ABA Banking Journal
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
SUBSCRIBE
ABA Banking Journal
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Community Banking

Women Rising

June 6, 2018
Reading Time: 4 mins read

By Kerry O’Leary

“You should become the president of your bank.”

This simple statement, which a bank CEO said to Peg Scott during a reception while she was attending the Graduate School of Banking in Boulder, Colo., marked a turning point in her career.

Scott began her banking career as a teller at a small, family-owned bank in Greenfield, Iowa, and potential for growth was bleak. She watched the bank hire a lender with no banking background. When she asked an executive why he did not consider training someone from within the bank for the position, he replied: “I probably should have, but I never thought about it.” Fast forward nearly 10 years, two higher education degrees and three promotions. Scott, along with her husband and other community members, formed a holding company and bought the bank when the family decided to sell.

“Today, I work closely with several of my younger staff trying to fit that mentor role because I know how helpful it can be and that one conversation can make a huge difference in someone’s career,” says Scott, who is now both CEO and CFO at Union State Bank. She encourages rising leaders at her bank to “use anyone that will help you grow.” Taking knowledge about anything and from anyone is a key to building leadership capacity, she says. “Do not limit your knowledge to your current job, but try to learn even more in other areas. If you ask questions and advice regularly, a mentor will evolve organically.”

Scott believes in including everyone in the bank in decisions, developments and announcements whenever possible, a testament to her personal career trajectory. “I come from a long history of non-leadership positions at the bank, which is why I try to mold the culture at Union State around inclusion. I ask opinions of everyone, often. If I want people to follow me, they need to be involved to best support what drives our mission.” As for the single most important quality of any leader, Scott says there is not one, but many. “A leader must be willing to take full responsibility, really listen, stay calm, focus, work harder than anyone else and laugh.”

Leadership vs. management

Mary Ann Scully is quick to point out the difference between management and leadership. “You don’t have to have people reporting to you to be a leader,” she says, something she learned by moving from management to independent work and back again throughout her career.

About five years into banking, she admits she “finally” fell in love with her career prospects and the potential to make an impact on people as both a banker and in a leadership role. A cash management consultant at the time (a role that came with a small staff working under her), Scully learned early on that good leadership skills would stick with a person no matter their position. She is today chairman and CEO of Howard Bancorp in Baltimore.

However, she recalls the lack of diversity, inclusion and mentorship programs in her early banking years. “I was in my 30s, and those are critical years for building a career, so I was almost forced to find leadership inspiration informally,” she says. Scully reached out to people organically, sometimes sending copies of projects she was working on to senior employees at the bank, looking for feedback on anything. Howard’s most recent acquisition—which vaulted the bank into position as the fourth largest Maryland-based bank by assets—has led to the creation of a formal women’s leadership program, with regular meetings, expert speakers and mentorship opportunities, as well as more diversity in the leadership makeup overall.

Scully’s advice for rising leaders: “don’t necessarily set your sights on climbing the ladder.” She notes that often a vertical path perpetuates siloed leadership and processes. “Be willing to take a lateral move, be willing to move a step down even,” she says. The creativity and flexibility to map out a career in multiple, not always linear, directions will pay off, says Scully.

Sources of inspiration

Christiana Thornton is a natural people person, a trait that has driven her leadership style. She describes herself as open and engaged and relies on the support of others to accomplish her goals. “When leaders are transparent and open, the culture is, too. I know I don’t have all the answers, and I truly want to tap into others.” She attributes the success of the New Hampshire Bankers Association, which she leads as president and CEO, to its ability to show everyone their ideas and engagement make a mark on the organization—a testament to her personal capacity to cultivate enthusiasm amongst all levels and roles. “The more one feels they are a key partner, the more it drives their active involvement and engagement.”

She also attributes her personal success to the strong relationships she’s built along the way. Early in her career, she consistently met with bankers, colleagues and other peers both in and outside of the industry for advice and guidance. “You have to be curious, and observe others that are successful in their roles,” she says. “Observe those that you admire as strong leaders, and then seek them out; learn from them.” Thornton notes this is not always an official mentor/mentee relationship, but rather finding leaders that share similar values.

Thornton, who says she has had countless mentors in the state association and banking sectors, doesn’t forget to seek inspiration from outside of the industry. “Often those areas I have been most challenged by during my career are not directly related to my job. The key to my success at the office has been linked to my ability to learn from others about work-life balance, time management and priorities.” As a wife, mother and community leader, she recognizes the need for not just one, but many sources of inspiration. “And those mentors will change throughout your leadership journey as your develop in your career. It’s important to recognize that you need different mentors for different facets of your life.”

ADVERTISEMENT
Tags: LeadershipProfessional developmentWomen in bankingWorkforce excellence
ShareTweetPin

Author

Kerry O'Leary

Kerry O'Leary

Kerry O'Leary is a senior writer at the ABA Banking Journal.

Related Posts

Podcast: Staying close to clients amid tariff-driven volatility

Podcast: Staying close to clients amid tariff-driven volatility

ABA Banking Journal Podcast
June 18, 2025

Amid tariff-related volatility, how are small and midsize businesses and the banks that serve them faring?

FDIC, OCC tighten policy considerations for bank merger applications

Report: Bank merger activity continues at steady pace

Community Banking
June 18, 2025

While there was a temporary stall in bank merger activity in early 2025 because of the economic fallout of tariffs and other Trump administration policies, overall quarterly deal announcements have held steady, according to a new analysis by...

OCC sees need for regulatory reform in bank merger process

Bank acquisitions announced in Ohio, Florida

Community Banking
June 17, 2025

FSB Financial has applied to buy Republic Banking Co. in Ohio. Commerce Bancshares has agreed to buy FineMark Holdings in Florida.

Old ways in a new world of banking

Old ways in a new world of banking

Community Banking
June 13, 2025

Meet American Bankers Council chair Jim Ryan, chairman and CEO of Old National Bank.

Podcast: Old National’s Jim Ryan on the things that really matter

Podcast: Old National’s Jim Ryan on the things that really matter

ABA Banking Journal Podcast
June 12, 2025

Jim Ryan has led Old National Bank to 250% asset growth. On the podcast, the ABA American Bankers Council chair discusses the bank's growing profile and footprint, his views on deposit insurance reform and the experience of leading...

Nine highlights from nine decades of Stonier alumni

Nine highlights from nine decades of Stonier alumni

Community Banking
June 12, 2025

Over 90 years, more than 26,000 graduates of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking have brought leadership and vision to their banks and to the industry. To commemorate Stonier’s 90th anniversary, we are highlighting nine remarkable Stonier...

NEWSBYTES

ABA DataBank: Planned/announced office conversions spike

June 20, 2025

OCC releases mortgage performance report for Q1 2025

June 20, 2025

Justice Department seizes millions of dollars linked to alleged crypto investment scams

June 20, 2025

SPONSORED CONTENT

AI Compliance and Regulation: What Financial Institutions Need to Know

Unlocking Deposit Growth: How Financial Institutions Can Activate Data for Precision Cross-Sell

June 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

April 25, 2025
Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

April 5, 2025
Six Payments Trends Driving the Future of Transactions

Six Payments Trends Driving the Future of Transactions

March 15, 2025

PODCASTS

Podcast: Staying close to clients amid tariff-driven volatility

June 18, 2025

Podcast: Old National’s Jim Ryan on the things that really matter

June 12, 2025

Podcast: What bankers need to know about ‘First Amendment audits’

June 5, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

American Bankers Association
1333 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-BANKERS (800-226-5377)
www.aba.com
About ABA
Privacy Policy
Contact ABA

ABA Banking Journal
About ABA Banking Journal
Media Kit
Advertising
Subscribe

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.