High tide raises all boats
Ellyn Jansen may be a relative newcomer to Nashville, but she is a financial industry veteran leading First Citizens Bank’s expansion into Music City’s booming banking scene. From the bank’s new office on Music Row, Ellyn, an Area Executive, is building a dynamic team of financial talent to provide credit facilities to business owners in Nashville and surrounding counties.
“Our lenders are highly skilled in providing advice and guidance to business owners on the strategic growth of their businesses. They don’t just collect documents,” says Ellyn of her team, which she has doubled in headcount over the past year.
A Chicago native, Ellyn didn’t attend college with the intention of becoming the bank’s Nashville chief. She has an undergraduate degree in Physical Education. “When I came out of school, it was really difficult to get a teaching job. So, I went to work at a commodities firm.” That career twist started Ellyn down the financial path. “I was selling pork bellies and foreign currency.” She went on to receive a Series 7 license, which opened the door to investment banking. “I worked for Goldman Sachs, and while there, I earned my MBA in Finance.” Two years later, Ellyn went into traditional banking and has been in all areas of the bank since then, from retail and mortgage to investment, private, commercial, and Premier. Ellyn made the move to Nashville to head up the bank’s expansion in 2017, and one of the first organizations she joined was NAWBO Nashville.
But Ellyn is no stranger to NAWBO. She was affiliated with NAWBO Chicago before her move. “They are a dynamic group of ladies.”
As past Membership Chair, and current Advocacy Chair of NAWBO Nashville, Ellyn has brought her skill of developing talent to her roles to cultivate membership and rally the troops behind advocacy initiatives supported by NAWBO National. She has also brought First Citizens Bank to the table as a corporate partner. “I’ve always found it vital to support women in business. All women must work together to help each other grow. If we all have that same thought, high tide raises all boats. This is one of those cases.”
Ellyn credits past mentors for helping her navigate her career in finance and encourages all women to do the same. “Find a mentor,” she says, “woman or man, in the business you’re in. There aren’t many women in leadership in banking, especially in the commercial sector. It’s important to have a trusted advisor to help guide you. Not necessarily to make introductions, but to be a sounding board for your ideas and to help you think more strategically about career choices.”
To her younger self, Ellyn would encourage her to take risks. “Early on, I was really hesitant. I’d wonder if I was qualified enough. You know, the typical things I think most women do. The only way to resolve that is to take risks.”