A Role Model for Community Leadership
Carol Jackson
Executive Vice President - Federal Home Loan Bank

It's not easy to describe Carol Jackson. She's certainly a highly recognized banking executive, a CPA, a civic leader, and a devoted friend and bon vivant. But she's more than the sum of her personal and professional qualities. She combines intelligence, complexity, high standards, a love of life, a strong work ethic, a true appreciation of diversity, and an absolute determination to make the community - and indeed the world - a better place.

To better understand how Carol came to possess this rare combination of qualities and characteristics, start with her upbringing. Carol was the oldest of five children whose father was a television cameraman and mother, a full-time homemaker. A native of Harrisonburg, VA, she spent the early part of her life in the Washington, DC area, but the family moved a lot because of her father's work. Her family resume also includes Florida, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and finally, Alabama.

Carol describes her family as "close-knit and reliant on each other" - a characteristic perhaps intensified by the family's various relocations. She said she and her siblings also learned self-reliance. "We were taught that if one door closes, another will open. We were also inspired by our parents to believe that we could achieve anything we set our minds to."

After graduating from high school in Mobile, AL in 1968, Carol took a summer job as a bank teller and with no definite career plans in mind, decided to work full time and attend college at night. About her introduction to banking, Carol said, "I didn't really have any experience, I didn't even type. I could just as easily have ended up the elevator operator!

Of course, that's not exactly what happened. Carol worked at the bank long enough, however, to see that the banking arena didn't show a lot of diversity - certainly not in the late 60's. What she realized was that "women were tellers and men were running the bank." Carol's career plans became clearer from that experience and she quit her job to complete a degree in accounting. Why accounting? "Because it was tough."

All roads lead to Atlanta
After completing her degree at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Carol worked in public accounting for five years. Through one of her public accounting clients, she heard about a job at the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Atlanta. Carol joined FHLB in 1980 as the first woman director of Internal Audit. Within two years, she was asked to manage the Bank's credit and lending function. In more recent years, Carol's responsibilities increased to include the Bank's Community Investment area and she was promoted to executive vice president, one of four members of the senior management team at the Bank, reporting to the president.

While becoming a leader with FHLB, Carol also distinguished herself as an activist and leader in the Atlanta community. Among her many honors are the 1999 Woman of Achievement Award presented by the YWCA of Greater Atlanta; one of Atlanta Magazine's "Twenty Women Making a Mark on Atlanta"; the 2001 Shining Star award from the Atlanta Women's Foundation; and most recently, an appointment by the governor to serve on the board of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. She also serves on the board or advisory board of the Georgia Affordable Housing Corporation, Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation, Atlanta Women's Foundation, Board of Directors Network, and Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.

Insights and personal philosophies
With her many years of unique experience in both the business world and the community, Carol has developed her own personal philosophy of leadership. "It is very different from what I might have espoused - or practiced - earlier in my career," she explained. For example, Carol now describes herself as a strong advocate of the concept of "servant leadership." Her favorite reference is author, Robert Greenleaf, who writes about "educating, facilitating, and supporting, versus dictating, suffocating, and controlling."

Another philosophy Carol espouses is the concept of practical or tempered radicalism as defined by Deborah Myerson, i.e., "being committed to an organization but staying true to your personal ideals." As Carol sees it, "Tempered radicalism is about pursuing change in corporate America by being a cautious catalyst and being content with small victories over time to bring about, ultimately, larger changes."
Asked about her own greatest challenge as a leader, Carol candidly responds that "coming to terms with my control side and rejecting this style of behavior was my greatest challenge - as I recognized how crippling it could be to any success I sought."

Carol also offers other sage advice for developing leaders: "Listen to those who are trying to pave the way. Work more on writing - I had no idea how much I would write in the corporate world…Take more opportunity for team efforts - sports, projects, etc., honing skills of working collaboratively and problem solving skills….Early in life, reach out to others less fortunate. Don't lose your caring side, remain aware of the plight of others and take the time to be involved. Practice boundaryless thinking."

Legacy and futurescape
While this leader isn't close to completing her personal legacy to be passed on to the next generation, she does have some ideas of how she'd like to be remembered. "I hope that I am viewed as a connector, someone that will offer a hand and if I can't do it, connect you with someone who can help solve your problem. I love Malcolm Gladwell's 'The Tipping Point' - one person can make a difference."

As for her own "futurescape," Carol may have revealed a little secret. "My career has enabled me to become involved in the issue of affordable housing through the Federal Home Loan Bank's Affordable Housing Program which is the largest private sector source of grants for the creation of affordable housing. My future plans will focus on expanding my commitment to create more interest and support for this important issue."

And if that's what Carol says she wants to accomplish, you can take it to the bank!

 

By Susan B. Hitchcock
Creator of The Age of SHEroes
VP-Client Services, Turknett Leadership Group
August, 2002

 

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