congressmen, CEOs from various-sized banks, and other elected leaders gave me a perspective I never would have thought of. I never thought I would be in a position to be a part of something so great, but I am proud to be a part of the financial industry and hearing the different stories of how we make a difference in people’s lives is something I didn’t think was possible when I first started this journey.

Tyler: My favorite part was being able to network with bankers, ranging from other emerging leaders to seasoned CEOs, from across the country. For me, these meaningful interactions just further my passion for learning more about how the banking industry plays a key role in strengthening our communities. These newly forged relationships, especially with Virginia bankers, will be impactful throughout my career, as I know these individuals are just a call or email away.

As a part of the event, you also attended the Emerging Leaders Forum. Tell us about one or two of your top takeaways from the sessions, which included Master the Game Within, Competing in a Hyper-Distracted World; Attention, Action and Impact; Leading for Today and Tomorrow: A Conversation with ABA Leadership; and From the Ring to the Rainforest: Leadership Principles from an Ultimate Fighter’s Remarkable Journey.

Eboni: The top takeaway for me was from the “Leading for Today & Tomorrow” session. One of the speakers said, “Seek different experiences” and “Say ‘yes’ to everything.” That was validation for the life I’ve been trying to lead for the past couple of years. One of my reasons for attending the Summit was to do something I hadn’t done before. I could’ve said “no,” but I would’ve missed out on amazing learning opportunities. This takeaway will help me continue to venture out of my comfort zone.

Jennifer: I loved the entire lineup of the Emerging Leaders Forum. The topics were so relevant that I took a LOT of notes. I had two standout takeaways that I’ve already put into practice. From Master the Game Within, the advice to “plan tomorrow today” has been a game changer. Setting aside just a little time to map out the most important things to tackle has made a big impact for me.

The other was a theme from several of the sessions, which I took away as a challenge to consider that I can do incredible things even when I have no idea how to begin, if I’m open and willing to try new things, learn from mistakes, and to seek out and accept help from others.

Kate: All of the speakers during the Emerging Leaders Forum were wonderful; this whole day was a high point of the Summit.

The importance of prioritizing and completing tasks in that order. How multi-tasking doesn’t exist in the fashion we sometimes convince ourselves it does. Prioritizing and allowing designated times for “generator” type tasks and “responder” type tasks. This allows us to fully dedicate and give 100% to each given task versus giving a much smaller percentage of our ability to all tasks we complete during the day.

Kevin: From seeing a Bank School classmate on stage and speaking on her role within her FI, and knowing that these opportunities are not just handed to you.  You have to raise your hand.  You have to be someone that others see potential in.  What she said on that stage resonated with me, as I had been in a prior role for 12 years and did not see a promotion in sight until I started raising my hand and not being afraid to jump out on that ledge.  Another was seeing more people who look like me.  The banking industry is an industry that has never had a lot of minorities in it.  I believe there is still room to grow, but seeing where the industry was even five years ago to now, there has been movement.  Representation matters and seeing people on stage in such prominent roles helps me to know that there are possibilities for me to be in those same seats as time goes on.

Tyler: During the Emerging Leaders Forum, we had the pleasure of hearing from entrepreneur and high-performance coach Patrick McAndrew. His speech, titled “Master the Game Within, Competing in a Hyper-Distracted World,” was timely for emerging leaders across all industries. My top takeaways were regarding partial attention and energy management. As Patrick shared, 85% of our time at work is spent responding to messages – partial attention has no clear objective. This means we spend the majority of our time in responder mode, when we are often in roles that require outputs that are managed by our generator mode. To combat this, Patrick recommends focusing on energy management rather than time management. The goal is to work with your circadian rhythm to use your higher energy times of the day for generator mode while leaving your lower energy times for responder mode.

You are all members of the Emerging Bank Leaders, a VBA group in which members are encouraged to participate in advocacy events and initiatives. What are the benefits of being a part of that group, or more generally, of being involved with the VBA?

Eboni: Being involved with the VBA means having access to many outstanding opportunities for your personal and professional development. I’ve attended the Leadership Conference. I currently serve on the marketing committee, and I’ll be finishing my final year of Bank School this summer. Through each of these initiatives, I’ve met so many influential people and have expanded my knowledge and my network.

Jennifer: Being an active member of the VBA and the EBL group has opened doors to valuable networking, leadership development, and advocacy opportunities. I’ve connected and built relationships with peers and senior leaders across Virginia. VBA’s development programming, such as Bank School, which I recently completed, and other mentorship and leadership programs, has allowed me to gain valuable skills. Participation in this group also supports professional visibility, providing a way to demonstrate commitment to the future of banking by participating in events like the Washington Summit.

Kate: I think one of the best benefits of being a part of EBL is being able to network with like-minded individuals in the same or remotely same place in their career – we may be in different parts of the industry or do the same job but being able to make friends with others in our industry is great! It has also opened new opportunities and ways for me to get involved and give back to my community, my bank, and the industry. I’ve always been told to leave something better than the way you found it, I think being involved with EBL and VBA allows me to take part in making banking better!

Kevin: People. I have been in the banking industry for more than 20 years; however, being able to learn about different banks that I have never heard of before, and people I would have never had the chance to meet before, has been one of the best things that has happened to me.  It has given me the ability to connect and talk to people from all over the state that I never would have spoken with.  Being someone looking to always grow, listening and seeing different perspectives is never a bad thing and teaches that as much as we are different, we face similar issues.

Tyler: My engagement with the VBA has increased substantially over the last year. Although I have always been a subscriber to all of their informative newsletters, the Association’s in-person educational and networking opportunities have helped me develop as a leader. I find my membership in the Emerging Bank Leaders (EBL) to be the backbone of my engagement with the Association. The EBL has offered me the ability to meet countless other bankers from across the Commonwealth who are often at a similar point in their careers. These relationships will be invaluable as I continue to grow in the banking industry.

What would you say to someone who is considering attending an advocacy event, such as the Summit, in the future?

Eboni: Go! The Summit was one of the BEST banking events I’ve ever attended, and “enlightening” is probably the best word to describe my experience. Advocacy is very important for our industry, and you’ll learn so much by simply being in the room.

Jennifer: I would say “Do it!”  The experience was eye-opening.  Connecting with bankers from across the country, hearing directly from law and policymakers, and having the chance to make your voice heard was transformative.  I think every banker should attend at least once.

Kate: Not to hesitate! Never say no to an opportunity; it may open your eyes to something new or spark a new personal initiative. At a bare minimum, you’re going to have a great time and learn something new about an industry that we all care about!

Kevin: Go!! Learning about the industry that you’re in and even understanding how laws that affect us are created is an invaluable experience.

Tyler: If you have the opportunity, then you should absolutely take it! Attending an advocacy event with other like-minded professionals is rewarding and will help you grow your influence within the banking industry.

Lightning Round: 

• What is a productivity tip that has improved your work life?
  • Eboni: Focus on high-priority tasks and minimize distractions, which may even include turning on “Do Not Disturb.”
  • Jennifer: Plan tomorrow today! And hold yourself accountable for completing those critical tasks.
  • Kate: It’s okay to not be responsive immediately; this allows for full focus on each task at hand, which improves productivity.
  • Kevin: Making a list of tasks that I want to accomplish in the first hour of my day.  It has helped me to organize and to stay on task with minimal distractions, since I have a goal.
  • Tyler: Closing my email when it is time to be in generator mode.
• What’s one piece of technology you can’t live without in your work?
  • Eboni: Adobe InDesign and Photoshop
  • Jennifer: Multiple screens… I have at least 3.
  • Kate: My cell phone, unfortunately
  • Kevin: I wouldn’t say technology per se, but having multiple screens, lol.  I don’t know how I ever got anything accomplished before. I have 2 screens plus my laptop when I am in my office and it makes my life so much easier.
  • Tyler: I would sadly have to say my cell phone, since a large amount of my role can be managed through it if needed.
• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
  • ​Eboni: “You don’t know what you can do until you’ve tried to do it.”
  • Jennifer: Give your best effort in everything you do, no matter how big or small, visible or invisible, the task might be. Your reputation often enters the room before your skill does.
  • Kate: Personally: “Don’t let your Net Worth get confused with your Self Worth”. Professionally: “Do what you do best, and delegate the rest.”
  • Kevin: Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest. We as humans always want to compare ourselves to others in our field, and other people in general.  Everyone has their own race, so your race won’t look like someone else’s.  Its ok to not be first in something as long as you’re making progress.
  • Tyler: My grandfather used to always tell me, “Put your mouth in park and your ears in gear.”
• And finally – our most hard-hitting question – what is the best way to prepare and/or eat potatoes?
  • ​Eboni: A fried potato is the best potato. It can be cut into slices, cubes, or some style of French fry, and it will always be the best way!
  • Jennifer: Is there a bad way??  French fries are my weakness.
  • Kate: I mean, is there a bad way to prepare and eat potatoes?!?! I’m a sucker for a loaded baked potato though!
  • Kevin: Fried with peppers and onions.  That is always going to win, hands down.
  • Tyler: Hasselback – crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Just don’t forget the butter and herbs!

Noted & QUoted