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From Teller to CSO: Tips from a Successful Woman in Business

Featuring Mary Jayne Crocker, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer

For Mary Jayne Crocker, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Bridgewater Bank, her journey through the business world has been anything but straightforward. Here, she shares a piece of her story and some lessons she’s learned along the way.

Though she began her career on the floor of a Canadian stock exchange, Mary Jayne moved to the United States for her husband’s job 30 years ago. This was a difficult decision but the right one for her family at that time.

With no green card, no friends, or family nearby, and three kids under three, she worked as a stay-at-home mom for the next decade. Although Mary Jayne was grateful for the time with her kids, she always dreamed of continuing the path she once started, and, eventually, she realized: “This is not enough for me anymore.” So, at 40 years old, she decided to reenter the workforce.

Mary Jayne recalls how she “answered an ad that called to me because it asked, ‘are you ready to come back into banking?’” After ten years, she certainly was, even though re-entering the workforce was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Mary Jayne started working at Commerce Bank as a part-time teller. This is where she met Jerry Baack.

“Little did I know, Jerry was someone who would forever change my life’s trajectory,” Mary Jayne reflects. At the time, Jerry was the Chief Lending Officer, but he was about to set out on his own entrepreneurial journey and pursue his vision of founding Bridgewater Bank. “When Jerry decided to leave his job and create a new bank, he saw potential in me and invited me to join him on the journey.”

“Sounds like a challenge,” said Mary Jayne about the prospect of raising capital, securing an office, designing a logo, hiring employees, and participating in the overall process of starting a new bank.

“The decision took a lot of courage. Not only did I have to find the courage to convince my husband to invest part of our savings into this somewhat stranger’s vision, but I also had to muster the courage to trust my own instincts and believe in my capabilities,” says Mary Jayne, who became Bridgewater’s very first employee.

Looking back, she is very thankful she decided to join Jerry and pursue his vision. “Not only has this leap of faith allowed me to grow personally and professionally, but it has put me in a position to help pave the way for other talented, impressive young women to build their careers inside the bank,” she says.

Bridgewater Bank opened in 2005 with nine employees. The small team meant that Mary Jayne, “did a little bit of everything,” she says. She worked in marketing, shareholder relations, internal communications, facilities, and management. “As the bank grew, we brought in more and more talent,” says Mary Jayne continuing, “It was a rising pool, and I just stayed afloat.”

Her path from answering a job advertisement, re-returning the workforce, to playing a pivotal role in building Bridgewater and later becoming CSO wasn’t straightforward. Reflecting on her journey, she remarks, “I had the opportunity to grow alongside the bank. Throughout the course of my career, I've been thankful for the countless chances to expand my knowledge, network, and team. It’s been incredibly rewarding… I never would have imagined from answering that ad, I would become the CSO of a $5 billion publicly traded bank.”

Mary Jayne acknowledges that working in a male dominated field “hasn’t always been easy.” Though she has only good things to say about her team at Bridgewater, she shares, “There are a number of people in the finance world who have looked right past me as a woman,” says Mary Jayne. “Using your voice takes courage.” She continues, “By doing your research and knowing your stuff, you can ensure your courage isn’t blind.”

While recalling other challenges she, and other women in business face, Mary Jayne notes, “I believe women need to give themselves more grace. They often wear a lot of hats and take on many roles,” notes Mary Jayne. “You can’t expect yourself to do everything really well 100% of the time. Do your best and remember that you are human.” She adds. “Life is a balancing act, and so is business. That is something I’ve had to learn.”

Despite the challenges, Mary Jayne sees being a woman in business as a good thing: “It’s a differentiator. It means I bring a unique perspective to the table,” she explains, highlighting the value of diversity of thought and approach.

So, what has she learned along the way that she’d like other women in business to know?

1. It’s never too late to try something new. Don’t lose sight of your dreams, and don’t count yourself out.

2. Be open to opportunities. You never know where they might lead.

3. Use your platform to invest in other women.

4. Use your voice, no matter how scary it might seem.

5. Give yourself grace.

Nobody's story looks the same, and everyone faces different challenges and opportunities. No matter what your journey looks like, embrace the twists and turns with resilience, determination, and dedication to your vision. You never know where your journey will lead.