EVP, Executive Managing Director, Corporate, Specialty & Government Banking
Huntington National Bank
Zewditu Tizu Menelik has spent her career in the center of some of the banking industry's biggest recent challenges. Now as many banks retrench, Menelik is making a different bet, growing and restructuring Huntington Bancshares' corporate, specialty and government banking segment.
Menelik was tapped to lead corporate, specialty and government banking at Huntington in October 2022, coming over from Fifth Third where she was the group head of diversified industries and international corporate banking. At Huntington, she has recruited away a specialized mortgage solutions team from Flagstar Bank, added financial services focused on federally recognized Native American tribes, and started a national deposits group.
For rising executives, moving into leadership roles with increasing responsibility and influence requires more than executing day-to-day duties. It demands the ability to envision and drive visible, meaningful ideas that lead to business outcomes and/or institutional change. This session outlines the strategic roadmap for turning a strategic business, market or innovation idea into a career-defining promotion. Our panel of prominent executives will deconstruct the mechanics of stress-testing an original idea, how to successfully execute it while also capturing the attention of an executive sponsor who can advocate for your ascension, and steps to leverage your success into a promotion. Our panelists will discuss:
The Genesis of an Idea: How should a rising executive evaluate an idea to ensure it aligns with core corporate KPIs (e.g., efficiency ratios, new revenue streams) rather than just being a “passion project”?
Sponsorship vs. Mentorship: How do you intentionally transition a senior leader from a passive mentor who gives advice into an active sponsor who risks political capital for your advancement?
Securing the Promotion: Once the project succeeds, how do you formally position your leadership of that initiative as the primary business case for your promotion?