Associate Spotlight – Hannah Willis
What initially drew you to your field, and how has that passion evolved over time? I wasn’t specifically drawn to banking and finance. I graduated college with a business management and entrepreneurship degree but found my way into banking when I moved to Duluth…for a boy. But he’s now my husband, so I think that’s ok 😊 I didn’t know if it’s where I would be long term, but here I am, eight years later! To be quite honest I still don’t feel as though I have a strong passion for banking, but what I do have a strong passion for is working hard for a company that makes a difference and coworkers who make me want to be better. And that’s what keeps me coming back.
Looking back at your career so far, what accomplishment are you most proud of? I would say my growth. Looking back on my career, I can see exponential growth in myself. I have gained more confidence in my decision-making, difficult conversations, voicing my opinion, and making confident choices on behalf of NBC.
What’s a valuable lesson you’ve learned from a work experience, good or bad? A valuable lesson I’ve learned is to take it one day and task at a time. I tend to get easily overwhelmed, even when I know I have everything under control. So, I have to remember to trust myself, make a list, stay present, and accomplish one thing at a time.
What’s your go-to way to unwind and recharge after a busy week? Those who know me know that I love to workout. Getting a good sweat in allows me to totally disconnect from anything work related for that hour that I’m at the gym. I also love taking my dog for a walk in the woods and being silent. My husband and I also go to eat every weekend, and it’s our time to catch up and have some really good conversations. I find that during the week, even though I may have something I want to talk about, some days I just feel too tired, so I save it for the weekend!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? We’re currently considering southern Italy or Japan for a bigger 2025 trip. I’m open to any suggestions or opinions on those two options!
You win the lottery! What’s the first thing you would do? Oddly enough, the first thing that comes to mind is – nothing. I really love my life as it is, and I don’t feel the need to buy a bigger house (or a house in general 😉) or a fancy car. I like the simple life! I guess maybe I’d go part-time at work (sorry, NBC), so I had a bit more time to do additional things that bring me joy!
