Terra Roper

I attribute my success to just being who I am. I try to see the good in everybody and the good in every situation, and I use wisdom and discernment. It's more about going into places now with confidence. For a long time, I was my own worst enemy, not believing that I could do certain roles or take on certain tasks. But one day I asked myself, Tara, why can't you? Why can't you walk into a room like you belong there? When I started seeing myself as someone who is capable, someone who can do it, everything changed. Even if I go in and they say no, it's still a lesson. So building up that confidence in myself to know that I can do something has been huge. I no longer experience that self-doubt. I go in now with the attitude of, okay, let me give it a shot, let me try it. That shift in mindset, combined with staying true to who I am and maintaining my integrity, is what has made all the difference.

The best piece of advice I've ever received, both professionally and personally, is 'You Belong.' I've heard that in the workforce as well as in my personal life. You belong, and you go get it. That simple message has been transformative for me, and it's advice that I now pass on to others. When someone tells you that you belong in that room, in that position, in that opportunity, it gives you permission to step forward with confidence. It reminds you that you have every right to be there and to pursue what you want. Now, that's the same advice I give to others: you belong, so go for it.

I would say to them, grab a mentor. Find someone who's been there, who's been walking through it, who knows the ins and outs and the ropes, and who's already in the position that you're trying to get to. Don't be afraid to ask, because if we don't ask, we won't know. You'll watch opportunities go by because you were fearful of asking that question. So I would advise other women to know their value, and understand that it's okay to hear a couple of no's. Those no's are lessons as well. Find someone in that role or position and don't be afraid to go to that person and say, hey, I want to learn more about this, can you show me the ropes? Because that's what I do. There are amazing women I work with, and I'm always asking, can you tell me more? You're building your brand when you do that. Show genuine interest, and I think all else will just fall into place.

The biggest challenge in banking right now is that it's very competitive. We have to make sure we're somewhat better than the bank down the street. When a customer comes in and says this other bank is doing something, we have to figure out what we can do to accommodate that or what we can do to keep them as a customer. That can be challenging when it comes to maintaining our customer base. Fortunately, I work for a company that values their customers, so that makes it a little easier. They don't want to see their customers leave, so we do what we need to do to maintain them and keep them. The biggest opportunity right now is that we get to be a community bank. I get to go out into the community and visit different businesses. Customers value you walking into their business, saying hello, and bringing them little tchotchkes and things like that. When you show customers that they're valued, even if you make a mistake, they're going to remember that you stopped by, that you've seen them, and that you know what's going on with their families. Right now, the bank I work for gives us the opportunity to treat customers as individuals and not as numbers. I think we're dominating that approach in the industry.

The values most important to me are staying true to who I am, not compromising my faith, not compromising my integrity, and staying loyal to who I am. I'm the same person at work, the same person at home, and the same person with my friends. I think that consistency is valuable. When someone mentions my name, I want them to have good things to say. I want them to say, yeah, she did that, or she helped with this. I don't think you would meet someone who knows me that says anything different. I value just keeping the value of being human. It's about showing up authentically in every area of my life and making sure that my character and integrity remain intact no matter where I am or who I'm with.