HELLO AND WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I'M YOUR HOST, Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

JOINING ME ON THE COUCH THIS EVENING IS THE PRESIDENT OF IMPRESSIA BANK, MARY KATE LOFTUS.

WE KNOW IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO START A BUSINESS WITHOUT SECURING FUNDS FROM A BANK.

UNFORTUNATELY, FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS STILL FACE OBSTACLES WHEN IT COMES TO ACQUIRING LOANS AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES.

AT IMPRESSIA BANK, MARY KATE IS WORKING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

SO GATHER YOUR FAMILY, SEND A TEXT TO YOUR FRIENDS, BECAUSE WILL YOU NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I AM SO EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT YOU, YOUR WORK, WHAT YOU ARE LEAD CAN, BECAUSE I AM LIKE TOTALLY IMPRESSED, ENTHRALLED AT THE MISSION OF IMPRESSIA AND WHAT YOU ARE AIMING TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY, SO WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

OH MY GOSH, I'M SO EXCITED YOU INVITED ME TO BE ON YOUR COUCH.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO IMPRESSIA, THOUGH, TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU DECIDED TO SPEND YOUR CAREER IN FINANCE.

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM SO MANY ARE ACCIDENTAL BANKERS.

BUT ONCE YOU GET NIGHT, IT IS SO MUCH FUN.

I REMEMBER BACK WHEN I WAS PROBABLY A FEW YEARS INTO WORKING AT THE BANK AND I HAD, ABOUT THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE AND I WAS STARTING TO GET PROMOTED AND MOVE UP AND SOMEBODY SAID WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO NEXT AND I REALIZE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH PEOPLE AND AS SOON AS I WAS OUT OF THE BACK OFFICE AND OUT WITH CUSTOMERS AND I THOUGHT WHAT AN AMAZING LIKE CAREER PATH AND I HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK.

>> WHAT WAS SOME OF YOUR EARLY LESSONS IN BANKING THAT YOU STILL HOLD DEAR AND CLOSE TO YOU TODAY?

>> I THINK IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT, LIKE PERSONALLY AND THEN I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM PEOPLE.

SO PERSONALLY IT WAS PUT IN THE HARD WORK, LIKE IT WAS THINGS LIKE I WANTED NIGHT SCHOOL AND GOT MY LIFE INSURANCE LICENSE AND SAID NO I'M PREPARED I CAN DO THIS.

I WAS 23 AT THE TIME.

THEN GOING OUT, WHAT I NEVER KNEW AND NO ONE EVER TELLS YOU, BANKERS ARE OFTEN THE FOUNDATION, THE CORNERSTONE WITHIN A COMMUNITY.

I THOUGHT THIS IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN WHAT I EVEN REALIZED IT COULD BE, AND SO YOU ARE OUT VOLUNTEERING, YOU ARE OUT IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND IT JUST OPENED UP BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER.

SO I MEAN I JUST HAD THE GIFT OF MEETING SO MANY AMAZING FUN PEOPLE.

>> WHEN YOU SAID THAT BANKING IS THE CORNERSTONE OF COMMUNITIES, I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I WAS JUST LIKE, YEAH, LIKE YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT IN THAT WAY OFTEN TIMES, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF, AS I HAVE GOTTEN OLDER AND THE WORK I DO OUTSIDE OF THE SHOW, YOU LEARN HOW MUCH OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE FOR BANKS TO ALSO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY.

SO CAN YOU TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN LIKE FROM THE TIME YOU WERE 23 TO NOW?

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT SHIFT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT NEVER REALLY CHANGES, WHERE BANKING IS REALLY ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR MONEY.

BUT WHAT HAS EVOLVED IS HOW THEY DO IT.

SO IT USED TO BE GO TO THE LOCAL BRANCH IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A BRANCH IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR IT COULD BE NOW THOUGH, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE-- THEY LEARN ABOUT HOW TO CONTROL THEIR MONEY AND PEOPLE WORK SO HARD, ESPECIALLY IN THESE DAYS, HAVE YOU TO HAVE ACCESS TO UNDERSTANDING HOW IT WORKS.

AND MANY BANKS DO AS WELL IS US, YOU ARE OUT DOING FINANCIAL LITERACY FACER, TRYING TO REACH PEOPLE YOUNGER AND YOUNGER.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IS HOW YOU CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND HOW YOU SHARE THE INFORMATION.

THE SOONER PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF MONEY, THE SOONER THEY UNDERSTAND HOW IT CAN IMPACT THEIR LIVES AND IMPACT THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES.

>> AS YOU ARE SITTING HERE, I'M THINKING BACK TO A SPECIAL PERSON IN MY LIFE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE I GREW UP-- MY MOM WOULD TAKE ME TO A BANK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WOULD I PUT $5 IN OR WHATEVER, AND WHEN MY MIND IT WAS LIKE PUT $5 IN AND YOU HAVE $5.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GO TO THE BANK FOR.

BUT THIS WOMAN I MET WHEN I MOVED TO CENTRAL NEW YORK REALLY SAT ME DOWN, TALKED TO ME ABOUT MY DREAMS, THIS SHOW PARTICULARLY, RIGHT?

AND TALKED TO ME AND HELPED ME CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A BANK.

AND FOR AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUNG GIRL THAT WAS GAME CHANGER FOR ME.

>> AS YOU SAID, BANKING IS NECESSARY AND SO MANY PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE AFRAID OF BANKS OR IF THEY DON'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP, THEY'RE AFRAID TO WALK IN THE DOOR, THEY MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THE SYSTEM IN THAT WAY, AND IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL EVENTUALLY, IT OPENS THE DOORS AND ALLOWS YOU, TO, LIKE PAY YOUR RENT OR PAYING YOUR BILLS AND NOT PAYING TOO MUCH IN FEES.

THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FROM THAT RESPECT.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF IMPRESSIA, IT WILL ALL MAKE SENSE AND CONNECT.

THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, WELL, WHY DID OUR BANK NOT HAVE ENOUGH WOMEN?

AND THIS IS BACK THE PARENT COMPANY, AND THEY SAID WELL WHERE IS EVERYBODY BANKING?

AND WHEN THEY WENT BACK AND DID THE RESEARCH, THEY SAID A LOT OF WOMEN PUT A LITTLE BIT IN A LOST PLACES AND THE REASONS WHY IS THEY DON'T HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP AND THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING AND TRUSTING THAT PERSON.

SO WHAT IMPRESSIA SET OUT TO DO IS REDEFINE THE BANKER/CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.

IMAGINE YOU AS A WORKING WOMAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO DOLE WITH THIS IN YOUR DAY TO DAY.

IMAGINE YOU CAN TEXT AND CALL THE PERSON AND YOU KNOW THE PERSON YOU ARE TEXTING OR CALLING.

>> YOU BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE PART OF THE HISTORIC IS LIKE WELL, IF YOU DON'T HAVE, THEN YOU CAN'T HAVE OPPORTUNITY IES.

AND WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THIS PERSON THAT I CULTIVATED A RELATIONSHIP WITH, JODI, SHE HELPED ME GAIN THE CONFIDENCE TO ASK QUESTIONS TO WALK IN AND KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT A BUSINESS LINE OF CREDIT IS.

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT RIGHT NOW BUT YOU CAN WORK TOWARDS IT.

THIS IS THE PATH AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING AS PRESIDENT OF IMPRESSIA, RIGHT, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS.

SO LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

IMPRESSIA BANK IS OPENING ITS HEADQUARTERS IN THE ELECTRIC TOWER IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT HOW THIS SPACE WILL PROVIDE WOMEN WITH ACCESS TO FINANCIAL FEMINISM.

>> I MET ANGIE WILCOXIN WHEN SHE INTERVIEWED ME IN CLEVELAND AND SHE SAT ACROSS THE TABLE AND I HAD RESEARCHED HER.

I KNEW WHO SHE WAS AND SHE WAS A REAL POWER HOUSE AND THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF WOMEN THAT LEAD BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

THE DEPTH AND THE QUALITY OF THE QUESTIONS SHE ASKED AND AS WE TALKED, SHE TOLD ME ABOUT HER VISION FOR THE BANK, ABSOLUTELY BLEW ME AWAY AND I THOUGHT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THIS THAT IS TRULY BEING BUILT.

AND IT'S NOT TAKING THE EXISTING PRODUCTS, SERVICES, EXPERIENCES THAT ARE OFFERED AND SAYING WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THEM PINK AND SEND THEM OUT TO PEOPLE SAYING IT'S FOR WOMEN.

WE ARE HERE TO CREATE MEANINGFUL LASTING CHANGE THAT TRULY POWERS THE LOCAL ECONOMIES.

THE MISSION OF IMPRESSIA BANK IS TO CLOSE THE GENDER GAP OF FINANCING FOR WOMEN.

I BELIEVE IT IS WELL RESEARCHED AND STUDIED THAT THE JEND ARE GAP IN TERMS OF EARNINGS IS REAL.

WOMEN EARN GENERALLY 83 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN ARE ALREADY CLOSING THAT GAP AND IT'S UPWARDS OF 90 CENTS WHICH IS FANTASTIC BUT THE DOWNSTREAM IMPACT OF THAT IS THAT OVER TIME, WOMEN HAVE LESS SAVINGS ACCUMULATED.

IT OFTEN COULD IMPACT THEIR CREDIT.

AND SO WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS THAT WE BELIEVE THE BROADER PICTURE AND WE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE ARE DETERMINING HOW WE CAN HELP THEM AND WHEN THE DIVISION WAS STARTED FOR IMPRESSIA BANK, ONE OF THE DECIDING FACTORS IS WHERE WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SUCCEED?

LOOKING AT THE DATA, THERE ARE SO MANY ENTREPRENEURS IN EACH OF THESE AREAS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WESTERN NEW YORK, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT ERIE, CLEVELAND, COLUMBUS, YOU CAN SEE THE INVESTMENT THAT'S HAPPENING AND YOU CAN FEEL THE CHANGE.

SO TO US, IT SEEMED LIKE THE BEST POSSIBLE DECISIONS.

THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE AND LONG-TERM, THERE IS SUCH GREAT TALENT THAT'S IN THE WESTERN NEW YORK REGION.

IT SEEMED VERY OBVIOUS AND WE ARE THRILLED BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT TO OPEN LATER IN THE FALL.

WE WILL BE OPENING OUR HEADQUARTERS IN THE ELECTRIC TOWER.

WHAT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT, THIS IS GOING TO BE A MULTIPURPOSE SPACE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A PLACE FOR THE IMPRESSIA BANKERS TO WORK OUT OF AND SERVE CLIENTS INDIVIDUALLY.

IT WILL BE A PLACE FOR TO US HAVE CONVERSATIONS, EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, NETWORKING EVENTS AND I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE WILL HAVE IS THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE-- AND I DON'T SAY JUST WOMEN-- TO SAY THERE IS A SAFE SPACE DESIGNED JUST FOR THIS PURPOSE.

AND I'M THRILLED THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR DOORS OPEN.

PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO COME IN, COME TO OUR LOCATION AND BE ABLE TO GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.

BUT I THINK WHAT THE REAL LASTING IMPACT WILL BE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS THAT BUFFALO IS VIBRANT AND STRONG AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL FABRIC WOVEN TOGETHER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, REALLY STRONG BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURIAL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON CREATING CHANGE AND DRIVING VALUE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE ONE MORE ADDITION INTO WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE.

SO I'M THRILLED THAT WE WILL PLAY A PART.

IN FIVE YEARS, I WOULD LOVE TO SIT WITH YOU AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT SHOWS THE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN, NO THE JUST WOMEN BUT PEOPLE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HELP.

I WOULD LOVE TO TELL THE STORIES OF PEOPLE THAT HAD A VISION AND A DREAM BUT WE ARE QUITE SURE HOW TO GET THERE AND TOGETHER WITH THE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE AND COLLABORATION, THEY WERE ABLE TO IS FIND A PATH TO GET THERE.

AND THEN OUR LEGACY ISN'T GOING TO BE THE LEGACY OF IMPRESSIA BANK.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE LEGACY OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WE HELPED.

>> THAT IS FANTASTIC: I WANT TO COME AND VISIT THE HEADQUARTERS.

I WANT TO CONNECT WITH THIS THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING PROJECT.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW IMPRESSIA COMES TO BE HOW DID ALL THIS COME TOGETHER?

IT'S SUCH A FANTASTIC CONCEPT?

>> SO BACK IN, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY EARLY 2022, NEW C.E.O.

COMES IN.

HE GOES ON A LISTENING TOUR, SEES ALL THESE AMAZING WOMEN LEADERS, LOOK AT THE BANK'S, YOU KNOW, BOOK OF BUSINESS FOR CNB FINANCIAL AND SAYS WHY DON'T WE HAVE MORE WOMEN AND THEN SO A TEAM, HE ASKED THE HEAD OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, LEE AN, SHE PULLS TOGETHER A GROUP OF WOMEN, THEY HAVE FOCUS GROUPS, LOOK AT THE DATA AND SAID WELL NO BANK IS REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB FOR WOMEN.

HERE WHAT IS WE THINK.

THIS GROUP EXPANDS.

ONE OF THE WOMEN IN IT IS ANGELA WILCOXIN OUR CHIEF COMMERCIAL BANKING OFFICER FOR CNB BANK.

SHE IS ONE OF THE THE ONLY WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY TO HOLD THIS ROLE AND ONE OF THE ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN TO HOLD THIS ROLE IN THE COUNTRY.

NAMED CRANE'S WOMAN OF FINANCE, A VERY PRESTIGE AWES WARD.

THIS GROUP TOGETHER COMES AND THEY SAY WHAT CAN WE DO?

THEY REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD OF BANK AND THEY BUILD THE FRAMEWORK AND I JOINED THEN IN APRIL WHEN ANGIE AND THIS IS APPROACHING THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

WHEN ANGIE INTERVIEWED ME, WE WERE SITTING IN A CONFERENCE ROOM IN LEAVE LAND, OHIO AND IT IS A BOARD ROOM AND SHE ASKED ME QUESTIONS, AND WOULD GO MM-HMM.

I THOUGHT I WASN'T DOING VERY GOOD.

AT THE END SHE SAID DO YOU WANT TO GO TO LUNCH.

SHE IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO, IN AN ETHICAL WAY, RETHINKING HOW WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO MONEY.

>> I WAS RECENTLY AT AN EVENT ON TUESDAY.

I WAS HOSTING, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THE GROWTH OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS SINCE THE PANDEMIC, SINCE 2020.

AND THAT THE LARGEST GROWTH ALMOST IN THAT HYBRID OR ENTREPRENEURIAL HYBRID SECTOR ARE WOMEN AND ALSO WOMEN OF COLOR.

AND THE QUESTION HAS BEEN, OKAY, WELL HOW DO WE GET THEM, THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO REALLY UNFOLD AND FLY?

>> WE HAVE FOUND-- THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES THAT ARE IN EVERY COMMUNITY, AND WHAT IS NEAT IS THAT WE HAVE BUFFALO, ROCHESTER, ERIE, CLEVELAND, COLUMBUS ARE SOME PLACES THAT WE ARE.

EVERY COMMUNITY HAS DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND DIFFERENT SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.

SO WAS WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS FIND WHERE THERE IS A GAP AND SAY THIS IS WHERE WE CAN HELP.

THROUGH THESE CONVERSATIONS AND PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY HAVE ASKED TO JOIN AND THEY SAID WE WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF THIS.

I'LL GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES.

ONE, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT IT'S A NEWLY ANNOUNCED NON-PROFIT HERE IN BUFFALO, FOUNDED BY BRENDA McDUFFY, FORMER C.E.O.

OF THE URBAN LEAGUE FOUNDED IT CALLED THE BLACK WOMAN'S WELLNESS VILLAGE OF BUFFALO AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS SAID THEY WANT TO RADICALLY CHALLENGE HOW HEALTH IS PROVIDED, HEALTHCARE IS PROVIDED TO WOMEN OF BUFFALO.

THEY'RE GOING TO FOCUS BY STARTING TO OFFER A NEW FACILITY IN SOLUTIONS THAT'S GOING TO BE PACED IN EAST BUFFALO.

IT'S SO EXCITING.

AND THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER IN A COLLABORATIVE NATURE WITH OTHER NON-PROFITS IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WERE THE LEADERS INVOLVED IN THIS AND THEY CAME TO IMPRESSIA BANK AND WERE ABLE TO BE THEIR BANK OF CHOICE WHICH IS A GREAT HONOR, AND THEN DOWN IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ANOTHER-- AND THIS IS MORE OF THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP SIDE, WE WERE INTRODUCED TO A WONDERFUL WOMAN NAMED KYRA TAYLOR.

KYRA IS THE C.E.O.

OF ERIE'S BLACK WALL STREET.

>> ERIE'S BLACK WALL STREET?

>> ERIE PENNSYLVANIA.

>> ERIE PENNSYLVANIA HAS A BLACK WALL STREET.

I'M GOING THERE, TOO.

GOING TO DO A WHOLE TOUR.

>> WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS STARTED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THEY SAID LET'S SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND WHAT GREW INTO, IT ACTUALLY GREW INTO A SUSTAINABLE NON-PROFIT.

THEY CONNECT AND ENCOURAGE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 80% OF THEIR PARTNERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT ARE WOMEN.

AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY SAID WE WANT TO BE PART OF IMPRESSIA BANK.

SO WE GET TO WATCH SIDE BY SIDE, SEE HOW WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR GROWTH.

>> I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO YOU AND I'M GENUINELY GETTING EXCITED BECAUSE I THINK TO FIND SPACES AS A WOMAN, RIGHT, LIKE THIS SPACE "BEHIND THE WOMAN," WE TRY TO CULTIVATE AS A SPACE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT COULD IMPACT OUR LIVES, RIGHT?

AND SO I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO YOU.

HEARING THESE NEW NAMES.

LIKE I GOT TO FIND THESE SPACES AND MEET THESE WOMEN BUT I'M IMAGINING THE IMPACT THAT IMPRESSIA COULD HAVE AND THE MODEL THAT IT CAN SET FORTH ABOUT HOW DO WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, RIGHT?

HOW DO WE TAKE THE IDEA OF FINANCE AND BANKING AND REALLY CREATE STRUCTURES THAT BETTER SUPPORT AND ENGAGE ALL PEOPLE?

>> SO MANY-- WE ARE FEDERALLY REGULATED BANK SO THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO EVERYBODY.

BUT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO THOUGH IS INSPIRED BY WHAT WOULD A WOMAN NEED?

WHAT WE FIND IS WHEN WE START THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BUILD TRUST, SAY YOU ARE A WOMAN THAT'S STARTING A BUSINESS OR YOU HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR A WHILE, WHICH WE OFTEN FIND, AND THEY HAVE A NEED AND THEY KNOW THEY NEED MONEY TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS, BUT IT'S SO HARD TO A TAKE THAT RISK OR.

B: THE PAY GAP.

THEY TOOK TIME AWAY TO RAISE CHILDREN.

THEIR EARNINGS ARE LOWER AND THEY QUALIFY FOR LESS.

IT'S A TERRIBLE CYCLE WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO TO REBUILD OR REIMAGINING WHAT BANKING COULD BE IS WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A FINANCING NEED, WE DON'T JUST OFFER BANK DEBT FINANCING.

MEANING A BANK LOAN TO FILL IT.

WE LOOK AT WHAT IS OUT THERE AND WE SAY HERE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR AND WE PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE SO WE HAVE NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA AND OHIO RESOURCES.

YOU CAN LOOK AT SEE WHAT IS THE GRANT MONEY THAT IS OUT THERE.

WHAT ARE TRUSTED THIRD PARTY ADVISERS IF WE CAN'T HELP YOU YET, WE TRUST THESE PEOPLE, THEY CAN HELP YOU GET THERE.

>> WHEN YOU GO HOME AT NIGHT, AFTER A DAY, YOU KNOW, YOU GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILY, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT YOU DID TODAY?

>> I LOVE THAT QUESTION.

SO I'M MARRIED AND THEN WITH TWO SMALLER CHILDREN.

MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND WE DO-- BECAUSE THERE ARE SPORTS AND EVERYBODY IS RUNNING, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO DO THE KITCHEN TABLE CONVERSATION BUT WE DO IT A COUPLE DAYS A WEEK.

WE'LL DO FAVORITE PART OF YOUR DAY.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY.

THE KIDS WILL STILL PLAY ALONG AND DO IT.

THE STORIES,LY SHARE THE STORIES AND SAY I TALKED TO SOMEBODY OH MY GOSH, SHE BLEW ME AWAY.

THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING AND IT'S BUILDING BUSINESSES IT'S TAKING RISKS.

IT'S HAVING A DREAM AND WORKING SO HARD NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> AND HOPEFULLY WHEN YOU GET TO THE FAVORITE PART OF YOUR DAY AROUND THE TABLE OR IF YOU ARE IN THE CAR, COMMUTING BACK AND FORTH, YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU WERE AT 23.

DID YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF HERE?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DID NOT IMAGINE MYSELF HERE.

BUT I ALSO HAD VERY BIG DREAMS OF WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT "BEHIND THE WOMAN," AND YOU MIGHT FEEL THE SAME WAY, IT'S NOT YOU.

IT'S YOUR PUSS, IT'S YOUR PARENTS, IT'S YOUR IN-LAWS.

IT'S EVERYONE AROUND I CAN'T TELL YOU MY CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, THE ONES HERE IN BUFFALO AND OTHER PLACES, THEY'RE SO SUPPORTIVE AND I THINK THAT CONNECTION AND THAT'S WHAT ENABLES ANY WOMAN WHO SUCCEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED.

>> I SAID TO SOMEONE THE OTHER DAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T PINPOINT THE MOMENTS OR INSTANCES THAT SOMEONE SOMETIMES PUSHES YOU TO THE NEXT THING OR HOW IT INFORMS YOUR DECISION MAKING.

LIKE YOU ARE JUST GOING THROUGH LIFE, RIGHT, BUT WHEN YOU THINK BACK, EVEN "BEHIND THE WOMAN," WHEN YOU SAY HOW DID YOU GET HERE, THERE IS A WHOLE SLEW OF WOMEN THAT SHOWED UP AT RESTAURANTS AND CONFERENCE ROOMS AND SOME BANKS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK THAT WERE LIKE, LET US HELP YOU IMAGINE.

AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT, I THINK, FOR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT "BEHIND THE WOMAN," RIGHT?

AND WE THINK ABOUT MARY KATE AND YOU THINK ABOUT OUTSIDE OF YOUR TITLE, OUTSIDE OF IMPRESSIA, LIKE WHAT HELPED YOU GET HERE, RIGHT?

YOU MENTIONED ANGIE AND THESE OTHER PEOPLE THAT SEE YOU AND LIKE CONNECT TO YOU AND HOW IT PROPELS YOU FORWARD.

>> BACK IN NOVEMBER, WE HAD AN EVENT IN BUFFALO.

WE DO LARGE EVENTS.

WE ALSO DO SOME SMALL LIKE COFFEE AND WINE TYPE CONVERSATIONS AND INSTEAD OF STANDING UP IN FRONT OF EVERYONE AND GIVING A PRESENTATION, I HAD SOME MEMBERS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE WERE WITH PEE ME THIS WERE IN TOWN.

THEY ASKED CARLA TO STAND UP.

INSTEAD OF ME TELLING HOW THE BANK WAS FUN TOED.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL EVERYBODY.

SHE ACTUALLY STARTED TO CRY.

IT WASN'T THAT SHE WAS CRYING AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS.

SHE SAID THIS IS NOT EVEN A LEGACY FOR ME.

THIS IS NOW WE ARE HELPING ALL OF THESE WOMEN AND WHETHER-- IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A WOMAN WHO OWNS A BUSINESS.

IT COULD BE A WOMAN THAT IS BUILDING HERSELF UP AFTER A DIVORCE OR IT COULD BE A WOMAN THAT IS AN EXECUTIVE AND SHE SAID I'M ALL IN.

I'M GOING TO PUT EVERYTHING ALL IN.

I HAVE TO BE SET FOR MY RETIREMENT.

I DON'T HAVE A HUSBAND OR ANYBODY TO DEPEND ON.

CARLA CRIED AND SAID THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT LASTS.

THAT HAS THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY TO SAY IT.

>> IT SOUNDS WONDERFUL.

I WANT TO SPEND THE DAY WITH MARY KATE LOFTUS.

>> YES, PLEASE.

>> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.

I GUESS TO ARE ME SITTING HERE.

THIS IS MY DREAM.

I ENVISIONED IT AS A YOUNG PERSON, BUT I THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY, "BEHIND THE WOMAN," YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME EPISODES , YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO SIT DOWN AND HOPE IN I WE SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHER FOLKS LISTENING WOULD BE INSPIRED.

I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE WOMEN THAT I KNOW, ALL OF THE MEN, ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT I MOTOR KNOW WHO HAVE DREAMS, WHO WISH THEY HAD A MARY KATE LOFTUS OR A CARLA OR AN ANGIE, RIGHT, IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD OF BANKING, HOW TO BUILD THE CONFIDENCE IN ASKING FOR WHAT YOU NEED.

SO FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE HOPE THAT ARE WATCHING THAT MAY BE LIKE, WOW, I DON'T HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH A BANK, WHAT WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO.

>> WHETHER ITS WITH US OR ANOTHER BANK, YOU FIND YOUR PEOPLE AND YOU BE CLEAR AND SAY I'M IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL.

LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER.

THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL RESPOND TO IT AND WILL HELP YOU FIND SOLUTIONS.

YOU WILL KNOW VERY QUICKLY IF YOU EMAIL AND CALL YOUR BANKER AND IF THEY REPLY QUICKLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CARES ABOUT YOU.

IF NOT, YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR PERSON.

THE OTHER THING IS TO SET GOALS.

I HAD A VISION, I KNEW WAY WANTED TO DO.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW I WAS GOING TO GET THERE BUT IF I WAS AIMING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IT WOULD COME TOGETHER.

FINANCIALLY WOMEN HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING AND BE ABLE TO VERY CLEARLY IMAGINE THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE AND ALL ELEMENTS OF IT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FROM A MONEY PERSPECTIVE AND THEN GO TO A BANKER AND SAY THIS IS WHAT I'M THINKING, HOW CAN I GET THERE EU89 TEAMS REALLY SIMPLE, BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS, KEEP CALLING.

RIGHT, THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK WITH IS GOING TO RESPOND BACK.

I KNOW WE GET BOMBARDED WITH EMAILS BUT YOU KEEP TRYING BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU ARE WALKING IN TO BANKING INSTITUTIONS, IT'S VERY INTIMIDATING.

THE CULTURES HAVE CHANGED FROM THE OLD MARBLE BIG SPACES BUT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE OUT THERE AND DOING WORK FOR ANOTHER YOUNG MARY KATE, OR RASHIDA OR CHELSEA THAT MAY BE WATCHING, THAT IS LOOKING TO YOU AND SAYING, HEY, I WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HER?

>> I WOULD SAY YOU HAVE YOUR PLAN, AND YOU GO FOR IT.

I THINK WITH ANY CAREER AND ANY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT BUILDING YOUR COMPANY AND SAYING I WANT TO BE PART OF THAT, OR DOING THE WORK FOR YOUR OWN CAREER, LIKE DO THE WORK, HAVE A PLAN, FOR ANYONE THAT IS LOOKING TO JOIN US, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WEBSITE AND WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE LAUNCHING SOON, IF IT'S NOT ALREADY THERE BY THE TIME EVERYBODY SEES IT.

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES WITH ADVICE FROM ENTREPRENEURS SAYING THIS WAS MY CHALLENGE.

HERE IS HOW IMPRESSIA HELPED ME AND HERE IS MY ADVICE FOR YOU AND IF YOU WANT TO CONNECT, YOU REACH TOUT ME DIRECTLY.

WE ARE CREATING A NEW WAY TO CONNECT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD SAY YOU JUST HAVE TO GO.

HAVE YOU TO GO, DO IT, RAISE YOUR HAND AND TAKE ACTIONS.

>> RAISE YOUR HAND AND TAKE ACTION.

I'M RAISING MY HAND AND TAKING ACTION.

THANK YOU, MARY KATE FOR JOINING ME THIS EVENING AND SHARING HOW YOU ARE LEADING IMPRESSIA BANK TO MEET THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF WOMEN AND PEOPLE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THIS EPISODE AGAIN OR PAST EPISODES OF THE SHOW GO TO WCNY.ORG/BEHINDTHEWOMAN.

JOIN ME HERE NEXT TIME FOR THE SEASON FINALE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN" WHERE I WILL BE JOINED BY ARTISTS, PAST CAST MEMBERS AND THREE C.E.O.S.

MY NAME IS Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND ON BEHALF OF THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT.