As the CEO of Surety Bank, I’m currently the youngest bank CEO in the state of Florida. It’s an honor and a privilege to lead this team, and while I believe my work speaks for itself, I have had to learn to navigate the dynamics that come along with often being the youngest person in the room. Traditionally, when you think of a bank CEO, you think of an older gentleman with greying hair and a sharp-looking suit, even I tend to conjure up that image. But, these days, I’m proud to say that the tides are changing in the banking industry and that as the industry changes, so too does the type of person charged with leading it.
While I can’t compete with some of my team when it comes to years spent in the banking industry, I’ve focused on leveraging my strengths in order to provide the type of leadership that I believe my company needs. For example, community banking had a reputation for many years of being stuck back in the dark ages, not committing to the significant technical upgrades that would help it compete on the global banking market. In the traditional “this is how we’ve always done it” model, Surety Bank would have sat back and continued to cultivate solid relationships with our current clients, while probably missing out on opportunities to grow. As the leader of my team, I had the opportunity to use my youth to my advantage, and lead the team through a transition to new technology that make us competitive with any of the big banks on the block.
With a clear vision and a commitment to innovation, I believe that community banks will continue to compete on an international stage. But, I also believe it’s up to us as leaders to promote that vision to our teams so that they can execute effectively. Often people confuse leadership and power. It’s easy to do so, because they tend to have a great deal of overlap. However, the role of a leader is much more than the lording of power. Regardless of age, a great leader must learn to embolden their team to execute a vision that will move the company into the future.
But, even a strong leader with a strong vision cannot move a company forward on his or her own. You require the trust and support of the people around you, many of whom have experience that you don’t. As a young leader, it’s wise to acknowledge the powerful contributions of the people on your team and surround yourself with people who have the expertise that you lack. And whether you like it or not, sometimes you have to prove yourself. Your creative energy and innovative ideas may not – on their own – be enough to win the support of your team. But, with time, perseverance, and a commitment to serving your company you’ll prove yourself an effective leader.
Leadership has no age requirement. If you find yourself in a leadership position at a young age, I hope you’ll give yourself the time to grow into your role, and learn to appreciate the way that your age can be an asset to your leadership and to your company as a whole.
