LEADERSHIP
Crystaline combs
Vice president and consumer and business banking administrative manager U . S . Bank Sacramento Main Branch by Cherise Henry
In the wake of George Floyd ’ s death in May 2020 and the social unrest and protests against racial injustice across the country , Crystaline Combs , 37 , stepped into an unexpected role outside of her regular “ day job ” as vice president and consumer and business banking administrative manager at the U . S . Bank Sacramento Main Branch to develop a Diversity , Equity and Inclusion program for her employer .
Combs realized she could support the company with a “ real-time playbook for how leaders at all levels could host meaningful conversations ” around diversity , equity and inclusion , and “ to develop action plans to make a meaningful impact .”
Combs says she took her experience as a biracial woman and connected it with ideas she gathered from friends , neighbors , and community and business leaders . Within days of sending an email to the head of Consumer and Business Banking , who reports directly to the CEO of U . S . Bank , she was asked to help drive DEI initiatives for the Pacific Northwest region , which includes Sacramento , San Francisco , Portland and Seattle . Those initiatives include creating toolkits to provide guidance and resources for team meetings on topics such as understanding privilege , allyship and opening dialogue in the workplace .
Combs grew up in the rural town of Susanville in Lassen County and got her first job as a parttime in-store banker at the local U . S . Bank branch in her hometown . She worked her way up to get to her position today as vice president overseeing the Sacramento market . With two daughters and a son , Combs says she wants to show her children how to work hard for what they believe in and how to speak up if they have an idea .
“ Being a young female leader in an industry that for so long has been led by men , I hope I ’ m setting an example and paving the way for others ,” Combs says . “ Working at a bank is incredibly important and I know the role we play in the community by helping customers build businesses or establish credit , and that ’ s how we power potential and why I love banking .”
Combs also supports volunteerism in the Sacramento area by encouraging colleagues to find volunteer opportunities such as writing letters to foster children , first responders and military , and teaching workforce skills such as resume building and interviewing with nonprofits . Ahead of the presidential election , she helped provide clarity to bank employees about which voting-related activities qualified for paid time off .
“ I thought I was the one making a difference , like I ’ m going to go out and change the world , but this work is really changing me ,” Combs says , “ and I ’ m very grateful that I work for a company that has allowed me to go on this journey .”
MURAL BY ALEGRIA DEL PRADO
44 comstocksmag . com | July 2021