Her Story
About Cathy
Cathy Adams is a seasoned banking operations executive serving as SVP Director of Operations at Old Second National Bank. With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, she began her career as a teller and rapidly progressed into leadership within her first year in banking. Her career has since spanned branch banking, mortgage operations, commercial lending, and enterprise operations leadership across institutions including Fifth Third Bank, MB Financial Bank, and CIBC.
In her current role, Cathy leads enterprise operations with a focus on driving scale, improving efficiency, and enabling growth through strong cross-functional alignment. She partners across Lending, Retail, Risk, Technology, and Operations to translate strategy into execution, ensuring initiatives move from concept to operational reality. Known for simplifying complexity, strengthening controls, and building scalable operating models, she plays a key role in helping organizations grow without sacrificing clarity, accountability, or performance.
Cathy specializes in operational excellence, Lean Six Sigma process improvement, change management, and mergers and acquisitions integration. She is widely recognized for her ability to manage both the technical and human sides of transformation, particularly during large-scale system and organizational changes. A graduate of DePaul University with a degree in Finance, she is also active in community service and financial literacy education, reflecting her commitment to developing people alongside improving organizational performance.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cathy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of foundational values, continuous learning, and the
influence of exceptional leaders throughout my career. My parents instilled in me the importance
of integrity, humility, and a strong work ethic, values that continue to guide how I lead and make
decisions today.
Professionally, I have been fortunate to work alongside leaders who challenged me to think
bigger, trusted me with meaningful responsibility, and invested in my growth. Their mentorship
reinforced the importance of staying curious, embracing accountability, and viewing every
experience, whether successful or challenging, as an opportunity to learn. Ultimately, success is
rarely an individual achievement. It is built through strong relationships, collaboration, and the
willingness to continually evolve.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to not wait until I feel perfectly prepared before stepping
into new opportunities. Early in my career, I believed confidence came from having all the
answers. Over time, I learned that leadership often requires making thoughtful decisions amid
ambiguity and trusting your ability to learn along the way.
I've also learned that credibility is built through consistency. How you show up, follow through on
commitments, and support others over time shapes your reputation far more than any single
accomplishment. As a leader, one of the most valuable lessons has been to meet people where
they are, seek to understand before judging, and lead with empathy and accountability in equal
measure.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First and foremost, believe in the value you bring to the table. Too often, talented women
underestimate their capabilities or hesitate to share their ideas until they feel completely certain.
Confidence is not about having all the answers; it's about having the courage to contribute,
learn, and grow.
Be curious, ask questions, and seek to understand the broader business beyond your
immediate role. Develop both technical expertise and strong relationships, as leadership
requires both. Find mentors and advocates who will challenge you, provide honest feedback,
and help you navigate opportunities.
Most importantly, advocate for yourself. Your career is shaped not only by your performance but
also by your willingness to communicate your aspirations, speak up when appropriate, and
pursue opportunities that stretch your capabilities.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities in banking today is the ability to leverage technology to
enhance the customer experience, improve operational efficiency, and create more agile
organizations. At the same time, that opportunity comes with significant responsibility.
The challenge is balancing innovation with strong risk management, regulatory compliance, and
operational resilience. Customer expectations continue to evolve rapidly, and organizations
must adapt while maintaining the trust and stability that are foundational to the banking industry.
From an operations perspective, success increasingly depends on an organization's ability to
align people, processes, technology, and data while managing continuous change. Leaders who
can effectively navigate that complexity will be well-positioned to drive long-term growth and
sustainable results.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me most are integrity, accountability, and kindness.
Integrity means doing the right thing, even when it's difficult or when no one is watching.
Accountability means taking ownership of outcomes, honoring commitments, and continually
striving for excellence. Kindness is equally important because leadership is ultimately about
people. Every individual brings unique experiences, challenges, and perspectives to the
workplace.
I believe it is possible to hold high standards while also demonstrating empathy and respect.
The leaders who have had the greatest impact on me were those who combined strong
expectations with genuine care for people, and that is the type of leader I aspire to be every day.
These values influence not only how I lead, but also how I build relationships, make decisions,
and contribute to the communities and organizations I'm privileged to serve.
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