Winning With Women: An Interview with Jacqueline J. McGown
Jacqueline J. McGown is currently a Senior Vice President and Specialized Fiduciary Team Leader for the US Trust, Administrative Resource Team. She currently manages two teams with a total of twenty-three Associates. Both teams serve in an audit role and are responsible for the completion of Annual Account Reviews and QA/QC of reviews completed by others within the organization.
Jacqueline has twenty-two years of trust banking experience and began her career with Merrill Lynch Trust Company in 1994 as a Customer Accountant. After working as a Customer Accountant, she transitioned into a more senior role as a Priority Service Representative that involved more Trust Systems involvement. In 1997, Jacqueline departed Merrill Lynch Trust Company for an opportunity to work as a Trust Operations Officer with MetLife, who was in the beginning stages of starting a Trust Company. This new opportunity gave Jacqueline her first role in management, along with other various leadership positions. In 2002, Jacqueline returned to Merrill Lynch Trust Company as a Trust Officer in the Life Insurance Company Group and was later promoted to a Senior Trust Officer and Team Leader. In 2014, Jacqueline relocated to
Atlanta, GA to manage her current team.
Jacqueline majored in Economics and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University in 1993. She is also a graduate of Cannon Trust School. Jacqueline resides in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Anthony McGown. They are blessed to have six children between them. Ashton, 25, Ashlei, 22, Anthony Jr., 21, Jordan, 16 and their newest addition, Jaida who is now 6 months old. She is also an active member of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Jacqueline also enjoys crafts and scrap-booking.
Get to Know Jacqueline
1. Jacqueline, who has been the influential boss/mentor for you and in what ways did they shape you to become the leader you are today?
I’m not sure that I have one specific person but most of my managers always valued the people who worked for them and from that I’ve learned to always put people first.
2. When looking for potential job candidates where do you turn to?
My preference is always to promote or hire within the organization and then look outside the company.
3. How would you characterize your management style?
I am a people manager. I believe that not every person needs the same thing in order to succeed. I make every effort to get to know my team of people and their needs.
4. What do you think the greatest challenge is for a Vice President today?
I think one of my biggest challenges as a Vice President and manager is not having the resources to always meet the demands of my team. I.E. Training and opportunity for promotion.
5. How do you stay abreast of hot topics within your industry?
Newspapers, Internal Communications, World News and word of mouth.
6. Do you have a quote, mantra or tip regarding how our audience could manage their one-to-one personal interactions better?
I’ve found that building trust and respect is a key component in any one-to-one personal interaction. It’s critical to be an active listener and actually remember the things that are important.
7. What is the highlight of your work week?
The highlight of my week is always the interaction with my team. I truly enjoy developing the individuals on my team and watching them grow individually and in their roles on my team. It is genuinely fulfilling.
8. If you could perform your same job, with the same company, but in a different geographical location, where would it be?
If I could do the same job in another location it would be Texas. I would choose Texas because it is my husband’s home, and for numerous years he was in the army, which caused separation from his family & friends. It would make him happy to be back in Texas. Seeing him happy would make me happy.
9. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you be doing? Honestly?
Honestly, it would simply be spending more time with my children and scrap-booking.
10. If you were to receive an award for, “Best At ____”. How would you fill in the blank and why?
“Best at Building a Team” I take pride in the relationships I build with my team. I believe that the stronger and happier your employees are in their roles, the more successful the function in their roles.
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