LeiLani Miller
LeiLani Miller is a retired communications and financial services professional based in Yorba Linda, California. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and Rhetoric from California State University, Long Beach in 1971, following early studies at California Lutheran College and additional banking certifications and professional training. Her career reflects a strong foundation in communication, finance, and community engagement, shaped by an early childhood experience at Washington Elementary School’s “Bank Day,” where she first developed a lasting interest in saving, interest growth, and financial systems. That early curiosity evolved into a distinguished 27.5-year career with Bank of America, beginning in a management training program and advancing through roles including assistant manager,consumer loan officer, commercial loan officer, real estate officer, and construction loan officer. She developed a deep passion for construction lending and real estate development, finding fulfillment in supporting the building of homes, commercial properties, and growing communities across California. During periods of financial instability, she served as Vice President of Special Assets, leading problem asset management efforts to restructure distressed commercial and residential loans, earning recognition for her leadership during challenging economic conditions. Following the Bank of America and NationsBank merger, she made the intentional decision to prioritize family, stepping away from corporate advancement to remain closer to home with her teenage son. She later transitioned into a 14-year career in real estate sales with Coldwell Banker, applying her extensive banking and lending expertise to residential and commercial transactions. In retirement, LeiLani has dedicated more than 26 years to volunteer service with the Arthritis Foundation, where she organizes and supports Jingle Bell Run events and leads community initiatives such as the “Team AOII Pandamonium Panda Party,” which collects stuffed pandas for children attending arthritis camps. Her life reflects a lifelong commitment to faith, perseverance, family, and service, with a career defined by leadership, adaptability, and a consistent focus on helping others.
• Certified through American Institute of Banking in Accounting
• Bank of America Management Training Program
• Licensed Realtor
• American Institute of Banking — Banking certificates completed
• Golden Gate University — Graduate banking coursework
• California State University, Long Beach — B.A. in Communications (1971), minor in History
• California Lutheran College
• Real Estate Sales Program — Non-accredited master’s-level training completed
• Vice President of Special Assets
• Multiple High School Scholarships (50% of College Tuition Covered)
• Screen Actors Guild
• Team AOII Pandamonium (formerly Rose Brigade)
• Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity
• Arthritis Foundation (Jingle Bell Run)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith in God. Throughout all the ups and downs of my three careers and my personal life, my faith has been the foundation that has guided me and sustained me through every challenge and triumph.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from a very special moment in my childhood when I was sitting on the lap of Sheldon Leonard, the famous producer, while he was directing me on the Danny Thomas Show. I remember he told me not to be intimidated by stardom and to recognize that everyone is the same. That wisdom stayed with me throughout my entire career, whether I was working with executives at Bank of America or helping families through difficult financial situations. It reminded me to treat everyone with respect and to never let titles or positions create barriers between people.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There are ups and downs in all careers. There are challenging times, and times where you just float and everything goes well. You just have to ride the rollercoaster of life. Don't expect everything to be smooth sailing, but don't let the difficult times discourage you either. The key is to keep moving forward and trust that the challenges will pass and better times will come.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I faced in banking was when the state of California imposed environmental laws on small businesses. Families had businesses that they had operated for years and years, and it was their livelihood. The imposition of the environmental laws caused them to interrupt their business to do environmental testing. Whether they tested positive or negative, their business was still interrupted. What was particularly difficult was helping those families through the business interruption of the testing, and then the cleanup of the environment. It was heartbreaking to see hardworking families struggle through something that was beyond their control, and my role was to help them navigate those challenges while trying to keep their businesses afloat.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are honesty and balance. Honesty has been the foundation of every relationship I've built, whether in banking, real estate, or my personal life. And balance - that word means so much to me. It's about balancing the budget, yes, but it's also about balancing relationships. Throughout my career, I had to balance being a successful banker and realtor with being present for my children. When Bank of America offered me the opportunity to travel the country teaching others, I chose balance - I chose to be home with my teenage son instead. That decision reflected what matters most to me: maintaining equilibrium between professional success and the people I love.