Occupation?
Financial Relationship Senior Consultant – Team Lead at Regions Bank
College/University attended?
Middle Tennessee State University
Tell us a little about you…
Three words that motivate me: Positivity • Family • Leadership
A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Bethany Gardner-Grant graduated from Middle Tennessee State University. After college, Bethany remained in the Middle Tennessee area, working as a Manager Trainee and then Branch Manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
In 2016, Bethany returned home to Chattanooga, where she transitioned to a career as a Financial Relationship Consultant at Regions Financial Institute. Bethany was recently promoted to Team Lead at Regions. As Team Lead, Bethany provides financial education and guidance to customers, members of the community, and fellow team members. She has presented at several seminars and developed partnerships with various organizations to provide education about financial literacy.
Actively engaged in her community, Bethany is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Red Hat Society, and serves as a trustee at her church. She is also a graduate of both the Regions Bank Consumer Leadership Academy, and the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute: 2021-2022 Game ChangeHer Program, where she mentored 8th grade students at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy.
Bethany is also a devoted wife and mother, who enjoys spending time with close family and friends.
What does leadership mean to you?
Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Leadership means being fully aware of yourself and how you engage others. Leadership means being respectful, having integrity, and compassion to do the right things. It also means finding ways to support others. A leader sees the beauty in working together to fulfill a greater purpose.
What advice do you have for women aspiring to be leaders in their field?
My advice is to be confident. Learn yourself and be determined and committed to your goals. Believe that you are a great choice for whatever role you desire. You have the power to control how you are treated by others. Remain focused on your vision of success. You are your greatest cheerleader.
Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Why and how did this person impact your life?
Reflecting on my life, I have a circle of people who have had a tremendous impact on my life as a leader. The strongest influence has been my immediate family. They have supported me by always giving honest feedback that has helped me to grow as a person. I have learned that honest and thoughtful feedback is critical to a leader’s development. Also, building a strong network of people who believe in you and push you to be your best is important, especially when facing the challenges that come with being a leader.
What has been your proudest moment in your career?
My proudest moment has been realizing my personal and professional growth as a leader. Banking is an industry where learning the business requires confidence, strong problem-solving skills, patience, and persistence. Early in my career, I had limited experience. Through hard work and determination, I took ownership of my career path by setting goals and finding the motivation I needed to accomplish those goals. I am thankful for the opportunities I have had in banking and with my employer.
What strides do you think members can take to make more of a difference in women’s leadership issues in the local community?
Stay informed about the issues that matter to women. When you can, use your platform and resources to amplify the voices of local women leaders. Do what you can to create opportunities for women to shine and display their abilities as GREAT LEADERS. Create opportunities for education and training when possible.
When you’re not working, where and how do you spend your time?
When I am not working, I LOVE spending time with my family and close friends. I love going to parks, riding on boats, and engaging in a little friendly board game competition.
What benefit do you hope to gain/or have gained by joining this organization?
Joining CWLI has allowed me to expand my personal and professional network. I feel fortunate to have met an incredible group of strong women leaders. They have been positive role models, and they motivate me to be the best that I can be. It’s reassuring to know that Chattanooga has so many capable and exceptional local women leaders.