While banking and finance have long been male-dominated industries, Cogent Bank is changing the narrative by empowering women team members at all levels. The finance industry has always been open to women, but for many years they were typically pigeonholed into smaller roles, limiting opportunities for greater career growth and advancement. According to a 2021 report from Deloitte, in the U.S. women held 24% of leadership roles within the banking and finance industry. Cogent Bank combats this statistic by empowering female leaders to advance their careers with 42% of our current leadership positions being held by women.

Cogent recognizes the importance mentorship plays in nurturing talent, which is why all managers take on the responsibility of mentoring to help younger professionals grow and advance their careers. Career advice from seasoned professionals is highly valuable and provides women the career guidance they need to thrive. As a veteran in the banking and finance industry with 25 years of experience, COO Suzanne Rodman provides this guidance to female colleagues and offers advice on how to grow their careers. She counsels them on how to broaden their skillsets to perform at a higher level and how to advocate for themselves when it comes to asking for raises or promotions. According to a study from Indeed, women perceive gender as a barrier to self-advocacy. Suzanne helps her mentees see past any barriers and gain the confidence to speak up.

Cogent’s collaborative culture values equal opportunities and access to resources for all. For mothers, it can be difficult to find the right balance between advancing a career and taking care of a family. Cogent strives to eliminate barriers to success to ensure everyone is on equal footing.

What sets us apart at Cogent Bank is our company morale. Cogent doesn’t focus on ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ when it comes to female executives in the company—we’ve already shattered it, offering equal opportunities for everyone in the company to advance. Cogent promotes anyone who has demonstrated they are the most qualified contender for the position. We strongly believe it is important to promote the most eligible associate for each position throughout the company.

While March is an opportunity to specifically celebrate women and their accomplishments, Cogent Bank empowers women year-round.