Staffing & Culture | 03.08.23
The #1 Leadership Tips of BISA’s New Leaders
by: BISA Staff
With the 2023 Annual Convention behind us, BISA is excited to welcome three newly elected board members and congratulate three current members on their new roles. We asked them all a simple question that doesn’t always have a simple answer: What’s your number one leadership tip?
Read on to meet, re-meet and learn from these valuable BISA members.
What Is Your #1 Leadership Tip?
Newly Elected: Donald Clark, Regional Manager, Wintrust Investments:
“I am fond of the leadership advice offered by Wintrust Financial Corporation’s Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Ed Wehmer: Take the blame, share the fame, avoid the shame and enjoy the game.
- Take the blame. As a leader, be accountable.
- Share the fame. Recognize and reward those who contribute to the success of your organization.
- Avoid the shame. Don’t take shortcuts. What would the media, your mentor, your mother and your Maker, think about your actions?
- Enjoy the game. Find a work-life balance. Don’t be a workaholic. There is no success in burning out.
This simple rhyme is easy to remember. If followed, it requires ethical leadership and it creates an environment where all team members are eager to give their best. That’s a formula for happy and engaged customers and clients.” .
Newly Elected: Donna McNeely, President, Kinecta Financial Management Co.:
“There are four laws of leadership that I strive to follow:
- Authenticity and self-awareness are the foundation.
- Display humility and vulnerability while encouraging it in others.
- Nothing lights the fire in a team more than the passion of their leader.
- Always, always have a sense of humor – especially when it comes to yourself!”
Newly Elected: Rebecca Robinson, Director of Enterprise Wealth Management, Zions Bancorporation:
“My motto with my team is to always do the right thing. In a business where things can go wrong, it’s important to have a culture that focuses on solutions and not punishment. If your team sees you doing the right thing, regardless of consequences, you’ll create a culture where you can trust people to act and take care of employees and clients.”
New President-Elect: John Olerio, Director, Senior Vice President, Webster Investment Services:
“My number one leadership tip is to listen. Listen to your team to learn who they are and how you can support them. Listen to upper management to understand their perspective and what they want. Listen to the experts in the industry around you and learn what they know. Finally, listen to end clients, if you don’t know what they need then you cannot lead your team effectively.”
New Vice President: Wallace Harris, Jr., President, BMO Investment Services
"Be an intentional leader and set a goal to develop other leaders."
New Vice President - Third-Party Marketing: LeAnn Rummel, President and CEO, Cetera Financial Institutions:
“Invest in people. To be a great leader, you need to start at the heart of what matters in your organization — and what matters is your people. If you want to see them happy, engaged, loyal and dedicated, make the time to invest in them, be grateful for them, nurture them and provide them with a clear vision of what needs to be done.
Be part of the team. There's an acronym that says ‘team’ stands for Together Everyone Achieves More, and great leadership comes from those who see themselves as part of a team, who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do what it takes to support, help, guide and mentor.”