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A Patriot and a Leader Although Carol Sumter is an associate with the Private Client Services of
Credit Suisse First Boston in Atlanta, GA, her resume clearly shows that she is
not just another financial services professional. Carol is also a member of the
Georgia Bar, holds an MBA from Emory University, graduated from West Point
Academy, and served honorably as an officer in Desert Storm. Carol’s diverse
background is a big part of what makes her a very special role model. Growing up in California until age 13, Ms. Sumter and her family then moved
to Chicago. "In my view, " Carol said, "mine was a traditional family
environment. I was the middle child with one older and one younger brother. My
parents were hard-working people, but neither went to college and they rarely
got involved with my school work." In the third grade grade, however, Carol began to lay the groundwork for her
own future. It started with one teacher, Mrs. Vincent, who offered her advanced
tutoring in math. It was this same teacher who inspired Carol and encouraged her
thirst for learning and for excellence. Later, in the sixth grade, Carol became
a tutor for other students when she had conquered all the math at her current
level. With a maturity beyond her years, Carol realized that since her family
might not be able to afford to send her and her brothers to college, it was up
to her to find a way. The path to West Point As a sophomore, Carol took the PSAT and began to explore both academic and
athletic scholarships everywhere she could. What she needed was a full
scholarship and that’s exactly what she found in researching the service
academies. She applied at all of them – West Point, the Air Force Academy, as
well as the Naval Academy. She was also accepted at all three! "My choice," she said, "was clear. I wanted to go to the hardest one of all
because if I could make it through West Point, I knew I could make it through
anything life had to throw at me." Starting in a class of 1340 cadets which
included 157 females, she graduated four years later as one of only 95 females
in a class of 931 total graduates. Carol says the best thing about her
experience at West Point was being pushed to limits beyond her imagination. As a
result, she no longer believes in insurmountable obstacles – only perserverance
until you achieve your goals. Conversely, the worst thing about her West Point experience, she says, was
the total breakdown in self-confidence that a person goes through the first
year. Past accomplishments meant nothing. At 18 years of age, she had to rebuild
her self-image the Army way. Tough as it was, Carol succeeded and is grateful to
this day for the lessons she learned. Not only that, but she recommends West
Point to the next generation and even helps to recruit new cadets when she can.
Tour of duty Just after she graduated from West Point, Carol’s life took a different turn.
She got married to a fellow West Pointer and both were immediately engaged in
the service of their country in a conflict that we know as "Desert Storm." With
only Officer Basic Training behind her, Carol was assigned to a unit in Kuwait.
and became the leader of sixty-six people. "Rank," Carol said, "doesn’t mean you’re smarter than another person. I
instinctively knew that I had better lead by listening to those who had more
experience than I did. I identified a few outstanding individuals and asked for
their input. I used a lot of humility, not ego, and I learned a heck of a lot.
We managed to get out alive." Four years after the war, Carol and her then husband were considering staying
in the military and becoming professors at West Point. But circumstances changed
when her husband left the service and entered Harvard Business School in Boston.
Shortly thereafter, Carol also left the Army and got her first civilian job as a
pharmaceutical sales rep where she remained until she decided she wanted to go
to graduate school. A new path It was then that Carol moved to Atlanta and entered Emory Law School. Her
interest in the law had grown out of her experience in the Army where she had
contact with JAG. She often helped soldiers with advice about why they should
stay in the service or get out. She found that she enjoyed "defending and
persuading" people on an informal basis and from that, realized that she wanted
to become a lawyer. Never satisfied to rest on her laurels, Carol decided to stay another year
beyond law school and complete her MBA – additional leverage, she thought, to
help her in corporate law. In 2000, Carol passed the Georgia bar exam and
completed her MBA from Emory. Not bad for a divorced, single mother. Before starting graduate school, Carol had had a son, Nicholas, in 1995.
Unfortunately, her marriage unraveled and she filed for divorce. This turn of
events would significantly impact Carol’s plans for a career in law. Carol tried the world of corporate law as an intern during graduate school
and though she liked it, she knew that the hours and the stress were not
compatible with being a single mother. She felt that what she needed at this
point in her life was more flexibility as well as the opportunity to make as
much money as possible. Carol looked for a position that fit this description and found it as an
associate at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities, an affiliate of Credit
Suisse First Boston. So far, she’s happy even though it hasn’t been easy
starting a financial services career in a year when the economy and the stock
market went south. But it’s not in Carol’s character to dwell on the negative and her goals are
definitely long-term. Ms. Sumter explained, "I’ve always wanted to teach ever
since a teacher inspired me. But for the next 15 years or so, I plan to work in
corporate America to attain sound financial footing. At that point, I’d like to
pursue a career educating young minds." In the meantime, she’ll continue to
mentor middle school kids about the importance of math and science and getting
good grades – and about getting into West Point and laying a solid foundation
for their future. While Carol may not know exactly what she’ll accomplish next in her own
career, it’s a safe bet that she’ll persevere and never stop learning and
leading. By Susan B. Hitchcock
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