Women in Leadership: US Bank Laura Brant, Vice President, Private Banking Relationship Manager
MCTC offers a Business Speaker Series for students to learn from industry professions. Laura Brant, of US Bank, offered her expertise of being in the field of banking for over 30 years. Brant has had many positions with various banks over the years and is now completing her bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Catherine. She offered her advice to women (or any person) interested in finding success in business or in a leadership role. Here are some of the tidbits she had to offer from her work experience:
Confidence is core to being a successful business person: Find your confidence by being knowledgeable and “in the know.”
-Read the newspaper. -Listen to public radio. -Be socially aware and stay informed about what is happening in the world. -Invest in continuous education. -Know relevant statistics pertaining to your work.
Language is power:
-Know the “language” or lingo of your industry. (For example, sports language is very popular to use as metaphorical language in business, so be familiar and well-versed in that if you are going into business). -Choose your words carefully.
Know your contributions:
-Women continue to make 77.5 cents for every dollar a man earns. -Only 2% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. -Women earn less than 99% of men in all occupations.
Understand the leadership culture of the company:
-Do their principles match yours? -What’s the tone at the top? That sets the tone for the whole company. -What kind of a company do you want to work for?
Tell me who you know:
-Networking and relationships are really powerful in business and most professions. -When you build relationships in your field, it gives you the support of resources in the form of a network. -Find people that you respect in your field or someone who has the job that you want. Do an informational interview or ask them to coffee. Ask “How did you get to where you are today?” -Be sincere.
Collaboration is key:
-”Collaboration” is an important buzzword right now because there is more power in people working together. -You can be a star in business, but if you do not work well with others, you will gain a reputation as such. -It’s not just numbers/sales that are important, collaboration will bring you attention.
What motivates you?
-What makes you jump out of bed in the morning? -Find out what you are good at and figure out how to do that. -Take advantage of free tests on campus in the career center: Meyers Briggs and Strength Finders.
Laura Brant had some really great advice for anyone going into the professional world; not exclusive for business-majors and not just for women. I especially admired her determination to build a career while getting a degree, which I’m sure some of us at MCTC can relate to. I thought her advice about figuring out what you are good at and going for it was sincere and smart. She stressed the importance of working well with others in your workplace and networking within your field/industry.
Laura Brant, Vice President, Private Banking Relationship Manager
MCTC offers a Business Speaker Series for students to learn from industry professions. Laura Brant, of US Bank, offered her expertise of being in the field of banking for over 30 years.
Brant has had many positions with various banks over the years and is now completing her bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Catherine. She offered her advice to women (or any person) interested in finding success in business or in a leadership role. Here are some of the tidbits she had to offer from her work experience:
- Confidence is core to being a successful business person: Find your confidence by being knowledgeable and “in the know.”
-Read the newspaper.-Listen to public radio.
-Be socially aware and stay informed about what is happening in the world.
-Invest in continuous education.
-Know relevant statistics pertaining to your work.
- Language is power:
-Know the “language” or lingo of your industry.(For example, sports language is very popular to use as metaphorical language in business, so be familiar and well-versed in that if you are going into business).
-Choose your words carefully.
- Know your contributions:
-Women continue to make 77.5 cents for every dollar a man earns.-Only 2% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.
-Women earn less than 99% of men in all occupations.
- Understand the leadership culture of the company:
-Do their principles match yours?-What’s the tone at the top? That sets the tone for the whole company.
-What kind of a company do you want to work for?
- Tell me who you know:
-Networking and relationships are really powerful in business and most professions.-When you build relationships in your field, it gives you the support of resources in the form of a network.
-Find people that you respect in your field or someone who has the job that you want. Do an informational interview or ask them to coffee. Ask “How did you get to where you are today?”
-Be sincere.
- Collaboration is key:
-”Collaboration” is an important buzzword right now because there is more power in people working together.-You can be a star in business, but if you do not work well with others, you will gain a reputation as such.
-It’s not just numbers/sales that are important, collaboration will bring you attention.
- What motivates you?
-What makes you jump out of bed in the morning?-Find out what you are good at and figure out how to do that.
-Take advantage of free tests on campus in the career center: Meyers Briggs and Strength Finders.
Laura Brant had some really great advice for anyone going into the professional world; not exclusive for business-majors and not just for women. I especially admired her determination to build a career while getting a degree, which I’m sure some of us at MCTC can relate to. I thought her advice about figuring out what you are good at and going for it was sincere and smart. She stressed the importance of working well with others in your workplace and networking within your field/industry.