Her Story
About Shenequa
I started my career 30 years ago as a receptionist in the Trust department at M&I Bank. I was responsible for doing the new business minutes for all the new business that came in, and I became truly intrigued by what I was reading. Where I come from, everyone didn't have a trust, so I was fascinated by the trust documents, the parameters around them, and I just wanted to learn more about how trusts work, who can get them, and what I needed to do to get one myself. Throughout my career, I've been blessed to have so many women and a few men pour into me and mentor me. When I relocated from Wisconsin to Arizona with my family, I even helped one of my trust administrators study for and pass her Canon Trust 1 and 2 exams. I love what I do because it doesn't feel like work. When I'm meeting with prospects and centers of influence, we develop such great relationships. Working with trust means you have to be personally involved with clients because trusts can go for generations, so you're building multi-generational relationships across one account. When I can make a distribution for a client or get something approved for one of my special needs clients and hear that relief from a mom, that's what it's all about. I treat every client as if I'm treating my own mom. In the next five years, I want to transition into either a fiduciary manager role or some type of training position where I can give back all this knowledge I've gathered over the years.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shenequa
01What do you attribute your success to?
First and foremost, I attribute my success to God. I put God in everything and allow Him to guide me. But I also know you really have to put in the work yourself, so it's God and myself working together. Beyond that, I'm serious when I say the women who God has put in my path throughout my career have truly poured into me, and I truly don't think I would be where I am today without them. I was just thinking back recently about the women who have touched my life throughout my career, and two gentlemen as well, who just poured into me. They didn't have to, but they gave me a chance and invested in me. Those others who really gave me a chance are a huge part of my success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I received came from my mom, and it has shaped my entire career even though she wasn't even in finance - she was a nurse. She taught me to have patience with people every day and to really listen to them. I use this advice throughout my career in everything I do. When I'm working with someone, I treat them as if I want someone to treat my mom. I'm very patient, whether I'm with clients or even out shopping and something goes wrong. I remain calm in situations and make sure I listen first. That lesson about patience and treating others the way I'd want my mom treated has been invaluable.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If I could speak to the young me, I would say listen to the people before you. I was mentored, and that's why I want to give back now. So many women poured into me, and men did too, but so many people before me - trust officers, senior trust officers - they poured into me from the beginning. I would say absorb that mentorship and those relationships. You can go to any class, you can take any course, but that hands-on experience and developing relationships with clients and centers of influence, you get that from hands-on training with those colleagues who have been in the business for years. That's what I would tell young women entering the field - seek out those mentors and really absorb everything they have to teach you.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are faith, family, and giving back. God comes first in everything I do. Family is very important - my husband and I just celebrated our 25th anniversary, and we started family movie night every Friday years ago that our adult children still continue with their own kids now. I also believe strongly in giving back to the community. We teach our children that they have to give their tithes and pick a person or organization to give back to each month, because we're so blessed and there's always someone doing worse than you are. When my children would get something new growing up, they had to give away five old toys. I believe in being patient with people, listening to them, and treating everyone the way I would want someone to treat my mom. Work-life balance is important too - I take my vacations, I love to travel with my husband and children, and I make sure to take care of my clients and not procrastinate so I can truly enjoy my time off.
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