http://www.portlandobserver.com QR code for Portland Observer Online © îîurtÎanit U J •■Cf/'-' ‘City 0/Roses’ \Z r tliim o V I l \ / Volume XLIV Number 45 . ________ h setw r w w w .portlandobserver.com Wednesday • November 12, 2014 .... Established in 1970 Committed to Cultural Diversity photo by community service M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver Tracy Curtis, the new regional president o f Wells Fargo for its Oregon and southwest Washington operations, builds a relationship with the community and shares her experiences to help other women become leaders. ‘You Can Lead Too’ O livia O livia T he P ortland O bserver by A top Northwest executive in the financial business sector is breaking glass ceilings and encouraging a new generation of young women to do the same. Her name is Tracy Curtis, the new regional president for Wells Fargo & Company, the first woman to ever hold this position. Her message to girls? “You can lead too.” Wells Fargo named Curtis as its regional president for its Oregon and Southwest Washington banking operations in January. She has since been building her relationship with the community and sharing her experi­ ences as a professional woman in the finan­ cial world with women who hope to move forward in their own lives. Curtis began her career as a bank teller 27 years ago. Originally from England, she moved to the United States in 1987, a time she says when “women could not wear pants to work.” Female bosses existed, but as Curtis explains, they were trained to be aggressive, and to lead just like men would. Since that time, a lot has changed. “Women today who lead have the ability Top executive encourages a new generation to lead in different ways,” she says. Curtis says Wells Fargo has been a boon to work for in terms of policies and the manner with which women are valued in the in the workplace. She sets an example for others by giving back to the community, working with local non-profits and other continued on page 18