What strengths do you bring to the table in your capacity as senior VP and director of business banking at Central Pacific Bank?

I bring a balance of analytical and people skills. I enjoy analyzing a financial statement as much as I enjoy talking story with a business owner about what inspired them to start their business.

I also bring a passion for supporting small business in Hawai‘i. I have many years of experience working with small and mid-size businesses, which I thoroughly enjoy because I get to help people achieve their dreams. Having walked in the shoes of the business bankers I work with, I can empathize as well as hold them accountable. Central Pacific Bank gave me the opportunity to reestablish business banking as a standalone division, so as a new leader I was able to build and coach a team comprised of people who have become proficient in targeted industries and deliver great customer experiences.

What does it take to be an effective leader?

I believe it takes the ability to communicate well, collaborate well and execute well. It takes seeing the big picture and long-term view so that your decisions and actions will be effective and sustainable. Care about the people you lead, the people you work with and the people you serve. It’s not about you.

What is your company ethos and how do you ensure it’s maintained?

Central Pacific Bank’s core values are teamwork, integrity and exceptional service. We strive to live this every day, starting at the top and aligned throughout the organization. Our core values are part of our expectations, performance measurements and how we are recognized and rewarded. CPB supports teamwork by providing a team-building fund for us to have fun together outside of work with our group and with other departments.

We have a strong history and culture of supporting our community. Besides the many community events that we sponsor, CPB supports individual service to community and nonprofit organizations, including offering paid time off to do community work. I am fortunate that CPB supports my service on the boards of Hale Kipa, the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership and Ho‘ōla Nā Pua. I love the history of CPB’s founding by World War II veterans who started the bank to help others own their own home and grow their businesses, which we continue to do today. CPB is the top Small Business Administration loan lender in Hawai‘i.

What’s the most difficult lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?

I’ve learned the valuable lesson of perseverance. Things will not always go well, sometimes reaching a point of crisis, but as long as the essence of what you’ve committed to is good, don’t give up on it. Challenging times provide the best and lasting lessons. You learn a lot about yourself and others by how you respond to hardship. The outcome will be blessings that you otherwise would have missed out on. And sometimes you get to see a miracle happen.