[ INSIDE HAWAII INC. ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Would-be teacher turned banker Sherri Aoyama is now at home in the American Savings Bank board room.
Executive joins
women at the top of
American SavingsYou have a bachelor's degree in elementary education. That's a long way from becoming an executive vice president at American Savings Bank. How did that happen?
Sherri Aoyama
Job: Executive vice president for work force excellence and support at American Savings Bank
Appointed: May 1, 2003
It certainly wasn't planned. I went to Farrington High School and then on to the University of Hawaii, graduating with a degree in elementary education. But at that time there was such an overflow of teachers coming out and there were no jobs, so that's when I stumbled across American Savings Bank. I've been with them now almost 28 years.
What are your areas of responsibility?
Human Resources, training, technology, operations, marketing and communications.
We tend to think of the banking industry, especially its top positions, as being dominated by men. Do you think that's changed?
I don't know that for a fact nationally, although typically we see a lot of male executives in banks across the nation. At conferences I go to, it's predominantly men. At our bank, as you know, we have a woman, Connie Lau, in the top position. There are three executive vice presidents, two are women. Of our 12 senior officers, including Connie, five are women.
How many people does American Savings employ?
Almost 1,400 people.
What's been the effect on your bank of the controversy surrounding the proposed takeover of City Bank by Central Pacific Bank?
We know how competitive banking is in Hawaii so we've been concentrating on new ways to differentiate ourselves, new ways to operate and new ways to do business.
Other banks have looked outside Hawaii to expand. Are there any plans along those lines at American Savings?
We are a strictly locally owned bank and we are on five different islands. Our main target is Hawaii and that's what we are focused on.
How do you balance your job with the rest of your life?
I do put in long hours during the week, but thanks to a very supportive husband, everything gets taken care of at home. I like to spend time with my family and really cherish the time I spend with them -- parents, brothers -- but I do have two sons going to college in California who I miss.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I'm not really an ambitious person by nature, so this is not something that I dreamt about at any point in time. But in five years I expect to be doing a damn good job.
Inside Hawaii Inc. is a conversation with a member of the Hawaii business community who has changed jobs, been elected to a board or been recognized for accomplishments. Send questions and comments to: business@starbulletin.com.
