Oscar D. Johnson, Jr. Senior Vice President, Regional Head of Business Banking, BMO Harris Bank
“ It’s not only about how smart you are. It’s mostly about your ability to connect with people and develop relationships. It is people’s willingness to invest in you and provide you additional opportunities that ultimately help you have a clearer and easier path.” As senior vice president, regional head of business banking, Oscar Johnson, Jr., oversees $1 billion in loan commitments and over $900 million of deposits. He also leads four regional commercial teams consisting of 56 professionals who are accountable for sales, portfolio management, and administration. Johnson had two great examples to help him develop the work ethic these responsibilities require: his mother and father. “My mom was an educator and my dad was in sales, but they both worked two jobs in order for us to have more.” Their sacrifice enabled the family to move to a better neighborhood and prosper. His parents’ work ethic continues to inspire Johnson to not only work harder, but to also always be thinking about how to help others. While most people believe that success means sacrificing their work-life balance, Johnson thinks it’s a matter of focus and planning. “There are 24 hours in a day, and you shouldn’t miss the important things in your kids’ lives. You just find different hours when you work and
get stuff done.” For Johnson, this sometimes involves leaving work at 4pm to go to his child’s soccer game, then working from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. to meet deadlines. In the field of banking, where bringing in new clients and deals is critical to the bank’s success and often limiting to a banker’s career, Johnson appreciates that his ability to make friends quickly is a success factor. What’s his trick? Staying authentic and true to himself. These same qualities, explains Johnson, are also important for team building. “People enjoy working and doing business with people they like.” He explains that, in the long run, operating in a caring manner for your employees works better than cutting overhead to increase shareholder value. As group senior vice president at Associated Bank, Johnson managed $700 million of credit commitments and related budget. Having grown the portfolio in excess of 50 percent, his unit was the largest contributor to the region’s revenue and net income.
He’s confident that his “servant leadership style” and “team-first approach” will help him to continue contributing to his organization’s success.
• Board director; Finance Committee, Urban Prep Academies (since 2006), Board director; Finance Committee, Union League Cub of Chicago (since 2013), and Board director; Finance Committee, Providence St. Mel. (since 2014) • Former Board director for Oak Park Development Corporation (2013), Congo Square Theater Company (2012), Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Chicago (2009), and Goodman Theatre Scene Markers (2008) • Other involvements include serving as a volunteer youth soccer, baseball, and basketball coach for the Oak Park Park District (since 2010) and as a former youth Sunday School teacher volunteer at Judson Baptist Church (2013)
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