Her Story
About Emily
Emily Starnes is a banking leader with nearly six years of experience in retail financial services and a passion for developing people, strengthening teams, and helping clients achieve long-term financial success. As a Branch Leader at Truist Bank, she has successfully managed multiple branches while also providing interim leadership and operational support to additional locations throughout her region. Her career began as a Universal Banker, where her natural ability to coach and lead quickly opened the door to management opportunities. Drawing on an earlier background in coaching gymnastics, rodeo, and children with special needs, Emily brings a people-first leadership style centered on mentorship, collaboration, and continuous growth.
Throughout her career, Emily has earned recognition for transforming challenges into opportunities. One of her proudest accomplishments was rebuilding an underperforming branch that had lost its entire staff, recruiting and developing a new team—many with no prior banking experience—and guiding the branch to become one of the highest-performing locations in its area. She believes the greatest impact she can make is through her team, equipping employees with the skills and confidence to recognize client needs, provide personalized financial guidance, and foster meaningful, lasting relationships built on trust.
Emily is also a passionate advocate for financial literacy, recognizing the importance of educating younger generations about responsible banking, saving, budgeting, and credit management. She believes that empowering clients with financial knowledge creates stronger communities and better long-term outcomes. Guided by the support of mentors who invested in her own growth, Emily now dedicates herself to mentoring others and encouraging aspiring professionals to celebrate daily successes, remain curious, and never hesitate to ask questions. Her commitment to leadership, education, and service continues to shape her positive influence within the banking industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Emily
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the managers and mentors who believed in me and gave me opportunities to grow, even before I felt completely ready. Their support gave me the confidence to take on new challenges, and I've never been afraid to ask for opportunities, even if the answer might be "no."
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to remember that it won't always be easy. There will be challenging days, but take time to write down a few wins each day, no matter how small. Keeping a record of those positive moments will remind you of the impact you're making and help you stay motivated as you grow in your career.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is staffing—ensuring we have enough team members while making sure employees feel supported, even during periods of understaffing. At the same time, one of the greatest opportunities is client education. There's a growing need to help younger generations build financial literacy by teaching them how to save, manage bank accounts, and use credit responsibly from an early age.
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