IBM and Windy City Media Group present a year-long series of profiles of leaders in the GLBT business and non-profit world. At the end of 2003, IBM and WCMG will present awards to key business leaders.
Please nominate businesses or individuals to be profiled by sending a short description, contact info, and your info to: editor@windycitytimes.com .
Take advantage of IBM's expertise in helping to uncover new revenue opportunities and reveal competitive advantages for your business; contact Sarah Siegel, Program Director of GLBT Sales, at ssiegel@us.ibm.com .
IBM: The Technology Leader for the GLBT community, is proud to sponsor the GLBT Technology Leadership Campaign.
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Sue Connolly
Although it's something I've always known, it's wonderful how this business series has underscored the fact that we truly are everywhere. It may not surprise people to know that the GLBT community has representatives in an area such as the arts. However, it may be heartening to discover that GLBT individuals—including those who are out of the closet—are making inroads in the most conservative of institutions.
R. Sue Connolly, who is the senior vice president at traditional Northern Trust, is one such individual. Not only has she overseen changes on the financial front but, as you will see, she has also witnessed and instituted changes in the social arena.
Connolly is a 2003 inductee into Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame this month, and she is a board member of Windy City Media Group.
Windy City Times: What's your title?
Sue Connolly: Senior Vice President, Group Credit Officer, and Senior Marketing Officer, Community Banking Group of Northern Trust Bank.
WCT: What's your educational background?
SC: I have a B.A. in economics and an M.B.A. in finance. The B.A. was from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.
Actually, there is a horrible story about me turning down a scholarship from Northwestern University. Basically, I didn't want to offend my parents or my aunt's best friend. But at least my son went to Northwestern graduate and undergraduate school, so we kept it in the family.
WCT: What are Northern Trust's policies regarding sexual orientation?
SC: Sexual orientation is listed within our diversity program. We were the second bank in the country to offer partner benefits, which isn't a well-known fact. Bank of America was the first and we followed in 1997. We actually helped some other banks work on that very issue. I'm very proud of that. Northern Trust is pretty conservative, yet it's one of the most progressive [ companies ] regarding human resources.
WCT: Considering how traditional Northern Trust is viewed, how surprising is its approach to diversity to you?
SC: I have to say that it wasn't because of the former chairman. But, now we have a very supportive chairman an senior management commmittee at Northern Trust......
It starts with Bill Osborn, who's such a role model. He came in as chairman in 1994 and, knowing that I was openly gay, promoted me to senior vice president. When I talked to him, he said that he had just been to a gala where some same-sex couples danced and thought that it was a wonderful thing. He's always been supportive and helpful.
I think that there's a generational difference [ that plays a role ] . People in their 40s and 50s are far more supportive and tolerant than older folks.
WCT: Tell me about TNT Pride [ the gay employee group at Northern Trust ] . First of all, what does TNT stand for?
SC: It actually stands for The Northern Trust.
The group itself has been together since the early part of 1994 but a small nucleus formed in 1993. Bill Osbourne, who was about to become chairman at that time, asked to sit down with various diversity groups. Six people sat with him ( I wasn't one of them ) . I knew other vice presidents but at the time they weren't willing to step up. The common theme was that they worked so hard to get where they were, that they didn't see the point of rocking the boat.
WCT: Ah ... and they didn't want to jeopardize ...
SC: ... their chances of advancement without knowing how much support was there. At the beginning, I was the only senior vice president who came out and became involved with the corporate diversity council.
WCT: What are some things that TNT Pride has done lately?
SC: Actually, [ the group ] has done little lately.
What we did last fall was organize a marketing effort. It was a three-part seminar series related to wills and estate planning [ for the
GLBT community ] . That hadn't been done before. It was done in the traditional elaborate Northern Trust style. Discussion topics ranged from family issues ( like adoption ) to establishing a will to philanthropic giving. It wasn't a generic set of seminars, but actually very focused. The marketing department told me that [ the level of response ] that we got was almost unheard of.
WCT: I'm waiting for my invite for the next one.
SC: Well, we're trying to figure out when to start the series again. Northern is under some cost constraints this year. We're thinking of two breakfast or lunch series for people as well as a major topic-driven cocktail session late in the year. We'll probably start this again in the winter quarter ( January to March ) . It's best for a number of reasons; taking a breather is a good idea.
WCT: What do you consider the best part of your job to be?
SC: The best part is the ability to make an amazing difference in a number of communities.
I have the best job in the corporation. I can make loans to various [ minority ] communities and I've been given free rein to help the GLBT community.
WCT: What's the most challenging aspect of your job?
SC: It's probably helping small business owners truly understand fiscal responsibility, budgeting, and planning—as well as finding good professionals to work with them. That's a tough one.
WCT: How have computers helped you with your job?
SC: A lot of banking is analysis-driven. That means relying on computers [ regarding ] analyses, charts, graphs, and financial information. Without analyzing, we can't [ gauge ] a company's ability to perform.
WCT: I read that Northern Trust has a technology campus.
SC: Yes; it's over on Canal Street. It's built as a huge operational center. It's a four-story building.
Northern relies on technology quite a bit. The trust company has about $1.8 trillion of assets under management. The bank has about $38 billion. What we do in the trust arena worldwide contributes more to the bank's profitability and revenue than with a typical bank. We are also not really a retail bank; we don't have a number of branches throughout the community. We rely on the ability to know our clients, assist them with their needs, and provide outstanding quality service. That goes across the board; it doesn't matter [ how much ] revenue a client has. We help clients with their business and personal needs, whether it's buying a house, refinancing, getting an equity credit line, investing their money, or buying a building. For us, the most important thing is our relationships with our clients. [ Also, a ] great thing is that I've been here for 27 years and my boss has been so incredible.
WCT: Well, my last question is ...
SC: Can I go back a minute and mention Sarah Siegel [ IBM's Program Director of GLBT Sales and Talent ] ? I know Sarah well. What she stands for, how she's operated for our community, and what IBM has done to advance her and our causes [ are all ] amazing, unequaled, and professional. It's all been really classy. Sarah and I have been trying to figure out a joint venture/GLBT work. We've been networking and we share similar thoughts about various organizations. IBM has been amazing.
I needed to digress because I wanted you to know that I think the world of what [ IBM's ] doing.
WCT: What do you do when you're not working?
SC: I used to be a serious athlete but I've had [ quite a number of ] surgeries so year by year, I've lost more and more. The only sports-related thing I do now is golf. I also garden and like spending time with my pets ( two dogs and four cats ) , my son, and his family. I call [ my group of animals ] Lincoln Park Zoo North.
The Web site for Northern Trust is www.ntrs.com . You can reach Sue Connolly at ( 312 ) 444-7188 or at Sue_Connolly@notes.ntrs.com .
Davis is at westelm406@yahoo.com .
