Lessons in Life & Leadership by Thasunda Brown Duckett | JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Currently, I oversee a banking network with more than 5,300 branches, 18,000 ATMs and more than 47,000 employees serving 23 million households nationwide. One of the most important steps I took when becoming CEO of Chase Consumer Banking was to focus on people and inspire diverse thinking on our team. Reflecting back when I was leading the auto finance business from 2013 to 2016, I learned that many people in the auto industry “grew up,” so to speak, in the auto business and have deep subject matter expertise. That level of knowledge and historical perspective is critical—especially because Chase Auto Finance has been in business for over 60 years and the relationships our people have built and sustained are key to our ongoing success.
It was also important for me to balance out that subject matter expertise with people from outside the industry to bring a fresh perspective on issues and challenge the status quo. I always look for four key attributes in people when building a team: passion, good character, people who are intellectually curious and team players—those who know that winning is a team sport.
With this rich and diverse array of skills and knowledge, the business is constantly innovating and pushing the bar higher. At the end of the day, every team needs offense and defense—get the two of them in sync, and you’re in business. As a leader, I feel the responsibility to build this belief and mindset.
My road to becoming a CEO was unconventional at best. I come from very modest beginnings, but from the time I was very young, my parents encouraged me to think big, take risks and grab the opportunities that came my way. I guess you could say these life lessons have been relevant and prevalent in all that I do.
Rather than let my economic status define me, I worked hard in school, excelled in sports, went to college and got involved in career training and development programs. I was accepted into a corporate internship program called InRoads that taught me and my classmates the real value of building and sustaining a professional network.
And that’s exactly what I did. I met other people with similar backgrounds who were interested in financial services and shared a passion for succeeding in a corporate environment. Through those connections, I landed my first job at Fannie Mae, which led to a 15-year career in the housing industry and eventually to JPMorgan Chase where I’ve now run two major businesses for one of the world’s leading financial institutions.
Networking and building lasting friendships has given me the support and confidence to take on bigger job responsibilities and a strong sense of community. I have truly benefited from my mentors, friends and colleagues who represent very diverse backgrounds.
Don’t be afraid to take risks. There will always be highs and lows in a career, but as long as you’re able to learn from every experience, and you have confidence in your ability, you will be successful.
My father would often tell us kids growing up to, “Reach for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll be among the stars.” I think that’s true not only in business, but in life.
As a leader, don’t be afraid to empower your team and give them the tools to succeed. But no matter what, always listen, be humble and tap into the needs of individual team members.
Everyone’s journey is different. To paraphrase Sheryl Sandberg, “Careers are a jungle gym…if I had mapped out my career when I was sitting where you are, I would have missed it.” You’ll have to make tough choices along the way—but the journey and the experience is what makes you who you are. Embrace it and find passion in all that you do.
Real success does involve some sacrifice along the way, but always be mindful of the things you should never sacrifice—your integrity, your health, your family and how you treat others. That is what will bring you to the very top.
Thasunda Brown Duckett is the Chief Executive Officer of Chase Consumer Banking. She is a member of the Consumer and Community Banking Leadership Committee. From 2013 – 2016, Duckett was the CEO of Chase Auto Finance, one of the leading bank providers of auto financing in the country with a portfolio of more than $60 billion in assets and relationships with 75% of U.S. franchised automotive dealers. Prior to that, Thasunda served as National Retail Sales Executive for Chase Mortgage Banking, where she managed 4,000 mortgage bankers who provide home financing to customers across the nation.
Thasunda has been recognized widely as a leading executive in the financial industry. She was named as a “Top 100 Leading Female Executive” by Automotive News; one of the most powerful women in banking by American Banker magazine; one of the 50 most powerful women in corporate America by Black Enterprise magazine and among the top most influential blacks in corporate America by Savoy magazine.
Thasunda is a Board member of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the largest African-American Greek-lettered organization, and the Executive Leadership Council. She has a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Houston and a Master of Business Administration from Baylor University.
Learn more about Women on the Move, our initiative that supports female employees by addresses the unique challenges they face.