The “Igniting Leadership” Conference – held Nov. 16, 2022 – brought together nearly 100 Emerging Bank Leaders at the beautiful new Zions Tech Center in Midvale, UT, with another 50 or so joining via Zoom. Attendees heard from an impressive lineup of knowledgeable speakers, taking away practical and actionable lessons to apply at their banks today and into the future.
UBA Chairman Matt Bloye welcomed the group in the morning, advising everyone to outwork and “out-prepare” the competition and to think strategically about their careers by finding suitable mentors. Then Jeff Strong, former Global President of Johnson & Johnson, discussed leading through crisis. According to Strong, crisis is the best measure and test of a leader, but it’s critical to be prepared by establishing the framework and tools before they are needed.
Emerging Bank Leaders Board Chair Hannah Packard gave an update about the EBL community and the exciting year ahead, leading into “Utah Bankers Ignite!”, a fast-paced showcase of four colleagues – Valerie Morrison of Regions | EnerBank, Jessica Sorensen of Zions Bank, Jeff Meyer of Zions Bancorporation, and Becky Wilkes of the Utah Bankers Association. The “edutaining” session didn’t disappoint, inspiring the audience by hitting on topics like gratitude, overcoming obstacles, the challenges of remote work, and living in the moment.
The next speaker was Brad Baldwin, President & CEO of First Utah Bank, and he offered several tips and ideas for successful leadership. Baldwin stressed the importance of
understanding your company and the industry, and though leadership is very personal, doing simple and practical things will make people follow.
Mentoring Committee Chair Valerie Morrison shared information about EBL Mentor Match. Four EBL members shared their experiences with the program, reminding the audience to own their development and that using this tool is a great way to achieve it.
After lunch, James Hadlock from Blunovis talked about mental well-being. Leaders are key to creating a sense of value and belonging in the workplace, and they must foster a safe environment and provide resources for people who might need help. Next, Central Bank Chairman Matt Packard shared some leadership insights, recommending that everyone find an outlet to burn stress to remain calm and resilient in a crisis.
Author Mark Carpenter closed things out by discussing conflict and how determining motives and listening are imperative to develop understanding and building trust. He wrapped up the conference with a fun speed networking exercise, applying the numerous lessons learned throughout the day.
Keep up to date with Emerging Bank Leaders and learn more about the many program benefits at utah.bank/ebl.
