Influential Woman · Financial Services

Willow Goodsell

CSR III, Poppy Bank

Santa Rosa, CA

1Award received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree College degree (first college graduate in family) Degree President's List (maintained 4.1 GPA)

Her Story

About Willow

I transitioned into my current field about two and a half years ago after working as a behavioral therapist. I'm one of those where my heart's on my sleeve - I want to save everybody and make the world a better place, but working with children who had to go back home to the places causing pain in their life broke my heart. A phenomenal woman I struck up a conversation with one day said I would be a perfect fit for the industry and taught me everything I know. I just keep growing because of her guidance. My main area of expertise is people and connection, no matter the platform I stand on. I'm front-facing at Poppy Bank, constantly working with the public and handling customer-client relations. I walk them through their financial needs and endeavors, and I strive to make sure they walk away feeling like their needs have been fulfilled and happy. It's all about how you show up - there is no ceiling if you believe in yourself first.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Willow

01What do you attribute your success to?

Just the willingness to step into the unknown, period. It's scary. Change is scary, and doing something new was terrifying. But having that willingness to show up - that's taken me far. You're not gonna be great until you believe that you're great already. Sometimes when you grow up in a tough situation, it's easy to get stuck in this victim mentality, in this emotional hamster wheel. Sometimes you need someone to show up and say, hey, you're not gonna be great until you believe that you're great already. You can choose your narrative.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

You're not gonna be great until you believe that you're great already. My mentor was a little rough around the edges, but the way that she delivered a lot of things was a way that I needed to hear it. Sometimes when you grow up in a tough situation, it's easy to get stuck in this victim mentality, in this emotional hamster wheel. Sometimes you need someone to show up and say, hey, you're not gonna be great until you believe that you're great already.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

It's all about how you show up, you know? Believe in you first. There is no ceiling. I think it's so important for us women to remember that every single one of those things are important, because we've kind of learned how to live in a box. And we don't need the box anymore.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

Technology keeps advancing faster than we do. There's always a technological hurdle, but we figure it out. AI is playing a part in that too - not so much in the financial world just yet, but I see little pieces of it showing up, even as far as Microsoft Copilot.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

We're all still human beings, and we still need each other, and there's a coldness to the world now. I'm big and warm and loving, and hey, I see you - and that's one of the things that we crave so deeply in adulthood is to be seen. So, just really showing up for people, and standing firm in my boundaries as well. I want to save everybody and make the world a better place. My heart's on my sleeve.

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