The year 2020 has presented unique challenges and interruptions across all aspects of our lives, but it does not stop us from celebrating the various accomplishments and achievements of women leaders of color! Throughout the month of August, we will spotlight these amazing women and share their unique perspectives, philosophies, and stories.

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Debra Taylor is the Managing Director and Regional Manager for MUFG Union Bank, N.A. She is responsible for overseeing retail branch operations in the Greater Sacramento area of Northern California. She has over 30 years of banking experience in commercial, consumer, real estate lending, and management industries. In 2010, she was recognized by Women of Color magazine as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Finance”. In 2012, the San Francisco Business Times named her as one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business”. In 2012 and 2013, she received the Union Bank Region of the Year Award. In 2016 and 2019, Debra was recognized as one of MUFG Americas Top 100 Producers for the Year.

Debra holds a B.S. in Business Administration & B.A. in Ethnic Studies from CSU Chico, MBA in Management from Golden Gate University, and a degree from the Pacific Coast Banking School at University of Washington. Her education helped shape her ambitions to reach great heights in the finance world, and she held positions of responsibility at well-known banks including: Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Bank of the West. She most recently served on the Board of AnewAmerica and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

Debra’s impressive accomplishments have captured the interests of many women business owners. When we asked about her journey to success, she had this to say:

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Throughout your leadership journey, from your first job to your current position, what are some key lessons you’ve learned that have shaped you as a leader?

Debra Taylor:

• HARD WORK: From my first job working for a bank in my high school after-school program to now, what I have learned is how important it is to work hard and have confidence and courage. Even more importantly, to be aware of those characteristics and how they are projected.
• COMMUNICATION: Being thoughtful when communicating is critical. We all desire to be heard, and as a leader this is critical. The wordsmithing of our communication is of paramount importance.
• PROFESSIONAL: Professionalism and ethics go without saying. A team must trust and be proud of their leader and know their leader cares about them. As a result, this requires the leader to perform to higher standards. That should be expected.

What are three key characteristics or habits that have led to your success?

DT: Others tell me this is what they see in me:

1. Tenacity
2. Extremely organized and process oriented
3. Competitive optimism with a sense of urgency

Knowing the unique challenges that you have faced as a professional woman of color, what advice would you give to your younger self?

DT: There is not much I would change in the advice I gave myself in my younger years. It is the advice I would give to any professional woman, regardless of their color. It was important then and important now to do your best work, every time. I have heard it best summed up in the expression “how you do anything is how you do everything.” That is how reputations are earned, positive or negative. In addition, it paid then, and it pays now to be able to play well in the sand box. You want to be the person others want around and never forget we are all replaceable. Tolerance for individualism is much greater today and that is liberating. No matter what, the key is to keep the focus on your competence and abilities.