Lawanna Saxon
Chair, GBA Marketing Committee
SVP, Managing Director of Marketing
Signature Bank of Georgia
Sandy Springs, GA
Q: What was your first job, and was there a lesson you learned there that you still use today?
A: My first job was as a cashier and soda jerk at Watkinsville Drugs. It was an incredible experience I still carry with me today. It’s where I first learned about client service and the importance of “just be nice” as a simple but effective approach to serving people. There were about four of us between the ages of 16 and 19. We took shifts after school and on weekends. Great memories, great relationships.
Q: What drew you to a career in the banking industry, and what has kept you there?
A: My first real job was with Oconee State Bank as a teller. I grew up watching so many of these great people in the community. They were well respected, and I was thrilled to get to be a part of the team. I liked the structure and the relationships and the system of checks and balances. Everyone needs a banker they trust and can turn to.
Q: How has involvement with GBA affected your career?
A: I enjoy the relationships and commonalities I share with the others in the industry who are facing many of the same challenges I face. Attending the meetings provide resources and support. We’re not just an island. Many of us share the same day to day tasks and it’s such a positive environment to get to hang with fun, creative people.
Q: If you weren’t working in banking, what would you be doing instead?
A: I’d love to work in an exotic animal sanctuary. My friends all know I’m crazy about animals, and not just the domestic kind.
Q: What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
A: I’m a freak about zombie movies. I love The Walking Dead. But it’s not about the zombies. It’s about society, survival and how you retain your civility in the face of apocalyptic chaos.