Her Story
About Bonnie
Bonnie Burton is an executive assistant in KeyBank Capital Markets Investment Banking, a role she has held for more than 15 years after transitioning following a prior bank merger. With 20 to 25 years of experience in the banking and finance industry, her typical responsibilities include reviewing to-do lists, approving expense reports, checking contracts, ensuring compliance on emails, scheduling meetings and travel, and coordinating off-site, semi-annual, and annual events. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Malone College in Canton, Ohio in 2000 and an MBA from Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio in 2002, which equipped her for the collaborative, role-based environment of investment banking pitches and C-suite support. Burton takes pride in planning successful meetings and maintaining strong rapport with C-suite executives, managing directors, and segment heads. She credits her achievements to a strong work ethic, her education, and her willingness to act as a team player who shares knowledge, noting that colleagues often seek her advice on handling tasks. Burton views AI as the industry's biggest current challenge and opportunity, requiring everyone to learn its applications while potentially creating new technology-focused areas, and she encourages young women to be authentic, build relationships, master their roles, and commit to ongoing learning.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Bonnie
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from my work ethic, my education, and being a team player. I don't like pettiness or games, but I'm willing to help anybody out and share what I learn with people. A lot of people call me asking how I handled things or how I did something, and that's been key to my success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I received was to get my MBA. A banker told me I really should look into it because even at my old job, management always said I was more than an assistant. One banker promoted me immediately to analyst, saying I was more than an assistant.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be true to who you are. Develop good relationships with the people you work with. Know that there will be challenges from some individuals, but learn how to deal with them. Know your job, get the appropriate training, and continue learning. There's always something to learn in your job.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is AI. Everyone is talking about it and we're going to have to learn how to use it in our day-to-day jobs. It could eliminate some jobs like young analysts and associates. The biggest opportunity is learning about the future and what AI is going to bring to banking, possibly creating new areas in technology based on AI.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work life, my values are to do a good job and do it to the best of my abilities. In my home life, it's important to continue to enjoy family, especially family gatherings and spending time with family on a Sunday afternoon.
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