Influential Woman · Finance and Banking Art
Trustina Fafa Griscavage
Assistant Financial Center Manager, SECU Credit Union
Baltimore, MD
Her Story
About Trustina
Trustina Sabah is an experienced banking and financial services professional with over a decade of experience at SECU Credit Union, where she has advanced through roles including Assistant Financial Center Manager at the Timonium branch, Virtual Business Member Advisor, and Virtual Specialty Member Advisor, supporting consumer and business banking clients. She serves as co-chair of the SECU Women Inspiring Learning and Leadership Employee Resource Group. In addition to her banking career, she is an accomplished artist and business owner at Gourds by Fafa, creating handcrafted gourd lamps and art pieces. Her earlier career includes a background in performing arts with a master's in theater from Towson University. She is pursuing an MBA with Quantic after completing a Harvard Business School Online CORE certification. Her career reflects a unique blend of financial services, creative artistry, and leadership development.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Trustina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say first God, wanting to learn the principles of being diligent, knowing that there's more for me out there, and also my motivation to be excellent at what I do and keep growing. The more I grew, the more influence I will have and the more power I'll have to do something about some of these things that I want to do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
There's a gentleman that I used to work with, a leader at CTU. He told me that if you see a role out there and you want it, go for it. Apply. Don't hold back, don't listen to anybody. So many reasons want to make you talk yourself out of it. I'm working on not listening to what somebody would say, and if I qualify for it or if I believe I can do it, just do it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Do not operate out of fear. Fear and opinion of people have kept me from doing or making moves that I would have made. Whatever decision you make, think of how it affects you and not what someone's opinion. Be bold.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The ups and downs of working with people. I'm reading How to Win Friends and Influence People because it's teaching me a lot about how to move away from focusing on someone's faults and rather on their needs. Trying to figure out what the needs of people truly are versus what they're saying.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
God, and taking care of people. Having people's best interests at heart, learning what is important to them, all the while holding people accountable. If you make a person get what they need or feel good, the reward is infinite. People are the most valuable thing on this earth.
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