Women in Banking Q&A Series: Sherry Garrett
Triad Business Bank has a robust team of talented female professionals, all of which have unique and compelling stories worth telling. This Q&A series will shine a spotlight on the amazing women at Triad Business Bank as they share their industry experiences, professional advice, and personal interests.
In the second installment of our Women In Banking series, Senior Financial Analyst Sherry Garrett provides perspective on the future of the industry and shares words of wisdom for the next generation of banking professionals.
Q: Did you grow up in the Triad?
Sherry: I grew up and currently live in Rockingham County, North Carolina, which is just north of the Triad.
Q: What are your main hobbies & interests outside of work?
Sherry: I enjoy hiking, reading, cross-stitching, and vacationing at the beach.
Q: What causes are you passionate about?
Sherry: I am passionate about animal welfare and environmental concerns.
Q: What kind of music do you listen to?
Sherry: I mostly listen to adult contemporary music.
Q: When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Sherry: I wanted to be a teacher but fell in love with accounting in high school.
Q: Tell us about how you got into banking.
Sherry: I previously worked in cash management in a textile company and for a while in their credit union. As the textile industry declined, banking was a logical next step for me.
Q: What led you to your current position in banking?
Sherry: I am detail-oriented, which lends itself well to accounting and regulatory reporting.
Q: What is your ultimate career goal in banking?
Sherry: Accounting standards and regulatory reporting requirements are constantly evolving, so my goal is to grow along with those.
Q: What are some aspects of the career that you enjoy?
Sherry: My position requires analytical and deductive reasoning skills, and I enjoy that aspect of the career.
Q: What are some challenges or obstacles you feel you have faced as a woman in banking, and how did you overcome those?
Sherry: When I grew up, there was a common misconception that girls were not as good at mathematics as boys. I have always enjoyed mathematics and worked hard to disprove that assumption.
Q: What woman/women impacted you most in your career?
Sherry: Robin Hager, President and COO of Triad Business Bank, has had a huge impact in my career. As a top female executive in banking, she has been a role model and mentor for me.
Q: Where do you see the banking industry headed in the future? What are some trends you’ve noticed?
Sherry: I see a trend toward mobile and online banking and away from physical branches.
Q: How can the industry be more welcoming or inclusive of women?
Sherry: The industry can be welcoming to female employees by providing a path for advancement and to female clients by being supportive of women-owned businesses.
Q: What words of wisdom do you have to encourage younger generations to pursue careers in banking?
Sherry: In banking, you have the opportunity to impact a lot of people in a positive way. Whether it’s helping someone start or grow their business, buy a house, put their children through college, or finance a myriad of other goals, you are enabling people to realize their dreams.
Q: What life lesson have you learned that you think will be beneficial to others?
Sherry: None of us is an island. Teamwork is the core of success.
Q: Is there any additional advice you’d like to share?
Sherry: Positive people achieve positive results. There is a lot in life we can’t control, but we can control our outlook and harness that to overcome obstacles.