Name: KeyCorp CEO: Never Say 'No' to a Challenge
Uploaded: 2018-01-10
Duration: 4 min 35 s
Description: Beth Mooney shares the story of her journey to the top, and gives advice for women in business.

Back when you became CEO of Key Corp, you were the first woman to head up a top 20 bank in America. How do you feel about this special status and the responsibility that comes with it? It was an obligation in the best sense of the word that in the evolution of American business, women were looking to me to do this well. Not just within our bank, but across the cpountry, and so I say every day I get up to do this job with an extra special sense in doing it well because I think it will create the path for others to follow. And I hope my legacy is others will follow and I made it easier for young women to aspire to this kind of job. And others to see women in this kind of role. You've had a fascinating career, you started out a bank as a secretary and then you moved up holding just about any possible job there is in banking, and then becoming in 2011, CEO. I got to ask you, what was the secret to your success? I made lots of moves, I took Lots of dirty jobs. I was in staff roles, I was in line roles, I moved nine times in 16 years. And what I think I learned was the opportunity to have an aspiration or an ambition, but to really marry it with the willingness. To take the chance, take the job, always with the mindset of I'll work hard and earn my keep. Help create a reputation for somebody who was a can- do leader, who could get it done, and always A person who did it by including and bringing people and teams along. In those early days, you really were a trailblazer. What was the hardest part for you. I think we can sit here and remember the day when the preseident of the bank took your client to lunch, but you weren't allowed to come, because the club they were going to didnt' allow women. So I think some of the hardest part was in early days Being accepted, walking in using the term, walked into the room, sit down at the table and act like you belong, was hard. And I think the more we did it and if you just squared your shoulders and acted like you belong, guess what, now we do. Well, things are very different today because we've seen so many more women in senior positions But still what does it take to get more women at the very top levels, even CEO, in banking? Those of us who are leaders in the industry, regardless of gender, need to be very intentional. As anything that's important to us, we need to be very intentional in making sure that diverse leaders are identified, developed Give an opportunity. I don't think good intentions are enough and I think as leaders, we have to make sure that we are purposeful about building our leadership teams multiple levels down and giving people of diverse backgrounds, give them the skillsets to have the chance to continue to advance in their careers. and giving, particularly women, the belief that they can aspire and dream big. Many women who I speak with say that I got this opportunity for promotion but I was scared to take it. I didn't know if I was prepared, if I would do a good job. I didn't want to make a mistake. What is your advice to women who hold back from those kinds of opportunities? Don't hold back. I never said no to a challenge. I never said no to an opportunity. Have enough confidence in your own ability and your ability to work hard and make good decisions and go into the unknown. And I think you will learn more than you'll ever imagine that you can learn and you build confidence by accepting those challenges versus hanging back and saying I'm not ready or I don't want to do that. as you reflect back on your journey both personal and professional what was the best leadership advice that you ever received? The best leadership advice I got was, we all make mistakes and what you do after you make a mistake si the critical determinant in a career. And I had a big one early in my career That landed me in the president of the bank's office. And I'll never forget, he looked at me, and he said, what you do from here, now that this has happened is how we're all going to judge you. So I expect you to go make it right. But more importantly, if you aspire to be a leader and have the talent I think you have, don't let this knock you down. You need to bounce back from this, and that will be one of those signs that you're meant for greater things in this bank. So it's always, don't get knocked down, bounce back. [ BLANK_AUDIO ]

KeyCorp CEO: Never Say "No" to a Challenge

Leadership

Beth Mooney shares the story of her journey to the top, and gives advice for women in business.