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50 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com wants to be a banker when you're 5 or 10 years old? I thought that life was going to be an oyster, and I would just be the pearl. en I was struck by reality and realized that my mind works ver y analy tically. So I went into bank ing when I was ver y young and fell in love with the concept of helping people. A nd that's really how I look at my job today. I feel that as a banker, you're not just a banker, but you take on the persona of whatever company or whichever customer you're helping. Your focus is specifically on their needs, and that evolves into a relationship where ever yone wins. I get the benefit of learning about all different ty pes of businesses. At the end of the day, my gratification comes from understanding that I have been able to help someone else fulfill his or her dream. When did you start in banking? I was 18 years old and fresh out of high school. At that time, I was going to school at night and filing the checks in the backroom during the day. at's when nothing was automated, and you really just sat there and looked at each individual check that came through the bank at night and put it in a slot. It was the most mindless work, and I realized that it was not for me. People soon realized that I had a bit of a gi of gab, so they put me in front of the customers. Candidly, I've never been a teller. I was always on the customer ser vice side of the business. I got into branch managing , marketing , as well as the sales and operational side of the house. Really, I look at myself as a leader of others. My career has taken me in directions that I would have never imagined. As a woman, what are some different qualities you bring to the table, and how would you describe your leadership style? First off, to be a woman, particularly going back 30-some years, you really had to differentiate yourself and stand out by being smart, work ing hard, eager and then some. You really had to take it to the limit in order to get noticed. It's that work ethic that has helped me evolve my career. I don't think I ever would have been as successful just being smart. You had to be the total package. Today, I really see as my role as developing other people in the industr y and to help foster that next generation of bankers. Even though I'm a mentor to many young women, I also mentor several men who are at a different point in their career and wish to understand how to be at the top of the game. I' ll tell you, the top of game is an exciting place to be. I never want to " fall off " my game, but to get here it's a long hike, and you just can't have too many missteps. How old were you when you first had children? My son was born when I was 23, and my daughter at 25. I can remember many a night work ing late. ey were under my desk with crayons and coloring books, and I was giving them vanilla wafers so that my boss wouldn't see them. I mean, we got creative back then. I can remember missing an air flight and think ing , "Oh, I'm not going to be able to make it to cheerleading practice." It was a real challenge to find a balance. I have learned that life itself is a balance, and at any given time, the priority takes precedence. As a single mom, there were many times when work had to take that priority because that was how I could adequately provide for my children. In turn, I felt I was a role model for my children and could show them that with hard work and commitment, you can do whatever you desire. You had a second marriage and a blended family. Tell me a little bit about that story. Well, I can't imagine anyone in a blended family that wouldn't sit back and say, "Wow! at was fun, and it came with LEFT: Susan with her family. MIDDLE: With her best friend. RIGHT: Susan and her girl posse.

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