Being a leader in the community is a good way to promote diversity. And Michelle Tucker, a manager at Bank of America, is not quiet about being a leader.
“I try to not only show up; I try to speak up,” said Tucker, who serves as a corporate social responsibility market manager on the global marketing and corporate affairs team. “I feel that it is important to share diverse experiences and opinions during decision-making processes, especially when final decisions and actions impact diverse groups.”
Tucker has worked for Bank of America for more than 15 years within various roles. Her current responsibilities include community outreach, brand building, and providing oversight to the bank’s multi-million dollar foundation, local grant and sponsorship budgets across Missouri.
“It is a missed opportunity when we do not express our thoughts and perspectives whenever we can,” she said.
Tucker is also a founding market chair for the company’s local Black Professional Group (BPG), whose mission is to maximize the contributions and enhance the professional development of African-American employees at Bank of America. She has also served as a member of the bank’s national Consumer Real Estate Diversity Action Council.
“In addition to being the right thing to do, encouraging a diverse, inclusive workplace gives us the business advantage of understanding and meeting the needs of our diverse customers, clients and shareholders,” said Pat Mercurio, Missouri state president, Bank of America. “Michelle’s commitment as a dedicated, involved leader not only for us but also in our community, demonstrates our diversity through her fresh ideas and perspectives.”
Compassionate leader
Growing up in East St. Louis, her parents taught her to be a compassionate person who always leads by example, she said.
“I was also inspired by teachers who encouraged me to be a continuous learner with the ability to balance facts with intuition in order to solve problems,” Tucker said. “The early adoption of these philosophies led me to pursue a career path that enables me to focus on helping people through creative, collaborative, and innovative solutions.”
She received her bachelor’s degree in English from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a master’s degree in business from Webster University. Yet she has continued to be a lifelong student in her professional life. She is a graduate of the 2009-2010 Leadership St. Louis program and a 2007 graduate of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program.
Today, her role models are ordinary people who do extraordinary things, she said.
“I am especially impressed by successful entrepreneurs who take calculated risks and transform their concepts into lucrative businesses,” she said.
She is equally impressed by renowned industry leaders within corporations that establish outstanding personal brands and use their expertise to move the company to a more competitive front. Most importantly, she admires compassionate leaders who positively enhance the lives of others through selfless actions.
“Leaders like these serve as my role models because they are constant reminders that outstanding leadership and making a difference is truly accessible,” she said. “This influences my future goals because it compels me to set my personal goals even higher and work even harder while encouraging others to do the same.”
A compassionate leader herself, Tucker is a recipient of the 2011 YWCA Leader of Distinction Award and a four-time recipient of the Bank of America Spirit Medallion Award. She is also a board director for both the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and FOCUS St. Louis.
In addition to these leadership roles, Tucker makes sure that the most needy community members are receiving help, as a vice chair of the United Way of Greater St. Louis’ Community Initiative Allocations Panel. She is an active member of the United Way’s (UW) Community Investment Committee, UW African American Leadership Giving Cabinet, and Women’s Leadership Giving Initiative.
A business advantage
Diversity and inclusion are central to Bank of America’s core values, she said.
“Encouraging a diverse, inclusive workplace gives us the business advantage of understanding and meeting the needs of our diverse customers, clients and communities,” she said.
Efforts to promote diversity include recruiting and retaining diverse talent, maintaining relationships with diverse suppliers, offering products and services to meet the diverse needs of our customers, and philanthropy supporting underserved communities.
Bank of America’s employee networks are a vital part of the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts, she said. The employee networks are formal, bank-supported groups made up of employees who share a dimension of diversity along with their allies. The groups meet periodically to network, mentor and encourage each other’s development, leadership and success.
“By giving voice to diverse constituencies within the company and to customers like themselves, the groups assist Bank of America with maintaining a fair and inclusive workplace,” she said. “They also can enhance the bank’s efforts to bring exceptional, targeted products and services to our customers, clients and shareholders.”
Tucker remains involved in the employee networks from a market advisory perspective by providing community impact opportunities, leadership exposure and guidance to BPG, LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development) for Women, and the company’s Military Support Group.
More than ever, companies and communities across the nation are leveraging the power of its people and diversity to help boost innovation as a catalyst for economic growth, she said.
“As St. Louis continues to diversify, we have an excellent opportunity to incorporate additional diverse voices and perspectives into leadership conversations, community planning sessions, and key roles to continue improving our ability to compete regionally, nationally, and globally,” Tucker said.
