PBN BUSINESS WOMEN AWARDS 2020 INDUSTRY LEADER, FINANCIAL SERVICES: Rogean Makowski | Webster Bank N.A.
ROGEAN MAKOWSKI wasn’t always certain what career path she would follow.
The Rhode Island native knew she wanted to work in an environment that afforded her the opportunity for continuous growth and the ability to be a contributing partner in the business’s success.
Since she enjoys working with people and problem-solving, Makowski said wealth management ended up being a perfect career choice for her.
Today, as Webster Bank N.A.’s senior vice president and senior fiduciary officer, Makowski utilizes her more than 40 years of experience assisting individuals, families and institutions in meeting and exceeding their financial needs. Had it not been for a nudge from a neighbor years ago, Makowski’s path might have been quite different.
“My career progression was a little bit of a fluke,” she said. “I was actually interviewing with the [Central Intelligence Agency] when our neighbor, who sat on the board of a local bank, set up an interview in the wealth-management department. The rest is history.”
Once Makowski got a taste of the business, she was hooked, she said.
Makowski said the clients she works with are all “unique,” so the solutions she provides are customized to their needs and because the clients’ needs and lives are “constantly changing.”
‘Leadership, to me, means identifying the key strengths of the people you work with.’
Rogean Makowski, Webster Bank N.A. senior vice president and senior fiduciary officer
“You have the ability to work closely with clients throughout their lifetime,” Makowski said.
At Webster Bank, Makowski likes to rely on what she calls “lean into change,” the idea of focusing efforts on how best to infuse innovation, process and risk management, and problem resolution into each client relationship with the goal to reinforce the value she and her colleagues provide.
Also, Makowski has introduced a larger focus on goals-based planning by offering advice for all forms of financial decision-making, including budgeting, next-generation education, emotional-investment guidance, financial planning and lending.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly impacted how Makowski conducts business, she said one thing hasn’t changed.
“My primary focus is staying in contact with clients,” she said. “These are unprecedented times. While most of my colleagues and I are working remotely, we continue to address clients’ immediate needs timely and accurately.”
Makowski also said candid conversations are being had with clients about how the virus may affect them, their family, the community and their financial resources.
Now more than ever, Makowski’s ability to lead enables her to keep her team not only motivated and focused on the task at hand but safe at the same time.
“Leadership, to me, means identifying the key strengths of the people you work with and supporting their independence to apply those strengths to advance their career and become more engaged in the success of the business,” Makowski said. “It means offering guidance, support and encouragement to try new things and to take on more responsibility, and accepting that everyone, including yourself, makes mistakes. We learn from our mistakes and we move on.”
Webster Bank Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Executive Virginia Roberts, who was part of the team that recruited Makowski to the bank, said Makowski’s integrity, desire to assist clients and ability to lead a team of colleagues to accomplish goals makes her a strong leader.
“Rogean helps families and organizations achieve their financial goals,” Roberts said. “The path to success is many times complicated and subject to various laws and regulations, as well as wishes of the families and organizations. Rogean’s desire to help, as well as her expert knowledge in managing through a complex set of rules, is a combination that is essential for the success of her clients. Rogean puts clients first. It is what comes to her naturally.”
Makowski said she plans to continue building upon existing relationships while working with new clients in need of the bank’s services.
“I love the interaction with clients,” Makowski said. “I know how hard it is to identify, manage and measure the success of your top priorities in this ever-changing world. So, if I can be a partner in helping clients to prioritize, accomplish and rethink their plans when necessary, I am truly fulfilled.”
