Kayla Lewis — Vitaes Contributors

Kayla built a successful career in banking, rising from Branch Manager at Union Bank to VP of Client Experience at Seattle Bank, where she led a team that grew a network of high-net-worth clients and generated over $150 million in annual revenue. Outside of work, she puts her financial skills to use as a board member and treasurer for Powerful Voices, a Seattle nonprofit that has supported more than 1,000 girls of color in education and leadership. Her journey — from branch operations to the boardroom to community advocacy — shows what's possible when you combine professional ambition with a commitment to lifting others up.

Their story

“Network, network, network". It is so important that you meet people. Kayla Lewis, Banker

20 min

Watch the full story →

Watching requires a free Vitaes account.

Key quotes

“I'm young, I'm female and I'm black. So I have three strikes against me every time I sit in front of a client. I have to work three times as hard for them to think that I have the knowledge or skill to be able to help them.”
Kayla Lewis, Branch Manager

“Those barriers that you see when you come into an industry are ones that you put on yourself. And it doesn't take long for you to realize that.”
Kayla Lewis, Branch Manager

“There's never a cap and I think human nature is to naturally put a cap on yourself. Both are possible and it's possible through any number of institutions.”
Kayla Lewis, Branch Manager

“People underestimating me makes me want to prove them wrong so much more. And I already have that competition against myself. So having that added fuel brings a fire to my blood.”
Kayla Lewis, Branch Manager

“Network, network, network. It is so important that you meet people who not only understand the worth that you have, but your willingness to learn and grow.”
Kayla Lewis, Branch Manager

Career highlights

You don't need a college degree to start a career in banking — a high school diploma and a willingness to learn can get you in the door.

Kayla started as a part-time teller with no banking experience and no finance background. She says most banks have full training programs because they want you to succeed.

Don't put a cap on yourself before you've even tried. The barriers you see when entering a new industry are often ones you've placed on yourself.

Kayla thought she wasn't qualified to be a banker, then a manager — but each time she got into a new role, she realized she could keep going further.

Network, network, network — not just at formal events, but at company gatherings, professional groups, and everyday interactions.

Kayla credits relationships and advocates — her first branch manager, her stepmom, her foster dad — as key to getting opportunities she didn't see coming.

Know the difference between base salary and bonus structure when evaluating job offers — a lower salary with a strong bonus (like JPMorgan Chase) can sometimes beat a higher base at a smaller bank.

Kayla breaks down how pay in banking works, noting that entry-level branch manager salaries range from $60K–$85K depending on experience and the institution.

Use being underestimated as fuel, not a reason to shrink back.

As a young Black woman, Kayla says she's regularly had to work harder to prove her knowledge to clients. Instead of backing down, she uses that pressure to push herself harder.

It's okay to stumble hard early — getting fired, failing classes, or struggling doesn't disqualify you from a successful career.

Kayla got fired from her first bank job, got kicked out of college twice, and came from foster care — and still earned an MBA cum laude and became a branch manager.

Student summary

Kayla Lewis is a Branch Manager at Union Bank who built her career in banking from the ground up — starting as a part-time teller while juggling college in San Antonio, all the way to managing her own branch and leading a team. Her story isn't a straight line: she got fired from her first banking job, got kicked out of college twice, and grew up in foster care in Pittsburgh. But she kept going, eventually finishing her undergrad in sociology and later earning an MBA cum laude in just 20 months. Her path shows that where you start does not determine where you end up.

As a Branch Manager, Kayla's job is about way more than deposits and accounts. She's responsible for growing the business, developing her team, and making sure every single client who walks through the door has an experience that makes them want to come back. She talks about juggling multiple 'buckets' of goals — loans, business accounts, consumer accounts — and how her role is really about setting the direction for the whole branch. Think less teller window, more CEO of a small operation.

Kayla keeps it real about being a young Black woman in finance. She says she has 'three strikes' going into every client meeting and has had to work harder to prove her knowledge and skills. But she flips that pressure into fuel — people underestimating her only makes her want to prove them wrong more. That mindset, combined with her willingness to keep leveling up, is a big part of why she's succeeded in an industry that can feel very 'who you know.'

Her advice is practical and direct: you don't need a finance degree to get into banking. A high school diploma can be enough to start, and most banks have full training programs. Salaries for entry-level branch managers range from $60K–$85K depending on the company and bonus structure. The key is just getting in the door, staying curious, and not putting a cap on yourself before you even try.

For students of color who've ever felt like certain industries weren't built for them, Kayla's story is proof that you can walk into spaces that feel unfamiliar and still make them yours. Her biggest piece of advice? Network like your career depends on it — because it does. Show up, hand out your card, and let people see what you're made of.

Kayla Lewis(she/her)

Their story

“Network, network, network". It is so important that you meet people. Kayla Lewis, Banker