Glenda Gabriel

An industry change agent serving as a relentless champion for sustainable homeownership for underserved and multicultural customers

As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, it is imperative that businesses build strategies and create outreach initiatives to connect with and better serve multicultural consumers and communities. It is also vital for businesses to understand the consumer dynamics that shape demand for their products and services, and to recruit the right talent to lead through an increasingly complex business environment. Glenda Gabriel as always been known in the industry as a strategic thinker with the ability to lead through complex business issues, and this underlying capability is why she was sought out by Bank of America.

As Bank of America’s Neighborhood Lending Executive, Gabriel leads a team dedicated to meeting the homeownership needs of low-to-moderate-income and multicultural customers, whether they are those with modest means or clients with substantial wealth. Gabriel and her team connect and build relationships with key real estate market influencers, including local and national non-profit housing organizations, multicultural real estate trade organizations and others to educate consumers and connect them to the products, programs, tools and resources that enable successful homeownership.

Bank of America’s community leadership and culture closely aligned with Gabriel’s own values. Her new assignment provided her with the opportunity to help people transform their lives. She is now the driving force at the bank to assist underserved and multicultural consumers across the nation to become successful homeowners. “I know first-hand the difference a home can make in a person’s life, by providing access to better schools, safer neighborhoods, and neighbors who have also invested in the American dream. This type of environment fundamentally changes the arc of your life. This is one of the reasons that I’m so passionate about providing others with that same opportunity and doing so in the right way”.

In addition to her day job, Gabriel is also an Enterprise player, providing leadership in a number of capacities to help make Bank of America a great place to work. For instance, to continually strengthen the company and encourage diversity and inclusion in the workplace, Bank of America is committed to helping all its employees achieve their potential and better serve the bank’s customers, clients, communities, and shareholders. To that end, Bank of America’s employee networks are a vital part of the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts. The employee networks are formal, bank-supported groups made up of employees who share a dimension of diversity. The groups meet periodically to network, mentor and encourage each other’s development, leadership and success.

One such network is LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development) for Women. LEAD for Women is dedicated to promoting professional women’s development to help grow, attract and retain successful women throughout Bank of America. LEAD for Women offers information, education, advocacy and networking with other women to share best practices and cultivate connections fostering success. This organization focuses on providing women with opportunities for leadership, advancement and expanding their horizons.

As an executive co-sponsor of LEAD for Women, Gabriel serves as a catalyst for professional growth and success of other women, at all levels of the bank. “Part of our company goal is to be the employer of choice for female talent at every level of the organization, and that is what LEAD for Women is about,” said Gabriel. “Not having women at the top of their game is really not operating at optimal capacity. We view having women at the top of our organization and fully integrated into all aspects of our business as a strategic imperative,” Gabriel stated.

Bank of America is one of the top 50 companies for executive women, according to the National Association for Female Executives. Through LEAD for Women and other mentoring programs, the company continually strives to develop the talents of women throughout the organization. “I not only mentor women, I am also mentored by women and men, and that has helped me understand, and help others understand, what barriers they have to work on and how they best present their brand,” said Gabriel. “We are not only a strong company, but we are getting stronger everyday because of the talent we employ.”

The Global Diversity and Inclusion Council, of which Gabriel is a member, leads the bank’s efforts to create a diverse and inclusive environment. The Council includes bank leaders from around the globe, and works to create an environment where every employee can succeed and feel comfortable bringing their whole self to work. “We examine core issues, like generational differences, and what impact they have on recruiting and retaining the best talent, and how people communicate,” said Gabriel. “We look at how we develop people and where we could do a better job. We look at what diversity really means, and bring that to the forefront, with intentional focus. Diversity is not just about culture or ethnicity, but it is the experiences that people bring to the table and being able to utilize them in a number of capacities.”

Gabriel’s work to influence and develop the leaders of tomorrow extends well beyond the workplace. She also serves on the Girl Scouts Hornet’s Nest Board of Directors, an organization that helps girls build courage, character and confidence. Involvement in this organization enables her to encourage women and girls to be leaders in their own lives, a value she learned from her early heroes, her mother, father and grandparents.

Gabriel has reached a high level of success in the financial world and has set herself apart from her counterparts by her determination and ability to continue her education on new trends, products, programs and initiatives. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, Gabriel has been preparing herself for leadership roles throughout her life. “I don’t think there is a universal format for women or men who strive for success, but it is understanding what your key strengths are, what it is that you want to do, how can you get better, and what is your game plan for getting there,” said Gabriel. “You have to be dedicated to your own development. I know a lot of people wait on other people to say ‘this is the blueprint that you should follow,’ but you have to educate yourself; be your own advocate.”

Gabriel is a constant champion not only for educating herself and her team, but also for ensuring that Bank of America’s customers have the information they need to make informed decisions when purchasing a home. One way the bank ensures its mortgage customers understand everything that is involved – from the loan process to owning a home – is through consumer education and counseling. Bank of America offers customers a variety of educational tools and programs to help them prepare for homeownership. These include online tools and resources, educational webinars, and in-person education and counseling provided by non-profit homebuyer education partners. Additionally, Bank of America’s mortgage loan officers are dedicated to keeping customers informed through every step of the mortgage process.

“The common thread people need is help demystifying the mortgage process. They want to be in a position to make informed, educated decisions about one of the most important investments they make in their lives. This comes through time and time again in all of our research,” said Gabriel. “People want it in simple, concise terms, and they want to make sure they really do have someone, once they make a financial decision, that can walk them through the process and get back to them if they have a question. Good communication is the key to a customer having a superb mortgage experience.”

As the housing market continues to recover, financial industry regulations are continually changing, making it essential for Gabriel and her team to be ahead of the curve. They constantly look for new ways to assist underserved consumers to understand the home loan process and to provide them with the education, tools and resources so that they can achieve their home ownership goals. “If we can bridge the gap in financial literacy, we can bridge the gap in homeownership and set in motion the foundation for personal wealth creation,” said Gabriel.

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