'Diversity is the fabric of our being': TD Bank's Verba

In accepting a Lifetime Achievement award, Linda Verba shared a few lessons she has learned during her banking career. The value of differences was one theme.

"Surround yourself with people who don't look like you," advised Verba, the head of service strategy at TD Bank, earning applause from a ballroom full of top industry executives at Cipriani Wall Street on Thursday night.

And do so consciously, she said.

Verba, who plans to retire at the end of the year, received her award at American Banker's 2017 Most Powerful Women in Banking gala.

Learn more about Verba and why she was chosen for the award here.

Read about the event and see video clips of additional speakers here.

VERBA: Strongly believe diversity, ladies and gentlemen, is not a buzz word. Diversity is the fabric of our being, it is part of who we are. It requires action. It requires awareness. Surround yourself with people who are different from you, who don’t look like you.