CEO, Chase Consumer Banking
It's rare to see a bank executive who is big on social media, but Thasunda Brown Duckett has nearly 22,000 followers on Instagram, where she posts on matters of financial health, wealth and more.
“To be an effective leader, you have to own your story and be your authentic self,” Duckett said. “Being open, revealing your true self to others, encourages others to do the same — and that’s when people truly connect.”
Duckett joined JPMorgan Chase in 2004 and was chief executive of its auto finance unit before being named CEO of Chase’s consumer banking unit in 2016. In this role, Duckett oversees $500 billion of deposits, 25 million checking households, 50,000 employees and 4,900 branches.
Her team is in the midst of a five-year plan to add 400 branches in 20 new markets, and is now prioritizing physical distancing in light of COVID-19.
In recent months, the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement have highlighted disparities and systemic barriers to opportunity in struggling U.S. communities. But Duckett has a longer track record as an advocate for inclusion and financial health.
You can find her preaching big ideas in small social-media snippets, such as “Live your life like a diversified portfolio” and “It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep.” Another mantra — “Keep it 700+” — is a call for consumers to get serious about their credit scores.
Duckett is the executive sponsor of JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways program, a member of the steering committee for its Women on the Move initiative and the executive sponsor of the Fellowship Initiative, a program at the company that offers academic and social support to young men of color.
Last November Duckett was also named to the board of directors of the sneaker giant Nike.
For the first time, American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking celebration is open to the whole financial community. Join us virtually October 6-8 to hear our 2020 honorees' stories and experiences.
