Straight to the Bank… of America (feat. Dean Athanasia)
Jan 19, 2024
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Dean Athanasia, President of Regional Banking at Bank of America, joins hosts Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner to discuss digital banking, building communities, and the importance of football in leadership. They also touch on financial responsibility, the rise of FinTechs, and navigating career paths. Tap in for an entertaining and insightful conversation!
Transitioning from a football career to the business world requires self-awareness, perseverance, and time management skills.
Handling public judgment and criticism requires a thick skin, focus on what can be controlled, and maintaining a strong work ethic and positive relationships.
As the head of regional banking at Bank of America, Dean Athanasia is responsible for leading various consumer businesses, serving millions of clients, and supporting communities and businesses through personalized services and assistance.
Deep dives
Challenges and decisions in pursuing a football career
The podcast episode discusses the challenges faced when pursuing a football career and the decision to transition to the business world. The speaker shares their personal experience of trying out for the LA Rams and the importance of self-awareness in making career decisions. They also reflect on the value of perseverance, time management, and teamwork skills gained from being an athlete, which can be applied in the business world.
Overcoming judgment and criticism
The podcast episode explores how to handle public judgment and criticism. The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a thick skin and not letting negative remarks affect personal confidence. They highlight the significance of focusing on what can be controlled and maintaining a strong work ethic and positive relationships. Moreover, they acknowledge that press criticism can be more negative but emphasize the value of prioritizing integrity and empathy in professional roles.
Responsibilities as the head of regional banking
The podcast episode covers the various responsibilities held by the head of regional banking at Bank of America. The speaker leads several consumer businesses, including financial centers, small business operations, commercial banking, and retirement services. They highlight the extensive reach of the bank, serving millions of clients and employing thousands of people across the US. Additionally, they mention the focus on helping communities and businesses grow through personalized services and support.
Importance of Giving Back and Financial Discipline
The guest speaker discusses the importance of giving back to communities and shares his personal involvement with the charity organization 'Cradles to Crayons.' He emphasizes the need to reflect the communities we serve and create opportunities for low-income individuals through job creation and financial assistance. Additionally, he stresses the significance of financial discipline, teaching budgeting, saving, and avoiding excessive debt. The speaker emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and shares the Bank of America's efforts to promote better money habits and provide financial education in schools.
Building a Diverse and Resilient Company
The speaker highlights the importance of diversity in leadership and decision-making processes within the company. He expresses the need to surround oneself with diverse perspectives, ideas, and backgrounds to better serve the communities. The speaker also discusses the bank's investment in technology and digital capabilities to compete with fintech firms. He acknowledges the challenges of staying ahead in a disruptive market but emphasizes the importance of continuous innovation and adapting to changing customer needs and demands.
Today, hosts Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner are talking about their favorite topic with someone who knows it best, Dean Athanasia, the President of Regional Banking at Bank of America. Dean has been on the forefront of some of the biggest business moves that have kept Bank of America ahead of the industry - from digital banking to building genuine communities with their customers. And one of his biggest attributions to how he's learned to lead the way? His time playing football.
In the continued celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. *week, we had to shoutout two very important groups: our young, black NFL Quarterbacks (Stroud, Love, and Fields) and the group chat. And because it's a #BusinessFriday, we're tapping into one of the biggest questions thats been circulating around...what does living inside "your means" actually mean?