Cathy Adams

I attribute my success to a combination of strong personal values and professional mentorship. Growing up, my parents modeled kindness, humility, and a strong work ethic through their everyday actions, which greatly influenced my character. Professionally, I have been fortunate to work with exceptional leaders and mentors who encouraged my growth, allowed me to learn through experience, and provided valuable guidance and support along the way.

The best career advice I’ve received is to be confident in my own perspective and not wait until I feel fully ready before taking on new opportunities. Early in my career, I tended to over-prepare and hesitate, but I’ve learned that growth often comes from stepping forward before you feel 100% prepared. I’ve also been encouraged to prioritize building strong relationships and maintaining credibility through consistency and follow-through, recognizing that reputation is developed over time by how you show up each day. From a leadership perspective, I’ve learned the importance of meeting people where they are, taking the time to understand their experiences and context before making judgments, and leading with empathy rather than assumptions.

I would say stay rooted in who you are. Believe in your ability. Don't underestimate the value that you bring to the table. It's easy early in any woman's career to second-guess themselves. Be curious, ask questions, take time to understand the big picture. And most importantly, don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. Oftentimes, I think young women in their careers, and even women that have been in their careers for many years, struggle with the balance of being assertive versus what I call sitting on your hands, right? So advocate for yourself and share your ideas. Find mentors and supporters who will challenge you and encourage you along the way.

In banking, particularly in operations, the biggest challenge right now is keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology while continuing to meet customers’ changing expectations. It requires balancing strict regulatory requirements with the need for efficiency and innovation in a highly controlled environment. If we move too slowly, we risk falling behind, but we also cannot compromise on risk management and compliance. From an operations perspective, one of the ongoing challenges is effectively aligning people, processes, and technology while managing continuous change across the organization.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are accountability, integrity, and kindness. I believe in taking ownership of my actions, consistently doing what I say I will do, and upholding strong ethical standards in everything I do. At the same time, I make a conscious effort to lead with kindness and understanding, recognizing that you never truly know what someone else may be experiencing personally or professionally.