Kathryn Graves, 34
Senior vice president and commercial banking market manager, Regions Bank
Kathryn Graves is as committed to her family and giving back to her community as she is to her career. She has steadily climbed the ladder at Regions Bank since joining the company in 2004, moving up through the consumer banking division to assume her current role in 2013. Along with raising a young family during that time, she served on the board of directors for Junior Achievement, the St. Thomas More Women’s Ministry and Karnival Krewe de Louisiane. She also regularly volunteers for nonprofits such as the American Heart Association, Capital Area United Way and YMCA. She’s a member of the Louisiana Medical Group Management Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association, among others.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- Being named to my current role as commercial banking market manager for the greater Baton Rouge area.
- Being appointed to a small team that collectively worked together in developing a new strategic Healthcare Banking program that was rolled out across the Regions Bank’s 16 state footprint.
- Recognized five times as “Best of the Best” Chairman’s Club recipient.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
Junior Achievement board of directors; Louisiana Legacy Tournament board of governors; Thomas More Women’s Ministry board of directors and fundraising chairperson; Karnival Krewe de Louisiane board of directors; and I volunteer with many other non-profit organizations in and around the Capital Area, such as Bishop Ott, American Heart Association, Capital Area United Way and the YMCA.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
Good to Great by Jim Collins.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
A lawyer, I enjoyed arguing my point of view.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
I was 18-years-old when I started my first job, working with the maintenance crew at a golf course. I spent most of the day cutting greens and fairways. I learned the value of hard work, the value of higher education, and definitely the value of air conditioning!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
The Little Village in downtown, and the bread!
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
My family is by far my greatest achievement! I am blessed to have a loving, supportive husband, and together, we have two wonderful sons, Tyler (8) and Mason (6).
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
I consider myself privileged to have experienced many fulfilling moments within my career, but the most memorable all have a similar theme. The ability to work with a company side-by-side over the years, and help them achieve their goals and strategic objectives, and then to be able to assist them in transitioning that business to future generations, is by far the most rewarding and fulfilling part of my job.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Always make a list and go into the office early while it is still quiet and no one else is there.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Not everyone in life has the same motivational drive and work ethic.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
Professional.
WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
The best part of my job is getting the opportunity to work with people, help them, advise them, and then watch them achieve their goals. Whether that may be a company that we work with or one of my team members, the feeling is just as rewarding and motivating.
MAC OR PC?
PC.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
It depends on what I am working on at the time, but on average, probably 20 to 30 texts per day and around 100 emails.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
I have way too many electronic devices. Between two cells phones, iPads, and computers, the battery running low on one, gives me no anxiety—I always have a back-up.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
10.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
I would be lost without Pandora.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Not sure if it was in the past decade, be definitely the mobile hotspot, I do not know what my sons would do without it.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
5:15 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Breakfast is coffee! Usually starts with two cups at home, one on the drive into work, and at least one to two more at the office.
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
I try to be an active participant and volunteer in our community, keeping two things top of my mind: to set a good example for my children, and to leave people and our community in a better situation then when I first encountered them.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
I would want to have the power to teleport. I hate travel time!
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
Kat.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
I am not superstitious about much professionally, but I am very superstitious when it comes to sporting events.
FAVORITE DRINK?
Coffee (I may or may not have a coffee problem).
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Sweet Home Alabama.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Kate Hudson.
WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?
Unfortunately, not much scared me as a child. What scares me most today is that I have two sons with the same mindset.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Slow down and absorb as much information and experience as you can. There are lessons to be learned in every situation; some may be lessons of what not to do, but other will be lessons that you will carry with you forever. Just make sure you take the time and not let the lessons pass you by. I would also remind myself that family is everything. Spend as much time with your parents and loved ones as you can, because tomorrow is never guaranteed.
PETS?
Two large black labs.
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
The best and most life altering day of my life was the day I became a mother.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
Tomorrow! If you embrace it the right way, every day is an opportunity and stepping stone down a larger path, toward achieving a new and exciting goal.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Absolutely, our families are both rooted here and our Capital Region holds so much opportunity for the future. I plan to be here to see it all come to fruition.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
I do not have a big bucket list, outside of wanting to travel. My top three destinations are Bora Bora, Australia and Ireland.
