Gavin Bowman

Interview

What made you join KeyBank? What makes you stay?

I joined KeyBank after working in several industries/capacities within management, sales, and finance. I wanted to plant my roots and begin a career with a company that appreciated me, had an inclusive culture, and reinvested in its community. A friend and prior co-worker began working at Key and told me how much she enjoyed the company, so I decided to look into employment at Key. After my first interview, I knew I wanted to be a part of Key and, more specifically, Risk Review Group (RRG). The reasons that attracted me to Key are the same reasons that make me want to stay. I feel like I have a solid career; I get to work for a company that values me, diversity, inclusivity, and growth. I have fulfilled an intrinsic value from my work with Key that I haven't anywhere else.

What is your impression of Key's corporate culture?

The corporate culture at Key is best summed up in three words: Honest, Transparent, and Expanding. I continue to be impressed with the openness, directness, and flow of communication both upstream and downstream.

How would you describe a typical day for your role?

My typical workday begins much like anyone else's, checking/responding to emails and a big cup of coffee. Then it's time to start reviewing and testing the controls that aid in mitigating the financial risks that Key faces. My team and I act as a barrier, ensuring that the proper policies/procedures are in place and being followed thoroughly. We test strategically throughout the year along all the different lines of business that Key has, to remain in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and help protect investors from fraudulent financial reporting.

What is one bit of advice you would tell your younger self that you know now?

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be, "Turn every loss you can into a lesson on how to win, and you've never truly lost."

Tell me about your role with the Risk Review Group Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force.

My role on the RRG Task Force is as a presenter and facilitator of the "Bridging the Gap," "Building Bridges," and "Crossing the Bridge" trainings. I'm responsible for digesting the courses and then presenting them to the team in an interactive and relevant manner. My job isn't to tell people what or how to think but to give them tools to aid them in our ever-changing world. My subcommittee and I are like Sherpas, helping to guide those along the mountain of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity.